This Government has spent millions on Irish Water — an estimated €180 million on setting it up; €50m on “consultants” and even another €55,000 on a gym for staff — and one of the reasons offered for all of this is that the company and the revenue it gets from taxpayers is necessary to fix the leaking pipes which carry the water.

IF it wasn’t enough that Brian Cowen made a disgrace of us for the last three years whilst representing the country internationally, now the eyes of the world can see how utterly unprofessional and slovenly Irish politicians remain with the way a number of our new Dáil deputies are choosing to present themselves in their role as public representatives.

SECONDARY school teachers angrily rejected the public sector pay deal, heralding a split within the trade union movement and the possibility of heightened industrial action in schools.