To lose one CEO might be considered unfortunate. To lose two is careless. To lose three... Mary Harney faces further embarassment as the second person to head the six-month-old Health Service Executive (HSE) has stepped down before taking up office. The deal broke down on the night of Wednesday 2 June, between Brendan Drumm and the HSE. Add a comment

A single incident, however momentous, does not guarantee that concerned individuals will view the event as an example of a larger problem, and organise to solve it".* Add a comment

For the last thirty years, numerous reports have attempted to provoke Government action on nursing homes, but to no avail. By Hilary Curley Add a comment

In the week that Mary Harney addresses the nurses at their annual conference, low pay, poor working conditions and differences over the training of care assistants may lead to industrial action. Hilary Curley reports Add a comment

Community non-profit childcare facilities in Ireland's disadvantaged areas are likely to close because they are not 'financially viable'. Hilary Curley reports Add a comment

The Inspector of Prisons has heavily criticised conditions in St Patrick's Institution for juvenile offenders. Emma Browne reports Add a comment

Mary Harney's claims to have acted decisively on residential charges don't stand up. She also dithered on an even more significant looming legal crisis for the health service. By Vincent Browne Add a comment

Michael Conaghan, Lord Mayor of Dublin, started it. Taking his role as first citizen of Dublin seriously, and anxious that Dubliners would have a more enjoyable St Patrick's Day this year than over the last two years, he suggested that off-licences in the capital stay closed until 6pm on the big day. It was a modest request and would have effectively met its objective of giving us a more pleasant atmosphere in the city centre for the festivities. He was supported by a wide variety of groups and, if his request was put to the people, I believe a large majority would have agreed. He met the representatives of the off-licences and formally asked them to forgo some profits in the interests of the public. No, they said. End of story! Add a comment