WE are constantly being told that the presidency is above politics.

HAVING listened to Martin McGuinness over the weekend it occurred to me that he may be using “mental reservation” in his responses to questions.

THE hysteria emanating from Gay Mitchell and some other high-profile members of his party against Martin McGuinness’s candidacy for president confirms the wide-held belief that there would have been no true peace process or Good Friday Agreement if Fine Gael had been in power.

THE gloves have come off against Sinn Féin presidential candidate Martin McGuinness with all-out-war taking place by senior politicians for his past and present disposition.

THE vacated 5B Ward in Cork University Hospital has been identified as the location for the in-patient beds for adults with cystic fibrosis.

A WAVE of self-righteous indignation has been unleashed in response to the attempts by a woman to prevent the ESB from cutting trees on her land to install a pylon for the North-South electricity interconnector.

A NUMBER of recent letters to your paper have repeated the oft-made accusation (for so it is intended) that the Catholic church “came up” with the idea of celibacy to protect its property interests.

I REFER to your article (Sept 26) in which you highlight the results of an Irish Examiner survey of the pay packages of the heads of leading charities. Your findings show that most charity bosses are on salaries ranging from €100,000 to €150,000.

IRISH bishops have hidden behind data protection laws and sacerdotal privilege to excuse why they couldn’t disclose documentation about child molesters.

HOW sad it is to see lung cancer becoming the number one killer in young women today. This is why all governments should push tobacco companies to reduce the size of cigarettes.