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“I have come to the conclusion that politics are too serious a matter to be left to the politicians,” the former French president Charles De Gaulle once said. Indeed he would have been within his rights to substitute the word ‘dangerous’ for ‘serious’.

At a public seminar organised by the European Commission in Athlone this week, Economics Editor of the Irish Independent, Brendan Keenan, argued that, despite the fact that major political and institutional changes were still needed, the EU and the Eurozone countries have “moved back from the abyss of potential break-up”.

“Get a mandate!” barked Labour party Rottweiler, Councillor Billy Cameron. This verbal was directed at Dette McLoughlin, the chair of Galway’s United Left Alliance. However as quick as you could say travel expenses, McLoughlin replied: “You have no mandate to implement a household tax, nor to rob the poor to help the rich. If you had any principles you would resign from the Labour Party!”

A - Anthony Cunningham has had the sort of 2011 that any manager could only dream of. After steering his native Galway to u21 All-Ireland glory in September, the two time All-Ireland winner was announced as the new Galway senior hurling bainisteoir. He also found time to guide Garrycastle to a third county title on the trot en route to seeing his side become the first Westmeath club ever to win the AIB Leinster club championship. Not a bad year’s work.

Tourmakeady's Kevin O'Toole was elected to the post of County Secretary at the 2011 Mayo GAA Convention held in Geesala at the High Chaparral on Monday night. The former County PRO held off the challenge of sitting assistant secretary Vincent Neary and Burrishoole delegate Margaret O'Malley when the votes were counted in north Mayo. Neary held on to his position as assistant secretary for 2012 after a vote, with Achill's Packie McGinty taking over as Mayo GAA President after he was elected unopposed alongside the majority of other returning officers. The other major position up for election was that of Croke Park delegate where the incumbent delegate Jerry Henry from Castlebar Mitchels was challenged by retiring county secretary Séan Feeney. After the votes were counted the Castlebar man held on to the position for another year.

Like the man-flu that exists in the minds of men only (or does it?), it is perhaps possible to live in denial of the economic hell breaking around on all sides of us now, simply by switching off the radio and refusing to tune into news of any kind. Unfortunately, such an approach is not only unrealistic, it is flawed. Whether we like it or not, nothing can be resolved until tackled head on. While confrontation is something most of us avoid, in cases of crisis such as now, it is unavoidable. We must face facts. The so-called Irish recession is not in the past tense. We are heading not only towards a new recession, but a likely depression.

Retail Ireland, the group that represents the Irish retail sector, this week published the results of a survey of member companies and called for measures to improve consumer confidence and domestic demand in the forthcoming Budget.

Tomorrow will see former Galway Mayor and Galway West TD Michael D Higgins become the ninth president of Ireland. It will be a proud day for everyone from the city and county he has called home for the last 50 years.

Tomorrow will see former Galway Mayor and Galway West TD Michael D Higgins become the ninth president of Ireland. It will be a proud day for everyone from the city and county he has called home for the last 50 years.

Legislative action to force banks to pass on ECB rate cuts is essential, otherwise Galway families will face a New Year of devastating mortgage and personal debts.