As Aer Lingus becomes the latest victim of privatisation, with the obvious results, it is nauseating to listen to the cries of foul play emanating from some business interests and politicians alike.

The failure of the Fianna Fail led coalition of PD's and Greens to use its shareholding to compel Aer Lingus to restore the Shannon to Heathrow service is an insult to the entire Mid West.

I am absolutely appalled and outraged, but not at all surprised at the Aer Lingus decision to cease their Shannon to Heathrow Flights.

Carrefour is the second largest retail chain in the world (Wal-Mart is the first).

As the Taoiseach walks to give his evidence for the Mahon Tribunal this month with the spirit of Charles Haughey by his side and the memories of Ray Burke, Liam Lawlor and Pádraig Flynn not far behind, one has to question why this was not dealt with promptly by the tribunal, and then by the media in a short, sharp burst of intense speculation.

I read with disgust in the media yesterday (Tuesday 21 August) that a private investment company can make over €7.99 million and only pay €250 in tax.

August is start of the winter of cruelty with the commencement of the foxcub hunting season. Over the next three months mounted and foot foxhunters will be in the countryside blooding foxhounds and harrier hounds with young fox cubs.

Sir Who does the Minister of Education and Science think she is in issuing a dictate to all Gaelscoileanna that they must teach English to all of their students. Compulsory English!

The move from Shannon to Belfast by Aer Lingus is the latest attempt to outsource and create yellow pack workers and it must be opposed.

While the seemingly inevitable fate of the prehistoric temple at Lismullen is bitterly lamented by the greater archaeological, historical and scholarly community, its loss is all the more poignant as it is universally accepted that this supposedly isolated monument is but a constituent part of the broader, seamless National Monument of Tara.