Latest:
- 21:03 Six-year-old dies after boat crash
- 20:58 Woman linked to mummified remains
- 18:18 Paedophile arrested after tip-off
- 18:13 Bishop issues sectarianism warning
- 18:08 Traveller life expectancy unchanged
- 18:03 Tax take fall takes state into red
- 17:53 Mid-East leaders vow further talks
- 17:43 Trapattoni sticking to the basics
STRAIGHT TALKING: Government's childcare policy bordering on a joke
THE fact that Ireland is the most expensive country in Europe for childcare is hardly surprising. The only thing that's surprising is that a survey was needed to divulge the information in the first place. Support for working parents from the Government is miserly at best, and I say that as a parent who has just finished with the childcare system.
PLATFORM: We must face up to the end game of our housing crisis
THE biggest personal financial decision in our life is house purchase. The characteristic of wanting to own your own home is part of our DNA. Nowhere is boom to bust more evident than in the housing market. In 2003 proper records were assembled on mortgage credit, when total loans amounted to less than €20bn. The peak was reached in 2006 with €39.8bn of house finance. Shockingly, the half-year figure up to the end of this June was a paltry €2.5bn.
AIDAN WRITES: Something must be done to stop this endless carnage
THERE will come a time, Minister Dempsey, when you will look back upon your political career and, probably in a quiet moment somewhere, ask yourself what real difference you actually made to people's lives. Although many will remember you for what you believe are the wrong reasons such as disappearing on a sun holiday when the country was frozen to a halt, or your use of government transport at the taxpayers' expense, many others will remember you for the far more important things you achieved.
ON THE MONEY: Uncompetitiveness with Britain is costing us dear
FROM 1928 until 1992 the value of the Irish Pound was always one pound Sterling. During that time the level of prices was much the same in Ireland and Britain. The one-toone link of the Irish Pound to Sterling was broken in 1992 and some years later we joined the Euro.
THE WAY I SEE IT: In defence of our dentists
WHEN the first British troops encountered their German enemy in World War 1 they immediately noticed the good teeth of the German soldiers. The British have never been renowned for the health of their teeth and we Irish are further down the scale when it comes to oral hygiene.
COMMENT: We need to do more to preserve life on our roads
THIS last week has seen more tragedy and heartbreak on our nation's roads. Following the terrible loss of four young teenagers in County Kerry last Wednesday, three more people lost their lives in separate incidents across the country over the weekend. There is scarcely a weekend goes by without a fatal crash and often those losing their lives are young people, many of them teenagers – most of them passengers in cars being driven by their peers.
MY WORLD: Hair straighteners put the heat on men
MONDAY morning, 8.30 a.m. and nothing out of the ordinary has yet occurred. The man of the house is inching his way through the rush-hour traffic and is on course to be seated at the office desk by 8.55am. Easily.
Inside Lifestyle
- Fred is the real deal
- Little girl who sings is all grown up
- The village goes vintage
- Skaters' jam rocks Arklow
- Old fashioned family fun day
- Local lad Mark comes out on top
- COMMENT: Sustaining NRA's idle staff not the road to go down
- STRAIGHT TALKING: Solution to downloading is sweet music to my ears
- PLATFORM: Bank's decision to pull out of Irish market is truly shocking
- AIDAN WRITES: RTE's top earners could do with a hard dose of reality
- ON THE MONEY: Decisions in Berlin will have huge bearing on us
- Q&A: Does size matter when it comes to planning?
- MY WORLD: Saying goodbye to a true motoring love
- THE WAY I SEE IT: Nothing simple with education
- Part of an Irish acting dynasty
- Polo and picnics, a great day out
- Lots of snazzy moves at soccer summer session
- Farming in the old way
- Kids enjoy last days of summer
- Equine action is a crowd-puller
- Nice day for a White 'wedding'
- STRAIGHT TALKING: We need to challenge the sexualisation of children
- COMMENT: They won't tell us what's going on
- PLATFORM: Squeeze on local hospitals will affect the next general election
- THE WAY I SEE IT: Taking our one shot at this life
Editor's Choice
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