The ongoing controversies made it impossible for him to effectively and productively carry out his ministerial duties.The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, following the resignation of minister of state Ivor Callely.
You can see how much it matters by the size of the crowd.
One of a handful of well-wishers at Hillsborough Castle, where President McAleese met Queen Elizabeth.
My impression is that, for them, only something that leaves physical scars counts as torture.
Tom Malinowski, Washington director of Human Rights Watch, wonders about the White House's definition of torture, which it has insisted is not practised by the CIA or US military.
Irish Ferries is attempting to create a disastrous precedent. If successful, and other employers were allowed to follow suit, workers in this State would be the losers.
A statement issued by 10 Independent TDs ahead of yesterday's national day of protest.
I urge them to release the four prisoners in Iraq. This is a merciful act according to the principles of Islam.
Abu Qatada, described by the British government as Osama bin Laden's European ambassador, calls for the release of four peace activists who are being held captive in Iraq.
Forgive me for using the term 'fat little brother'.
Cuban leader Fidel Castro pokes fun at Jeb Bush, governor of Florida, who does not favour the strict fitness regime practised by his elder sibling, the US president.
How Venezuela is keeping the home fires burning in Massachusetts.
A full-page advert taken out by the government of Venezuela, which is supplying discounted fuel to poor families in the US.
A gift to the Church and to Irish society.
Fr Gerard Moloney, editor of the religious monthly Reality, says the Ferns report into clerical sex abuse will, in the long term, lead to a healthier and more responsible church.
There is considerable hostility towards teenagers. . . The assumption is they are always up to something.
Dr Dermot Stokes, of the State-funded Youthreach organisation, says society does not trust adolescents.
The right-thinking people of Ulster will be totally flabbergasted at the decision taken to drop all prosecutions on the IRA spy ring at Stormont because, after a three-year delay, it has been decided that it is not in the public interest.
DUP leader Ian Paisley after Northern Ireland authorities drop charges against three men accused of operating a republican spy ring at Stormont.
Flying detainees to countries where they may face torture or other illtreatment is a direct and outright breach of international law.
Claudio Cordone, Amnesty International's senior director of regional programmes. Amnesty claims that CIA detainees may be passing through Shannon on secret flights.
When life expectancy goes from more than 60 years to just over 30 years in a 15-year span, it's not just a crisis, it's a meltdown.
Jan Egeland, head of UN humanitarian aid, says Zimbabwe is in dire straits.
If the Europeans are honest they should give some of their provinces - like in Germany, Austria or other countries - to the Zionists and the Zionists can establish their state in Europe.
Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says Israel should move to Europe.
We have to look for alternatives to the governor because for the last few weeks he's been behaving like someone who wants to go back to Hollywood.
Mike Spence, the president of the California Republican Assembly, who is campaigning for state governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to be replaced by actor Mel Gibson.