THOUGH his term of office as Taoiseach was one of the shortest, the contribution made by former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds, who has died at the age of 81, to the making of an enduring peace on this island will go down in the pages of Irish and British history as one of the most important achievements of our time.

IT was Nov 16, 1994, and I was so excited that I made an excuse to get off work and cycled home to watch telly. There was a motion of “no confidence” in Fianna Fáil Taoiseach Albert Reynolds amid controversy relating to his appointment of Harry Whelehan as President of the High Court.

Ireland’s judges — who saw their pay slashed last year in an emphatically supported referendum — still earned a €35.68m salaries, pensions and other payments bonanza throughout 2011.

SATURDAY

Twenty years ago, the Supreme Court ruled a suicidal pregnant teenager had the right to an abortion. So why are we still in a legal quagmire without relevant legislation, asks Linda Kelly

FIANNA Fáil has essentially ousted its last five party leaders while serving Taoisigh. Recently, Vincent Browne was asking on TV3 whether this is indicative of something radically wrong within Fianna Fáil.

WE all know that Albert Reynolds, Taoiseach from 1992 to 1994, hasn’t always enjoyed the kindest press. It’s not just The Sunday Times that has been harsh.

While Mary Harney’s hairdo is attracting the spotlight, the more serious question about the gift of the glass barometer to Mary Hanafin is being largely ignored...

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern was yesterday facing a second front in attacks on his personal credibility, as his Fianna Fáil predecessor Albert Reynolds questioned his role in the scandal that downed the Government in 1994.

IN 1994 a Government fell, and these were the circumstances. There had been growing tension between the parties in Government over a number of difficult issues.

THE recent attacks on the Catholic Church by Liz O’Donnell should be greeted with alarm and dismay by all those committed to the creation of a pluralist and tolerant society.

A FAMILY who lost their mother after a bus mounted the kerb at Wellington Quay, Dublin, on February 21 last year were yesterday awarded €750,000 by the High Court.

WOMEN who had their wombs removed by a Drogheda obstetrician will refuse to go before a second Medical Council inquiry into alleged misconduct, it emerged yesterday.

THE Medical Council, the State body which regulates doctors, has launched a major review into the way it operates following stinging criticism from patient groups.