http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/comment/ Latest from the online edition en-gb Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:41:50 +0000 Copyright (C) 2010 Clyde and Forth Press Ltd http://www.clydeandforthmedia.co.uk/feeds/ 75 http://www.clydeandforthmedia.co.uk/furniture/mc_logo_500x75.png http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/comment/ When the first head shops opened in this country around a decade ago, they typically sold pipes, rolling papers and other paraphernalia associated with the cultivation and use of cannabis. http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/03/10/3995435-rise-of-head-shops-demands-comprehensive-response/ http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/03/10/3995435-rise-of-head-shops-demands-comprehensive-response/ Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:00:52 +0000 Opinion It is likely to be the autumn before a more firm indication is given as to whether a proposal to locate a new deepwater port in east Meath is a real possibility. http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/03/03/3995254-port-proposal-represents-major-opportunity-for-county/ http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/03/03/3995254-port-proposal-represents-major-opportunity-for-county/ Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:00:36 +0000 Opinion A little over three years ago, the then Minister for Finance Brian Cowen announced a budget surplus of €9 billion and promised to use the riches of the boom Ireland experienced to create a fairer and more equitable country. http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/02/24/3995060-what-do-we-really-have-to-show-for-boom-years/ http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/02/24/3995060-what-do-we-really-have-to-show-for-boom-years/ Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:00:32 +0000 Opinion Since the weekend, the entire serving hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church has been gathered in Rome for a meeting with Pope Benedict and senior members of the Curia. http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/02/17/3994893-renewal-needed-at-top-levels-across-society/ http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/02/17/3994893-renewal-needed-at-top-levels-across-society/ Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:00:10 +0000 Opinion Consumer sentiment rose to its highest level in two years during January, according to new data released this week. http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/02/10/3994676-where-is-the-govts-action-plan-on-jobs/ http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/02/10/3994676-where-is-the-govts-action-plan-on-jobs/ Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:00:23 +0000 Opinion Measures to assist homeowners struggling to repay their mortgages should be in place by the summer, according to Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan. http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/02/03/3994545-help-at-hand-for-overindebted-householders/ http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/02/03/3994545-help-at-hand-for-overindebted-householders/ Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:59:05 +0000 Opinion Many of County Meath's secondary and rural roads are, in places, close to a state of disintegration following damage caused by this month's adverse weather conditions which sent temperatures plunging to -14 Degrees Celcius in some areas of the county. http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/27/3994327-extra-roads-funding-must-be-made-available-if-needed/ http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/27/3994327-extra-roads-funding-must-be-made-available-if-needed/ Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:00:28 +0000 Opinion It now seems certain that all, or at least the major part, of an inquiry into the collapse of the Irish banking system will be held in public. It is only right and proper that it should be so. http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/20/3994126-only-a-public-banking-inquiry-will-satisfy-taxpayers/ http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/20/3994126-only-a-public-banking-inquiry-will-satisfy-taxpayers/ Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:00:10 +0000 Opinion Serious shortcomings at St Joseph's Community Nursing Unit in Trim have been uncovered by the Health Information & Quality Authority (HIQA) following a two-day inspection carried out last September. http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/13/3993972-highest-standards-must-be-expected-in-care-centres/ http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/13/3993972-highest-standards-must-be-expected-in-care-centres/ Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:00:31 +0000 Opinion Such a prolonged severe cold spell as is currently being experienced has not been seen in this country since 1963. http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/06/3993828-arctic-blast-exposes-an-illequipped-country/ http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2010/01/06/3993828-arctic-blast-exposes-an-illequipped-country/ Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:00:49 +0000 Opinion After an annus horribilis for the retail trade in 2009, those still in business will be happy just to have made it to Christmas but will be looking forward to 2010 with a mixture of trepidation and hope. http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/12/30/3993729-we-must-do-all-we-can-to-support-local-businesses-in-2010/ http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/12/30/3993729-we-must-do-all-we-can-to-support-local-businesses-in-2010/ Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:59:12 +0000 Opinion The publication last week of Meath County Council's intention to compulsorily acquire land in six townlands to facilitate the construction of a bypass of Slane marks the first concrete step in the provision of this critical piece of infrastructure after many years of campaigning by locals. http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/12/23/3993680-pressure-for-slane-bypass-must-be-kept-up/ http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/12/23/3993680-pressure-for-slane-bypass-must-be-kept-up/ Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:00:06 +0000 Opinion Recent aggravated burglary incidents in rural areas have highlighted once again the vulnerability of particularly elderly people living in