If you are in business, the day you don’t learn something is the day you’re in trouble. If I could change one thing in Ireland, I’d like us to be more positive.

RESCUERS in nine dramatic, near-death, water accidents were honoured at an awards ceremony in Dublin yesterday.

BOOKMAKERS and punters were singing off the one hymn sheet after Fame And Glory had landed the Saval Beg Stakes at Leopardstown last Sunday.

THE continuing collapse of employment and exchequer revenues, as evidenced by last month’s official figures (Irish Examiner, June 3) proves once again that the Government’s contractionary economic policy continues to be disastrous.

THE extensive correspondence on war and remembrance in your letters columns shows the subject is still controversial. It is amazing that huge numbers of ordinary people can be incited to sacrifice their lives in causes inaccurately labelled ‘patriotic’.

I WISH to protest at the breach of our neutrality in order to give passage to American troops on their murderous mission.

P.E.A.C.E (Prayer Enterprise and Christian Effort) is pleased to announce that the following have been designated Peace People of the Year 2002: EU commissioner Chris Patten; Sandra Peake, Wave Trauma Centre, Belfast; Brid Rodgers deputy leader, SDLP; Fr Aidan Troy, Holycross Retreat, Belfast.

RONÁN Mullen’s advice to Fine Gael on how to sink Bertie was way off the mark (Irish Examiner, Nov 20).

MODEL Farm Road is one of the more salubrious addresses in Cork city and homes here are always snapped up.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will today confirm the date for a general election - and signal the end of the longest-lasting government in the peacetime history of Ireland.