DO the math: 25,000 in nursing care, 65,000 homes vacant for five years or more and 5,000 homeless families. There must be some algorithm that can bring all those figures together to make social and economic sense.

Plans to provide victims of sexual crime with the reason why their cases are not being prosecuted are in doubt because of a lack of resources in the State prosecutor’s office.

The RTÉ board is in the firing line after Pat Rabbitte admitted his confidence in it was “shaken”.

The final cost of the Mahon Tribunal could top €250m and see lawyers and witnesses claim fees for years to come.