isolated districts of the countryside who may fall victim to roving gangs of marauding criminals bent on causing terror and mayhem in their bid to steal money from their victims. http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/12/16/3993530-turning-tables-on-burglars-a-welcome-change-in-law/ http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/12/16/3993530-turning-tables-on-burglars-a-welcome-change-in-law/ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:00:29 +0000 Opinion It is being billed as the most crucial budget since the foundation of the State. http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/12/09/3993310-cost-savings-must-be-matched-by-jobs-package/ http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/12/09/3993310-cost-savings-must-be-matched-by-jobs-package/ Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:59:47 +0000 Opinion "Those who committed these dreadful crimes - no matter when they happened - will continue to be pursued and they must know that there will be no hiding place." http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/12/03/3993255-commissions-inquiry-should-be-extended-to-all-dioceses/ http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/12/03/3993255-commissions-inquiry-should-be-extended-to-all-dioceses/ Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:09:14 +0000 Opinion A virtual shutdown of public services around the country yesterday (Tuesday) by up to 250,000 State employees may have allowed workers to give vent to their anger and frustration at being targeted for pay cuts, but it has contributed nothing in terms of the team effort that is required to drag this country back from the brink of bankruptcy. http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/11/25/3993051-futile-strike-has-achieved-nothing/ http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/11/25/3993051-futile-strike-has-achieved-nothing/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:00:23 +0000 Opinion Irish retail sales have fallen further than nearly every other country in Europe this year, a further indication of the perilous state of the Irish economy as we head into what is traditionally the biggest spending period of the year. http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/11/18/3992882-welfare-move-will-hurt-local-economy/ http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/11/18/3992882-welfare-move-will-hurt-local-economy/ Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:59:28 +0000 Opinion An uneasy and growing divide is threatening to open up these past few weeks between those working in the public sector and those working in private industry and services over who should be making the biggest sacrifices to save the nation. http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/11/11/3992716-we-must-come-out-fighting-not-fighting-each-other/ http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/11/11/3992716-we-must-come-out-fighting-not-fighting-each-other/ Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:00:06 +0000 Opinion The former Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to the United States, John Bruton, arrived home to Dunboyne at the weekend http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/11/04/3992483-bruton-is-the-man-for-eu-post/ http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/11/04/3992483-bruton-is-the-man-for-eu-post/ Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:00:00 +0000 Opinion Some rural TDs have been making their voices heard in the past week over the new drink-drive limits Transport Minister Noel Dempsey wants to see brought in. http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/10/28/3992289-joinedup-thinking-needed-to-solve-rural-drinkdrive-issue/ http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/10/28/3992289-joinedup-thinking-needed-to-solve-rural-drinkdrive-issue/ Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:00:39 +0000 Opinion Later this week, potentially the most explosive report on clerical sex abuse in this country will be published. It is a report, we are being forewarned, that will shake the Church in Ireland to its core. http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/10/21/392121-archdiocese-report-must-be-watershed-for-church/ http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/10/21/392121-archdiocese-report-must-be-watershed-for-church/ Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:00:04 +0000 Opinion The staggering legacy of the insanity that characterised the boom years in Ireland was revealed in figures last week which showed that there is currently enough zoned land in the country to build homes for another three million people. http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/10/14/391884-new-bill-to-end-rezoning-madness/ http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/10/14/391884-new-bill-to-end-rezoning-madness/ Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:00:33 +0000 Opinion It's the story that simply won't go away. The anger over Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue's lavish expenses continues to mount, as does the pressure on the former Fianna Fail minister to explain the level of his spending of taxpayers' money while in office. http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/10/07/391762-deal-with-this-expenses-distraction-now/ http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/10/07/391762-deal-with-this-expenses-distraction-now/ Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:40:20 +0000 Opinion Ireland will remain a member of the European Union (EU) regardless of whether the Lisbon Treaty referendum passes or not on Friday. http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/09/30/391568-this-time-we-must-put-our-country-first/ http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/09/30/391568-this-time-we-must-put-our-country-first/ Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:00:36 +0000 Opinion Entertainer and magician Keith Barry will have struck a strong cord with many people at the weekend when he called for real and genuine reform of the law as it relates to those caught breaking and entering the homes of elderly pensioners. http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/09/23/391440-householders-need-protection-of-law-not-criminals/ http://www.meathchronicle.ie/opinion/roundup/articles/2009/09/23/391440-householders-need-protection-of-law-not-criminals/ Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:00:24 +0000 Opinion