Tip O'Neill once said that "all politics is local" and he knew a thing or two about politics it must be said. Another wily old political dog, the British Conservative Rab Butler described politics as "the art of the possible," another catchy truism.

The Cork Independent was present this week at a focus group consultation chaired by Cork City Partnership which examined integration strategy in Cork city.

Several weeks ago, in light of the revelations of breast cancer mis-diagnoses, this column described the Minister for Health's position as 'embattled' and 'indefensible'.

Poor old Bertie. Hearts bled across the land this week when our unfortunate Taoiseach bemoaned to his Dáil Eireann colleagues that, not only was he much maligned in reporting that suggested he was ‘better off’ than many of his global counterparts, instead he has been denied such simple necessities as “prolonged holidays, yachts and (holiday) homes”.

There are some things that are described as imponderables. Imponderables are things, events or ideas that while seeming commonplace or every day, defy logic or explanation.