It's congratulations and commiserations time again for all of those who have endured the Leaving Cert 2008.

Bill Clinton famously said that when it comes to elections "It's the economy stupid," and whatever you may think of his many faults, on that particular issue he was absolutely spot on.

Any new measure introduced to stem the continual rise of alcohol abuse in this country can be seen as a positive development, but it is difficult to see the sense in the government's move this week to close off-licences after the hour of ten o'clock in the evening.

As three English criminals face up to the prospect of spending the rest of their adult days in Irish prison, there has been much congratulation and back slapping here regarding the way the case has been conducted.

A caller to RTE Radio 1's Liveline show during the week informed us that he would rather take a reduction in the minimum wage than join the dole queue at his local social welfare office.

So the big squeeze is here at last. Predicted since long before the last general election, the tightening of belts that has been happening in households throughout the country has finally manifested itself in Brian Cowen cutting a new notch on his government's not inconsiderable financial belt.

Tonight's meeting in the Curtis Auditorium at Cork School of Music is something that many in Cork would not have been expecting to sit down to, barely one year after the long-awaited facility finally opened its doors.

It may have seemed for a while at least that the worst effects of what is increasingly looking like an oil crisis may have passed Ireland by.