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Leinster House (originally known as Kildare House) was built between 1745-47. It was acquired by the Irish free State in 1924 and today, Leinster House is the seat of the two Houses of the Oireachtas - Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann. The 166 Members of the 30th Dáil have just been elected but as June 2007 begins the shape of the country’s new Government has yet to be decided. Intense negotiations are under way between the parties and in the meantime Leinster House awaits its new occupants, who will determine the fortunes of the nation for the next five years.

As the tallies are made in the 2007 Irish general election, speculation shifts to the shape of the 30th Dáil. With 78 seats (41.6% of the votes) the incumbent Fianna Fáil party has begun moves to put together a new Government, contacting a number of Independent TDs to discuss possible options for forming a coalition. If successful, Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern - once dubbed the "Teflon Taoiseach" - because criticism just never seems to stick to him - would be the first man since Eamon de Valera to serve three consecutive terms as leader of the government.

Small businesses - such as Monster Music in Blanchardstown - have a higher chance of failing than larger businesses. Government statistics indicate a failure rate among small start ups of 37.5% after five years. In this record period of high employment and growth business failures in Ireland are now being caused by factors such as finding and retaining suitable staff as well as higher wage cost and inflation.

Despite the economic growth in Ireland over the last fifteen years or so the gap between rich and poor is second only to that in the US. Regardless of the reduction in unemployment relative income poverty actually increased. Ireland’s health service remains in crisis, long-term unemployment figures persist, affordable housing is in scarce supply and inflation is high. These and other factors compound the problems of those who are living below the poverty line.

As Ireland has become more affluent, Irish eating habits have changed to reflect cultural influences arising from increased travel abroad, the influence of new immigrant populations, changing work patterns and increased discretionary spending power. The potato which was once the staple of Irish diets, is now second place to pasta and rice and for the first time in our history we spend more on eating out than on food to eat in the home.