Society

The Sunday Independent and the Irish Independent suggested that a Muslim school in Dublin was spending too much teaching time on the Koran, but they are within guidelines set by the Department of Education

After the European court ruling that prisoners are entitled to vote, Harry Browne
looks at the next frontier in the fight for prisoners' democratic rights: the fact that they
do productive work in jail for little or no money

Halting sites without electricity and basic water facilities. Rival Traveller families at one another's throats. Illegal dumps on Travellers' doorsteps. James Byrne visited Traveller homes on the outskirts of Dublin city to see for himself if things were as bad as he had heard. Pictures by Derek Speirs

A supermarket survey has shown an 11 per cent increase in the past year in the cost of the average shopping basket, containing beef, milk, eggs, and vegetables. In 2004 the average price for these goods was €18.14; in 2005 it has risen to €20.89. The largest increases were in carrots and milk, with an increase of almost 80 per cent on both these products. The price of milk rose by 21 per cent, yet in the same period the farmer's price has fallen by almost 15 per cent. The average price of carrots went up from 0.88 cent to €1.58.

Low spending on primary education means many Irish schools must turn to competitions and other projects sponsored by multinationals. As schools – and advertisers – prepare for the new school year, Hilary Curley reports on children's increasing influence on their parents' shopping habits

Both the courts and the political domain have a role to play in addressing marginalisation, writes Donncha O'Connell

From the 1930s to the 1960s, women TDs and Senators continued to be either the widows or relatives of deceased members of the Oireachtas. During the final drafting of Bunreacht na h'Éireann (Irish Constitution) in 1936, there were only three women deputies in the Dáil. There were no women in the Seanad as it had been abolished the same year, 1936.

The acquittal of Pádraig Nally, the Mayo farmer, for the murder of the Traveller, John Ward, and his conviction for manslaughter raises again legal doubts about the law on provocation.

The Sunday World of 24 July included several articles that exhibited deep prejudice against Travellers. Vincent Browne reports

Croagh Patrick may be an icon of Catholicism, but it has welcomed pilgrims since long before St Patrick, writes Áine Ryan. Photos by Michael McLoughlin