Irish Examiner view: Testing time for Europe amid terror attacks
![Irish Examiner view: Testing time for Europe amid terror attacks Irish Examiner view: Testing time for Europe amid terror attacks](/cms_media/module_img/7609/3804607_4_articlesmall_BELGIUM_20Shooting_20101732.jpg)
Belgian police stand close to where a suspected Tunisian extremist accused of killing two Swedish soccer fans was shot dead. The images coming through from Brussels late on Monday night were wearyingly familiar. Picture: Martin Meissner/AP
Tensions in the Coalition are running along traditional lines.
The inciting incident is — no surprise — the vast costs associated with running the Department of Health. HSE head Bernard Gloster has been fast out of the blocks, saying that his allocation for next year will be below what is required, while Health Minister Stephen Donnelly is reported as saying the health service is “underfunded”.
In the greater scheme of things — and returning to the health budget — it was good to see the impending strike by health and social care workers called off after talks ended with an agreement on pay. Such workers are an integral part of the health system and deserve every support, no matter what disputes arise at the political level.
Keith Earls didn’t put a foot wrong when retiring from rugby on Tuesday. No surprise there: Footwork was one of the key weapons in his arsenal, after all.
Earls enjoyed huge success as a player. He played for Munster more than 200 times, won over 100 international caps, and toured with the British and Irish Lions. His strike rate in the green jersey is second only to Brian O’Driscoll — he ends his career with 36 test tries to his name, having scored his very first try 15 years ago, two minutes into his international debut against Canada.
![Keith Earls always kept his feet on the ground. That’s why his career took off the way it did. Picture: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile Keith Earls always kept his feet on the ground. That’s why his career took off the way it did. Picture: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile](https://www.irishexaminer.com/cms_media/module_img/7609/3804610_4_articleinline_2610403.jpg)
In his retirement statement, he was careful to thank those who helped him along the way — his team-mates and coaches at provincial and international level, but also others who made the journey with him: parents Ger and Sandra and sister Jenny, wife Edel, children Ella-May, Laurie, and Emie, as well as the “coaches, teachers, and volunteers who encouraged and guided me in Thomond, Garryowen, and Young Munster and at school in St Munchin’s College”.