FOREIGN Minister Dermot Ahern and MEP Proinsias de Rossa had a radio confrontation about extraordinary rendition during the week. To say they were arguing like a couple of fishwives would be an insult to women.

HAVING dealt with the Brian Curtin matter last week, I am loath to revisit it again so soon.

THERE was a deep sense of outrage on the airways during the week that Judge Brian Curtain has been paid approximately €600,000 since he was charged with possession of child pornography, and that he will now get a further €57,000 in severance.

THE Republican Party took a beating in the mid-term American elections this week, even though the economy was possibly never better.

THE High Court case for the extradition of Tim and Ethel Blake, of Cobh, for kidnapping their grandson Dylan is an outrage.

AT the opening of the Cleraun media conference in Dublin last Saturday, Communications Minister Noel Dempsey was forceful in criticising The Irish Times for breaking the story about the money given to Bertie Ahern.

AT the end of November Michael Collins had proposed a new oath to be attached to the draft treaty: “I... do solemnly swear to bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the Irish Free State as by law established and that I will be faithful to His Majesty King George in acknowledgment of the Association of Ireland in a common citizenship with Great Britain and the group of nations known as the British Commonwealth.”

IT’s all of half a century now since President John F Kennedy declared: “October 23, 1956, is a day that will live forever in the annals of free men and nations.

AN INTRIGUING aspect of the talks in St Andrews is that there has been no mention of resolving partition.

BERTIE Ahern said it was only “with the benefit of hindsight” that he realised his “misjudgement” in accepting money from friends.