ON THE first Wednesday of December, Brian Cowen will deliver his fourth, and possibly last, budget as Minister for Finance. He appears closer than ever to taking over from Bertie Ahern as leader of Fianna Fáil, and then as taoiseach, and likely before this time next year.

I WOULD like to apologise to readers for my seriously inaccurate column that appeared on this page on the first Friday of September.

WHAT must the super-rich in Ireland make of Chuck Feeney? The American billionaire has put it up to them by giving away more than €1 billion to support worthy causes in this country and he wasn’t even born here.

BANKS get blamed for lots of things, but often not for what they do worst. What is considered excessive profiteering is attributed often to the fees and charges they demand for providing services, but where some banks — particularly smaller ones — are really culpable of damaging the economy and the lives of individuals is in their lending practices.

The current dilemma was experienced first at the inaugural World Cup in New Zealand 20 years ago. Suddenly on the night before the first game with Wales, it was realised that an anthem was needed.

ROY KEANE was mocked by many when he said Ireland could win soccer’s 2002 World Cup.

Irish Ferries may be upset by what happened to its Polish passenger, but if it is embarrassed then its condition was probably heightened to hear that rival Stena Line provides defibrillators on board all of its vessels, even though its regulator does not require it to do so.