A myriad issues occupied leader space last week, with everything from exchange rates to childcare. While superficially diverse, common themes bound these subject together: the rights to quality of life, free speech, equality, childcare, and not being ripped off by big business or government.
The Limerick Leader commented on the fact that only 27 per cent of people appointed to State boards are women, well below the official policy of a 40 per cent gender balance, set in 1991.
"The failure, nine years later, of the politicians to achieve a gender balance on State boards is hardly surprising. Political parties are well used to preaching equality but not practising it. The low proportion of women in Leinster House remains a scandal to the world," complained the Leader.
"Members of the all-party political Establishment are obviously prepared to change everything except themselves. It is difficult to see how full equality can ever be achieved nationally without quotas, not only for quangos but for the Oireachtas, too."
The word "women" can still be used as an insult, according to a report in the Argus. At a heated meeting of Louth County Council, at which it deferred a decision on the joint draft waste management plan, a Cllr Miceal O'Donnell stated: "This council is behaving abominably. We're like a crowd of washerwomen. Where is the intelligent debate?"
The Kerryman rose to the defence of tuna fishermen, some of whom have had their enormously expensive trawlers tied up in port for days because they are being detained on charges of having driftnets exceeding the 2.5-kilometre legal length. Now they and their families are wondering how they will keep up payments on the trawlers.
These fishermen compete for decimated fishing stocks with boats from other EU states. "The accepted view is our navy has been largely ineffectual in exercising control over foreign boats fishing in Irish waters. In these circumstances one can get a sense of the frustration felt by Irish tuna fishermen when the Irish navy follows them for hundreds of miles to the fishing grounds to check that their nets are not too long," said the Kerryman.
The Roscommon Champion believed farmers had a right not to have their land taken away by compulsory purchase order for national infrastructural projects without adequate compensation. While property prices have nearly doubled in the past five years, rates of compensation haven't changed, and farmers will not countenance it, the newspaper stated.
The right to a train service for tourists and commuters topped the Western People's agenda. "The region has been feeling the pinch from the ridiculous train service disruption caused by the ILDA which is not recognised by Iarnrod Eireann or the other two unions which operate the system . . . No matter what the reasons are, it is absurd and morally wrong that a small group of people can disrupt so vital a utility," it declared.
The right to a fair deal at the bank for people going on holiday prompted the Westmeath Examiner's comment on the European Commission's cartel investigation into the fixing of charges by Ireland, Belgium, Finland and Portugal, a practice harmful to the consumer.
"Let's hope the consumer knows everything as soon as possible and that if the infringement is confirmed that the relevant fines and procedures are imposed without delay. The consumer wants transparency and lower charges now. Most of all they want fairness and an absence of greed," it concluded.
The right to a tax break for childcare was the issue for the Meath Chronicle, which commented that with weekly creche fees amounting to as much as £150, some mothers were beginning to question whether it was worthwhile staying at work. "If we want (a) decent childcare industry, then parents should be helped to meet the now considerable costs involved, preferably through the introduction of some kind of tax relief," it stated.
The Kilkenny People saw the right to attend county council meetings under threat, as Kilkenny County Council voted to limit spectators to just 30 after last week's eventful, crowded meeting, when a glass table broke.
The meeting concerned the Inner Relief Road, which would "mutilate a green belt" and "do away with playing facilities". On the other hand, the paper thanked God for democracy that the people were allowed to have their say at the meeting.
The Leitrim Observer pored over a planning application by the President, Mrs McAleese, who wants to build a two-storey house and jetty at Kildcarril, Cootehall, Co Roscommon. The house, which is being designed by local architect Conor Gray, will be made from natural stone, much of which will be recycled from a number of old ruins on the 4.67-acre site. The plans include a two-car garage, a storage building, a paved courtyard and a sewage treatment facility.