Controversial permission axed - Planning laws need a rebuild

The capacity to express contrition is prerequisite for political leaders. Each of the last number of taoisigh has had occasion to open their heart to the Dáíl and denounce one legacy issue or another.

Even if those apologies provoked a flutter of cynicism, it should be recognised that each man broke with his own foundation culture to express empathy with those who had been hurt by that same culture.