IT was ironic to see the EU establishment, including Taoiseach Brian Cowen and Foreign Minister Micheál Martin, condemning Robert Mugabe for failing to respect democracy in Zimbabwe.

SINCE Bertie Ahern’s infamous “lulas” comment, several pro-Lisbon politicians have tried to justify it by claiming Sinn Féin and other anti-treaty campaigners have always called for a ‘no’ vote and they were always wrong.

GIVEN the downturn in the construction and financial sectors and the increased competition from China and India in the manufacturing sector, it is widely recognised that the best way forward for the Irish economy is via knowledge-intensive, high value-added activities.

IN his desperate attempts to defend Bertie Ahern, Senator Eoghan Harris berates the Mahon Tribunal for taking so long and costing so much.

HAVING been reduced to tears by the Taoiseach’s famous interview with Brian Dobson on RTÉ news last year, I pity Bertie Ahern having to exist on a mere €310,000 annual salary (plus expenses, driver, jet, make-up, etc) which he has been forced to accept.

RAY CORCORAN (Letters, August 14) is right when he says it is the height of hypocrisy for Fine Gael, the employers and others to bemoan Aer Lingus’s decision to end its Shannon-Heathrow link. But it is even more hypocritical of ministers like Willie O’Dea to complain about the consequences of their own policies. At least Transport Minister Noel Dempsey has the courage to defend his Government’s policies when the heat is on.

IT is the height of hypocrisy for Fine Gael, the employers’ group IBEC, the Small Firms’ Association and other conservative elements to bemoan the decision of Aer Lingus to end its Shannon-Heathrow connection.

I’M disappointed that the Labour Party appears to be ruling out co-operation with Sinn Féin on Dublin city council.

GEORGE BUSH has said that the notorious Abu Ghraib prison where non-convicted — ie, innocent — prisoners were tortured by both Saddam’s and Bush’s henchmen is soon to be demolished.

THE latest rip-off increase in prices occurs at a time when the Government is confronting workers and their unions over privatising public services. It’s no coincidence.

DR FINTAN LANE languishes in Limerick Prison and looks set to be kept there over Christmas, as a result of participating in a peaceful protest at Shannon airport.