Recently, I alerted people to the existence of the Irish exemption from the EU requirement to charge for domestic water. 

IN THE course of the children’s rights referendum campaign — on October 31st, 2012, to be exact — I took part in a debate with John Waters and Kathy Sinnott.

Attempts by pro-life campaigners to block the passing of the abortion legislation were rejected by the High Court which said it had no power to interfere with the legislation currently before the Dáil.

High Court President Nicholas Kearns has rejected a last minute bid to stop the Oireachtas voting on abortion legislation.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Supreme Court of Ireland for upholding the sovereignty of the Irish people in the McCrystal decision.

There will be no cake or candles but a rich helping of determination at the gate of Seamus Sherlock today when he and supporters mark the 100th day of his barricade.

The referendum to enshrine children's rights in the constitution looks set to pass, early results have indicated.

Counting has begun of votes that will determine whether Government plans to enshrine children's rights in the constitution should be accepted.

Voter turnout in the referendum on children's rights is expected to be low.

Justice Minister Alan Shatter has predicted a victory for Government plans to enshrine children’s rights in the constitution.

Misleading information is being presented to the public as part of debate on the children’s referendum, writes Conor O’Mahony

Ireland’s most vulnerable children, including those with disabilities, will be protected if voters back the upcoming children’s rights referendum, campaign groups have claimed.

The no side in the referendum claims the State would remove children from loving homes. But will it, asks Conor O’Mahony

We always knew that politicians could not be trusted, especially when it comes to telling the truth about the legalities of referenda.

Campaigners supporting constitutional change to protect children’s rights have warned that a broadcasting rule ensuring balanced coverage of the debate could leave voters without all the facts.

Last week, I had the privilege of meeting Séamus Sherlock and his family.

The Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald says she hopes there will be no scaremongering in the run up to the Children’s Rights referendum.

The Government-appointed special rapporteur on children yesterday said the wording that will be voted on in November’s referendum will mean the “right children” entering the care system.

A FORTNIGHT ago, Enda Kenny sought to dampen down public speculation by his Cabinet colleagues on December’s budget by declaring that “silly season” was over.

I refer to a number of letters which were recently published in the Irish Examiner, in particular the letter from Barry Fitzgerald and Kathy Sinnott.

Supplies of A2 milk in Britain will earn a premium of 2.5p over the standard farm gate milk price which is currently at 28.43p per litre.

Every year I look forward to the wonderful display of daffodils that bloom along the road from Cork Airport down Airport Hill to the Bull McCabe’s.

The final count on the household tax is in last Tuesday’s post. The majority of Irish households voted “No”.

Disability rights campaigner Kathy Sinnott watched in dismay last night as her “green dream” went up in smoke.

THE sister of a man living in an HSE-run facility for people with intellectual disability has expressed serious concern following an incident which left her brother with 22 staples in his head.

MORE than €12,000 was spent sprucing up a HSE residential unit for people with intellectual disabilities in the days leading up to a ministerial visit.

AS a mother and grandmother, what I want to know, in the aftermath of the abuse reports, is that children are safe, that abused children, many now adults, are given the supports they need to heal and that abusers are brought to justice.

MINISTER with responsibility for Disability Kathleen Lynch will tomorrow visit a locked residential institution in Cork city for people with intellectual disabilities.

THE artist who created the controversial image of Our Lady hit back at critics last night as religious protesters picketed outside University College Cork (UCC).

MEXICAN-BORN artist Alma Lopez arrived in Ireland for the first time yesterday to be greeted with a storm of protest and controversy.

MAY I please address UCC’s decision to host an exhibit that insults Our Lady this weekend.

IT WAS supposed to be a small academic conference at University College Cork (UCC) with four guest speakers exploring various aspects of Chicano, or Mexican American culture.

“WHO are these people?”

A PLEDGE from election candidates not to implement pro-choice policies was demanded by ex-MEPs Dana Rosemary Scallon and Kathy Sinnott.

IT’S nearing the final stretch in another gruelling run in a Cork South Central campaign for a candidate from Turner’s Cross.

HOW times change. Micheál Martin has topped the poll in Cork South Central in three successive general elections — 1997, 2002 and 2007.

A COMMUNITY medical clinic in Mahon is offering free mental health assessments as part of a campaign to promote well-being and good mental health.

THE West Cork pensioner who is calling for a one-day boycott of Mass tomorrow has said anyone who agrees with her sentiments but doesn’t feel comfortable staying away from Mass could wear a green armband to church to show support.

WOMEN have been called upon to stay away from Mass tomorrow. I have taken part in many campaigns, marches and boycotts but I will not be joining this one.

I WISH to respond to the series of utterly scandalous letters which you have published recently in respect of the cervical cancer vaccination, all of which have emanated from people with links to various conservative Christian organisations (Kathy Sinnott, Nora Bennis, Fr Eamon McCarthy, et al).

KATHY Sinnott (Letters, September 6) calls for the HPV vaccine Gardasil to be withheld from all parents and children pending what she calls “an honest debate”.

I WISH to comment on the scandal of vaccine trials in Ireland. I have met victims of these trials – some of them have suffered ill health since they were used for vaccine trials as babies.

I WAS disappointed to read Dr Bill Tormey (Letters, January 7) describing Kathy Sinnott as a “religious zealot”.

WHEN it comes to interference in the intimate details of people’s lives, religious zealots are in the premier league.