It is shocking and unacceptable that elderly patients are kept waiting in chairs in Accident & Emergency wards for lengths of time that are equivalent to multiple working days.

The tone of the European Central Bank’s letter that was sent to Brian Lenihan is hardly surprising. What is surprising is that the ECB is going beyond its mandate of monetary policy to interfere in the fiscal policy of a sovereign nation.

What a game! Yes we were beaten, but it was a narrow victory by what some suggest is the greatest rugby team the world has seen.