Should we just go live in huts? The ESRI was handing out sackloth, ashes and suicide pills, suggesting houses are 15% over-valued. And with 120,000 houses built since 2003 lying empty, is that conservative? Exports tanked in the 4th quarter of 2006. New car sales crashed in February, up just 0.6% over last year. We think everyone needs to take a deep breath and smell the money we still have. It's not like Iran could spark a war that would send oil to $200 a barrell. Oh, wait. . .

DISMISSAL CASE IN HIBERNATION

In what may prove the most entertaining unlawful-dismissal case in years, Hibernian insurance HR director Brian Dalton's High Court action alleging CEO Stewart Purdy has an "autocratic management style" and a fondness for colourful metaphors is set for a 16 April hearing. In the meantime, wouldn't you just love it if they got stuck in a lift together?

BROADBAND

LAY-BY Ireland is in the bottom third of the EU league table of broadband penetration, again, on 10%. We're behind some former communist states, again. We'll stop writing it when it's no longer true.

GROUNDED BY BRUSSELS

Ryanair was disconsolate Friday when it learned the EU was none too keen on the proposed Aer Lingus merger, which would see the combined airline with an 80% share of passenger traf"c at Dublin Airport. Ryanair seemed authentic in its outrage at what it said was a double standard with other airline merger deals. Nevertheless, rigormortis has set in on Mick O'Leary's plans.