At least 10,000 homeless - Crisis is one of political relevance

Somewhere in the bowls of Government Buildings, this week or next, a committee made up of second-tier bureaucrats, maybe a theatre consultant too, will meet to update preparations for the events scheduled to mark this Republic’s looming foundation centenaries.

These meetings will occasionally be visited by, say, decision-makers from the Department of the Taoiseach or the Department of Heritage and Culture to prod or curb as required. It is unlikely that this committee, no matter how inspired, might suggest a re-enactment of the burning of Cork or, say, the Ballyseedy Massacre or even the Sack of Balbriggan. That would be too close to the bone, too contentious. Too real.