Offering cold comfort to victims of crime

It is reasonable to assume that many — quite rightly — will welcome the idea floated by Fine Gael senator Joe O’Reilly, who thinks that school-leavers applying for undergraduate courses should have the opportunity to get up to 80 Central Applications Office points for what he calls civic activities, such as practical involvement with community, sporting, and cultural organisations.

It would be an incentive that would benefit society and the youngsters taking their first steps into the wider world.