As Christmas and the New Year approaches I had expected this week to be reporting a very dramatic fall off in cattle numbers at marts across the country.

In the course of compiling this week’s mart report, I discovered how some Russians can drink considerable amounts of vodka and still function.

I mentioned last week that a lot of marts reported an increase in buyer numbers as men who’d been putting off buying returned ringside.

Like a ship making to port, mart reports this week seem to indicate a “steady as she goes” approach.

I got a call just before 2pm last Tuesday from the Joe Duffy programme asking would I go on air to talk about that day’s IFA protest in Dublin.

“We’re confident but need to improve,” and “Confidence has returned and the trade is improved” — similar comments from mart managers this week, first to sum up their counties’ prospects in the All Ireland hurling replay, and secondly to describe the mart trade.

The trade at the marts over the last week has seen prices improve markedly for heavier stock as the factory price has stabilised and, in some cases, improved.

My sister recently returned from a brief holiday in Ghana in West Africa.

Clear divisions have opened up in the cattle trade this week.

Prices for younger or lesser conformation animals have eased, but as one mart manager said to me, “Money is the life blood and there’s still plenty of it about.”

Fianna Fáil Leader Micheál Martin has today accused the Minister for Health of misleading the Dáil over this year's spending plans for the health service.

"There is a danger that you could end up with a self-fulfilling prophecy".

The mart trade of the last week has seen further improvements in prices across virtually all classes of stock as farmers continue to invest on the back of excellent factory prices, tightness in numbers, improved weather and improving grass supplies.

Flagrant bias! Blazing prejudice! Local radio!

In the course of putting this week’s report together, I had one man from Cork say, “The sun is shining, grass is growing and cattle are dear,” — which just about sums up the mid-June trade across the country.

The mart trade over the last ten days has been dominated by men who need to buy cattle to graze grass.

Having studied various mart reports and allowing for weather and grass difficulties, I have noticed a third element becoming more obvious this week around the sales rings — price divergence on the basis of conformation.

Proposals to store human waste in sheds in the heart of the West Cork countryside have sparked alarm amongst residents.

“We had a full clearance with a lot of local buyers and a share of men from the midlands down to buy,” said Michael Scanlon of Kanturk mart this week.

MUNSTER hurling finalists Na Piarsaigh have already been assured of one provincial title this year.

CORK hurling star Gerald McCarthy and Kerry football hero Paudie Lynch will be inducted into the Munster Council’s Hall of Fame.

THE next Government faces a massive headache drawing up complex legislation to keep health insurer VHI in business through some form of compensation for treating older private health customers.

THE Health Service Executive knew in advance about a clause in the new hospital consultants’ contract which will hit taxpayers for a loss of €50 million this year.

GAA fans around the country awoke yesterday to another brewing row between players, management and officials in Cork. Michael Moynihan offers an insight into the background of this festering conflict.

NICKY RACKARD CUP GROUP 3C: MONAGHAN 0-19 DONEGAL 1-15

HEALTH Service Executive (HSE) bosses were awarded €1.23 million in bonus payments in 2006, yet a man could not get four hours of home help to keep his elderly mother out of a nursing home, a Dáil committee heard yesterday.

IT is obscene the head of Dunne Inquiry into Organ Retention and her senior legal team were each paid €1,902 a day for a job that they never completed, campaign group Parents for Justice (PFJ) said yesterday.

FUTURE funding for the health service will be determined by the quality of patient care, not by those who shout loudest for it, the head of the Health Service Executive (HSE) insisted yesterday.

Staff cuts in the nation’s health service may include culling nurses, it was claimed today.

CHAIRMAN of the Public Accounts Committee Michael Noonan yesterday warned that the scandal of illegal charges in nursing homes could happen again if the position on hospitals charging for safeguarding patients’ property is not clarified.

THE Government is expected to appoint the new secretary general of the Department of Health next Tuesday, following the cancellation of today’s Cabinet meeting in Cork.

TO those of a certain generation, there is something magical about radio on All-Ireland final Sunday.

A 31-year-old man has been jailed for nine years for possession of an under car booby trap bomb which was meant for use in an ongoing feud which has already claimed six lives.

A man who pleaded guilty to having a car bomb is involved in an ongoing Limerick feud which has already claimed six lives, a court has heard.