THERE is something fundamentally wrong that the communities in Ringaskiddy and those in the surrounding Cork harbour area should be subjected to a Bord Pleanála oral hearing in relation to the proposed Indaver Ireland hazardous waste incinerator.

OH, the school around the corner’s not the same — and won’t be again after the niggardly and miserly action by Minister for Education Noel Dempsey in removing the largesse of lord mayors and the odd bishop of giving a half day to primary and secondary school pupils.

THE right to choose is a slogan synonymous with another issue, but it’s one which Minister for Health Mícheál Martin will be hearing a lot of between now and the New Year before his unilateral smoking ban is introduced.

IN the fall-out from the Laffoy Commission debacle, Minister for Education Noel Dempsey has come up with what can only be described as an inspiration on how to cut down on costs, numbers and delays.

THE litter problem in this country is a dirty business, but something which few people think about is the fact that it could have a detrimental effect on the economy.

IT will come as no surprise to hear that the Government is going to axe the 100 people receive from the President on reaching the remarkable milestone of 100 years of age.

THE number of people who expressed abhorrence at the possibility of somebody becoming a criminal simply because they want to trace their parents surprised me during the past fortnight.

FOR a man who was reportedly awaiting a call from the Grim Reaper about a month ago, Charles J Haughey has reaped a nice profit from the sale of Abbeville which, during his tenure there, stood as a symbol of everything that is rotten in this country.

Reports of their deaths may be greatly exaggerated. Given the dodgy quality of the information that the Americans and the British have been indoctrinating the rest of the world with, there is still a good chance that Qusay and Uday — not to mention the 14 year-old boy — are alive and well.