POSSIBLY the most impressive book of last year — the best I read anyway — was about one of the most significant people to have died during 2011.

THE new year is likely to be horrible for the Government.

THE suggested sale of State assets is normally met with howls of indignation and opposition. Don’t sell the family silver, no matter how much the money is needed.

BACK in the late 1980s one of the most contentious fundraising decisions made by the then Fianna Fáil government was the introduction of charges for holding a fishing rod licence.

TWO men in the pub are discussing the issues of the day.

MANY businesses are struggling at present, but particular sympathy should be reserved for retailers, particularly smaller independent and domestic ones who can’t depend on the support from profitable multi-national owners to protect them from the ravages of recession.

THE country needs an editorially strong RTÉ but the self-inflicted wound caused by the dreadful libel against catholic priest Father Kevin Reynolds has the potential to seriously injury the station’s future ability to delivery strong and original current affairs material to suit the public interest.

MARY O’ROURKE was not happy with me and was not slow to tell me why.

KEVIN Cardiff faces public scrutiny before his position as the Irish representative at the European Court of Auditors is confirmed.

SOME people just put others to shame, their positive attitude towards dealing with — what for others would be an unthinkable burden — provides inspiration to all but the most mean-spirited. Mark Pollock is one such person.