The 31 new "penalty point offences" to be introduced on Monday, 3 April, provide for two penalty points for driving a vehicle on a motorway against the flow of traffic.

Pat Rabbitte has disappointed expectations of him as leader and he has moved his party decisively to the right. By Vincent Browne

The Medical Council has acted wisely in asking its Fitness to Practice Committee to review the professional conduct of the three Dublin obstetricians, who said in 1998 that Michael Neary, the Drogheda obstetrician, had no case to answer. This was the obstetrician who had subjected 129 women to caesarean hysterectomonies, a great many of them unnecessarily. The cases of Michael Nearly which the Dublin obstetricians reviewed were subsequently reviewed by a noted British obstetrician, who was appalled by what the cases revealed.

The McDowell tantrum and the devastating critique of actor Brendan Gleeson of conditions in A&E departments could do terrible damage to the Progressive Democrats and to McDowell's own electoral prospects. By Vincent Browne

Far from being "second to none" as he claims, McDowell's legislative record is merely average. By Vincent Browne

Fine Gael and Labour have vested interests in concealing what they might do in government – that is if they know

Phil Flynn's account of his role in Chesterton Finance, the 'weapons' charge and the infamous trip to Bulgaria. By Vincent Browne

Phil Flynn was regarded as politically 'unhygienic' by ministers who later appointed him to State boards. By Vincent Browne

There are a few startling observations in Maureen Harding Clarke's superb report on her inquiry in peripartum hysterectomy at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda. On page 23 of her report she quotes a sister of the Medical Missionaries of Mary (“Sr B”) as saying: “Let me say that I was aware that hysterectomies were done in Ireland more often than was necessary because sterilisation was ethically not acceptable”.

It is doubtful if anyone will ever be convicted for the murder of Donna Cleary and questions arise about the death in Garda custody of Dwayne Foster. By Vincent Browne