The powers-that-be in Brussels held Ireland as the shining example of economic excellence throughout the Celtic Tiger and, excepting David McWilliams and Dr Morgan Kelly, who were pilloried, nobody in Ireland questioned the basis of the boom.

Pat Kenny’s departure from RTÉ raises interesting questions as to how the State-owned broadcaster is allowed continue to break the Public Procurement Guidelines and not tender this and other obviously lucrative contracts.

It is of concern that in times of ‘transparency’ in politics, the American and Irish governments seek to prosecute whistleblowers, who have highlighted the truth of what has been going on behind the scenes, rather than dealing with the issues honestly.

If the Catholic Church was forced, like every other “multinational”, to obey the equality employment law in Ireland, perhaps we would be in a better place.

A COHORT of independent candidates have banded together to form a political alliance which pledges to vote as a unit on four national issues if elected.