A report on the background to the closure and on the secret dealings between a company and the government. By Vincent Browne, John Feeney and Howard Kinlay.

IN SPITE OF the huge advances in medical science in this century life expectancy, for those who reach the age of forty has not increased at all. According to Dr. Noel Hickey of the Department of Preventive Medicine at UCD. this is because of changes in behaviour patterns. He cites in particular the things we eat and the fact that most of us take a lot less exercise. Even without any obvious excesses, like overwork or heavy drinking, the average modern lifestyle is a health hazard. Most people are slowly, inexorably, killing themselves.  By Eamon Dunphy.

TOM O'DEA LOOKS AT THE CHANGES IN TELEVISION COVERAGE OF CURRENT AFFAIRS SINCE THE NEW GOVERNMENT CAME TO POWER

The CATHOLIC Standard, once the triumphant bulwark of the Irish Catholic Church against the corrupting liberalism of the popular media, is in distress.

THE COVER UP of the fingerprint scandal goes on relentlessly.

THE COUNTRY has been on a massive drinking rampage since the return of the Fianna Fail Government to power in early summer. The sales of alcohol have rocketted by 15% in the three months from June to September over the same period last year, and the expectations in the drink trade are that this Christmas will see the most massive drinking spree in our history.

The Church's cheap labour; Workers against Wage Restraint and Charles Haughey

Restaurants by Ulick O'Connor, Traditional Music by Ciaran MacMathuna, Pubs by Anthony Cronin, andTheatre by Conor Cruise O'Brien

'But imports continue to be a threat and the option to find alternative markets by exporting isn't a realistic one for all footwear firms.'  By MARIANNE HERON

The Fitzwilton experiment contributed nothing to the Irish economy but earned for its three promoters, Tony O'Reilly, Vincent Ferguson and Nicholas Leonard, £1. 4 million in capital gains alone in return for an initial investment of a mere £75,000.
By JAMES PRUFROCK