IF EVER there has been a telling story of the Celtic Tiger era it is how a mess was made of organising the provision of a sensible taxi service throughout the country.

ONCE upon a time our political classes bowed to Rome. Now they do so to Brussels and Frankfurt.

I FLEW back into Dublin on Monday after 10 days in the United States and my heart sank at coming home to Ireland, for the first time that I can remember. I normally look forward to returning, having enjoyed a break.

Nobody needs to bow or scrape, but it would be nice if all would be polite when an 85-year-old woman comes to visit, just as our President Mary McAleese has been welcomed with graciousness on many occasions to Britain ...

THE crowd in the South Stand at the Aviva Stadium in Lansdowne Road last Saturday evening, with their cheering and singing, provided a noisy and lively atmosphere that made up for many of the empty seats at the European Championship qualifier with Macedonia.

DAVID Norris could have waited before formally declaring his candidature for the presidential election that will take place this autumn.

REMARKABLY little has been said or written about the financial crisis at one of Ireland’s most important companies: Eircom. The formerly State-owned company owes about €3.8 billion but does not look as if it can repay all of its debts.

A WEEK after election day here are some final thoughts on the conduct of the campaign and of the results.