WHILE there was much comment on the exclusions from the Ireland’s Greatest list recently featured on RTÉ, little has been made of the fact that of the five inclusions, three — James Connolly, Mary Robinson and the winner, John Hume — came from the social democratic and Labour traditions on this island. Perhaps there is hope for our country yet.

NO doubt the recent calls for a national government were well intentioned, as were the calls from many citizens that political leaders should set aside their party politics.

A self-confessed gambler who was caught transporting cannabis resin in his car and had a €45,000 stash of the drug in a drawer in his bedroom has been sentenced to five years with the last three suspended.

YES, Matt Cooper (July 20) is spot-on. Dublin, of course, gets everything. It gets Government offices that contribute no commercial rates at a cost of more than €27 million to Dublin City Council last year alone.