Why Fianna Fáil’s lonely voice of realism is whistling in the wind

IN the fall-out from the Laffoy Commission debacle, Minister for Education Noel Dempsey has come up with what can only be described as an inspiration on how to cut down on costs, numbers and delays.

On behalf of the Government, he is thinking of introducing "sampling", which will drastically reduce costs and the number of people seeking to be heard. It is an inspired notion, not for Laffoy but for elections to the Dáil.

While the details would have to be worked out, it is a concept which would have the virtue of tremendous popular support.