Felipe Contepomi - Person of the year 2007

He was one of the few players at the Rugby World Cup to have had a full time occupation outside rugby (“Jannie” du Plessis a prop-forward for South Africa, is a qualified and practicing physician). And yet Felipe Conteponi was one of the most accomplished players in the tournament, by far the most accomplished of the rugby players who play their rugby in Ireland.

Laws and Fines

According to the government legislation programme published on 25 September the government was to publish 17 bills during the autumn session. Just two of these bills have been published. It is now likely  the government will publish in a flurry a number of bills and push them through the Oireachtas in the 11 remaining sitting days before the Christmas recess.

Neglect of children with special needs

The government promised the appointment of 31 additional psychologists in 2007. Characteristically, only seven psychologists have been added to the National Education Psychology Service (NEPS). The service is aimed at children with special needs. An ASTI survey in 2006 found that 89 per cent of schools have students with special needs. Over 42 per cent of Principals stated it took an average of three months or more to secure an appointment with NEPS and 35 per cent of Principals reported a two-month delay.

Travellers wrongly banned from nightclub

Fourteen members of the Traveller community were denied admission to a New Years Eve party in the “South” Nightclub, Tramore on 31 December 2002. They believed that the refusal was solely because they were recognised as members of the Traveller community. They had not bought the tickets as a group and they arrived in various groups at the nightclub at separate times.

Gun stolen from US Troop aircraft at Shannon

Every week thousands of US soldiers continue to troop through Shannon airport en route to and from the war in Iraq. Often there are four or flights a day, each carrying hundreds of troops. The airline now being used in the main is Omni Air International based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a charter airline (see picture).

Tony Clare

Tony Clare was one of the best debaters to come from UCD. Ever. Effortlessly fluent, witty, persuasive, commanding. He and his close friend of the 1960's, the late Patrick Cosgrave (who later served as an adviser to Margaret Thatcher) dominated university debating here and in the UK during their era. Tony Clare seemed destined for politics early on because of his rhetorical skills and the joy he took in performance. But he was serious about medicine and then about his chosen specialty, psychiatry.

James Reilly: The TD with a GP's baggage

James Reilly, the new Fine Gael TD for Dublin North and party spokesperson on health, has made quite an impression very early. Articulate, analytic, combative, informed, he has been quite the best of Mary Harney's adversaries. He has lots of relevant experience in that he is an experienced GP and a former President of the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), with some involvement in private medical practices. All of which might become liabilities for him.

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