MIDDLE Ireland came out of its deep slumber on Lisbon Treaty referendum day and restored our belief that we still live in a healthy democracy.

SIPTU is refusing to condemn yesterday's protest at Dublin Port in which demonstrators tried to block the port.

FORMER government communications consultant Monica Leech has secured an apology and a final settlement figure believed to be in the region of €125,000 including costs as part of a libel action settlement against Associated Newspapers — publishers of the Irish Mail on Sunday and the Daily Mail.

A Cork property developer has branded as a “complete fiction” the claim that he once handed IR£150,000 to the former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds.

BROADCASTER Eamon Dunphy described the property developer he believed indicated Bertie Ahern was paid inducements, as “a straightforward and honest man” at the Mahon Tribunal yesterday.

THE Mahon Tribunal is paying out more than three-quarters of expenses and costs being claimed by third parties, according to bills settled so far with individuals and companies.

Former Taoiseach John Bruton today denied trying to silence one of his TDs who led a campaign to help a Donegal family expose garda corruption.

CONTRARY to the view expressed by Sorcha Healy (Letters, May 31), there is little to commend a Minister for Justice who abuses his powers to make public unsubstantiated accusations against either a political opponent (Gerry Adams) or an ordinary citizen (Frank Connolly).

After it was disclosed that Ben Dunne had paid for renovations to Michael Lowry’s house, Bertie said the “first duty of any minister is to the public whom he has been appointed to serve.

Journalist Frank Connolly today revealed he was aware former Taoiseach John Bruton pressured Fine Gael colleagues not to help a Donegal family’s battle against garda corruption.

An MEP forgot a former Taoiseach warned him to stop raising the issue of garda corruption in the Dáil until he spoke with a journalist, the Morris Tribunal was told today.

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

I DEPLORE the unethical behaviour of our Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, while serving as our Minister for Finance.

EVEN the most hardened of cynics would find it difficult not to be amazed by the contents of yesterday’s long awaited statement by the Tánaiste, Michael McDowell, in support of the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern.

Ardara, on the edge of Donegal’s western seaboard, became another town blackened by allegations of garda corruption after an arson attack on a telecommunications mast and an explosive was planted at it in November 1996.

NEWSWEEK ran an absorbing story this week featuring bitter criticism by retired US generals of US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

The Adult Cautioning Scheme is due to begin next Wednesday, following consultation between the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the Garda Siochána and the Justice Minister.

The Government is reportedly planning to introduce tougher penalties for passport fraud under new regulations due to take effect later this year.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern tonight said the Justice Minister has his full support over revealing details about allegations that investigative journalist Frank Connolly had travelled to Columbia on a false passport.

AT THIS stage, most readers probably feel there is little more to be said about the recent controversy between Michael McDowell and Frank Connolly. The issues have been fairly well aired on both sides.

THE Government’s move to undermine the Centre for Public Inquiry must alert all who value the due process of law, our democratic system, our sovereignty and citizens’ rights.

THERE is clearly a need for a Centre for Public Inquiry, but whether it is the current self-appointed body is seriously open to question.

MR JUSTICE FLOOD was not just “expressing an opinion.” He was emphasising a core principle of justice that any person must be presumed innocent until proven guilty.

THE controversy concerning the Centre for Public Inquiry is cast as a tussle about the respective bona fides of Frank Connolly and Michael McDowell.

TÁNAISTE Mary Harney yesterday accepted that Justice Minister Michael McDowell would be in a difficult position if his allegations about Frank Connolly were unfounded.

THE Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) decided more than two years ago that no prosecution would be brought against Frank Connolly over allegations he travelled to Colombia on a false passport, the Centre for Public Inquiry (CPI) claimed last night.

IT was not so long ago that Michael McDowell was calling for the jailing of gardaí who leaked information.

The Centre for Public Inquiry (CPI) tonight accused Justice Minister Michael McDowell of undermining the authority and independence of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

LIKE myself and the wider world, you may have been under the illusion that this country was democratically run by the Government on a cabinet basis.

CHRISTMAS came early for TDs yesterday as the Dáil broke for Christmas holidays - for the best part of six weeks.

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell should be ashamed of himself for carrying out what retired Judge Feargus Flood termed a “drumhead court-martial” against investigative journalist Frank Connolly.

FRANK CONNOLLY should sue if he feels he was defamed by the Government, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern suggested yesterday.

I LEAVE to others the argument over the propriety and constitutionality of Mr McDowell's action in handing part of a confidential garda file to his drinking buddy Sam Smyth and in making allegations against Mr Connolly behind the shield of Dáil privilege.

MICHAEL McDOWELL has acted in an outrageous manner with his allegations against Frank Connolly - allegations that are not only unsubstantiated but also entirely baseless legally.

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has mounted a further defence of Justice Minister Michael McDowell over his controversial remarks about Frank Connolly.

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, is expected to come under pressure in the Dáil today over Justice Minister Michael McDowell's controversial accusations against Frank Connolly.

THE controversy surrounding Justice Minister Michael McDowell’s allegation that Frank Connolly visited Colombia on a false passport has been given a new and significant perspective by pointed criticism of the minister from a former High Court judge.

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell got Government backing for a campaign to have Frank Connolly sacked as executive director of the Centre for Public Inquiry (CPI).

REMEMBER ‘A Few Good Men,’ starring Jack Nicholson and Tom Cruise?

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday insisted there was no Government campaign to bring down the Centre for Public Inquiry (CPI), the independent investigative body led by Frank Connolly.

The Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, has told the Dáil that the visit of the so called Colombia three to South America was to acquire tens of millions of euro.

The Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, has rejected claims that he breached the constitutional rights of former journalist Frank Connolly, who heads the Centre for Public Inquiry.

The Centre for Public Inquiry has the capacity to undermine the authority of the state if it falls into subversive hands, Minister for Justice Michael McDowell warned TDs in the Dáil today.

Minister for Justice Michael McDowell acted properly at all times in relation to his allegations that journalist Frank Connolly travelled to Colombia on a false passport in 2001, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said today.