THE arrival of Shane Ross, journalist, author and senator, into the general election campaign, seeking a Dáil seat in George Lee’s old constituency of Dublin South, is not just significant in itself: it could lead to other similarly minded individuals pitching themselves to the electorate, offering themselves as new legislators to add to the public voices they already use.

IN justifying his decision in 2007 to enter government Green Party leader John Gormley cited advice given to him during coalition negotiations by Mary Harney, a woman who at that stage had been a senior minister for 10 years (and who had been a junior minister earlier in her career).

TWO men sitting in a bar, each drinking a pint. The first man’s glass is half-full. The second man’s is half-empty. Here is their conversation.

GOVERNMENT minister Pat Carey believes that a person should tell his or her employer if they believe that a colleague’s lifestyle, health or work performance is unduly influenced by the excessive consumption of alcohol or any intake of illegal drugs.

THE latest disastrous MRBI opinion poll for Fianna Fáil has it just two points ahead of Sinn Féin when it comes to voter preferences now, just months ahead of the coming general election.

FEW tears were shed this week for Dermot Ahern and John Gormley as those government ministers contemplated life without power.

WHAT’S happening to Ireland at present reminds me of a true, but ugly, story of the near collapse of an Irish corporate icon nearly 20 years ago.

THERE is a financial crisis that gets far too little attention. It is not the one at the banks or in the public finances but the one affecting the ordinary homeowners of this country, or at least those who have mortgages that must be repaid.