AS Ireland blinks at the unfamiliar sunlight of financial freedom after three years banged-up in economic hard labour by the troika, it knows it may have exited the bailout, but is really only out on bail.

IF IT really was a “war” in the North as Gerry Adams claims, then where were the rules of war?

The disconnect between the elected and their electors has been on display to an alarming degree.

WERE the dogs of war unleashed this week by a jittery Government lashing out as it risks completely losing control over the escalating crisis in health funding?

Karma seems to be the buzz word as politicians’ pasts come back to haunt them.

Like typical Irishmen, Enda and Eamon have grudgingly agreed to marriage, but refuse to set a date.

IT’S not often you feel sorry for the CIA, but pity the poor fools at their Langley HQ trying to make sense of the blatherings of Bertie and co.

HALF the Cabinet being stuck in a lift on budget day was a fitting metaphor for a Government going nowhere.

QUOTE of the week has to go to economist John Fitzgerald who admitted when launching the new ESRI report that: “The one thing that is sure about this latest forecast is that it is wrong.”

WOULD we even notice if the Irish government shut down?