Death is a grave matter, but it’s hell on earth if you don’t make a will

THREE weeks into the new year, we are faced with a deluge of disastrous news. Dell, Waterford Wedgwood, Chartbusters and Kostal have all rationalised.

The next monthly unemployment figures will top 300,000. The public finances are in freefall with a potential €20 billion gap between spending and revenue.

Our banking sector is in apparent meltdown, with the nationalisation of Anglo Irish and the fragile recapitalisation of AIB and Band of Ireland.