Revered or reviled, John Paul II has been a giant amongst popes. Eamon Duffy reviews the legacy of Karol Wojtyla, the Polish Pope

The Border, Midlands and West region (BMW) was created at the end of the 90's to maximise funding under the last round of EU structural funds. By dividing the country in two and creating a completely new region at the top half of the country, the economic situation of the poorer counties was assessed separately to the other parts of Ireland. It therefore qualified for maximum amount of grant-aid from the EU over the 2000-2006 period.

Disabled children are 30 per cent more likely to have dental decay, than non-disabled children and disabled adults are 20 per cent more likely to have no teeth at all if they are over 55, when compared with non-disabled adults.

Conor Lenihan gave up a career as a journalist, success as a telecoms executive and the possibility of millions for a life in politics. And he's not about to give it up. He talks to Katie Hannon

Following the Human Rights Commission report on racism and discrimination, Hilary Curley presents the lowlights of Ireland's treatment of minorities

What a week. What a fortnight. For one-parent families. For the Old Lady of d'Olier Street. For the media in general.

In his previous employment as a pathologist in Northern Ireland, the Republic's new Assistant State Pathologist was cleared of serious professional misconduct after he gave x-rays only a "cursory glance". His behaviour was described as"unprofessional", Emma Browne reports

The poorest families in the state hand over one fifth of their weekly income to the Government through indirect taxation, while top earners part with just 10 per cent of their earnings.

"The fall-out from the Northern Bank raid is that trust and confidence in the process are now at a very low level. The sooner we can deal with these issues straight up with the republican movement, the better.

Everyone loves a crackpot, especially an Irish crackpot. And our history is full of them writes Damian Corless