Old racial stereotypes, even in supposedly multicultural Britain are, it seems, proving as difficult as ever to shift. The latest great British institution to be officially branded ``institutionally racist'' is the medical profession. The third report of the Social Security Select Committee of the House of Commons, which was published on 19 April, has called for an investigation by the Commission for Racial Equality into the way benefits claimants are treated by the Benefits Agency's Medical Services, the body which assesses sickness and disability benefit claims. Free article

Caithfidh a admháil nach minic a bhfuil poncánaigh le feiceáil amuigh ar an sráideanna. Leoga, ní bheadh mórán dóchais agam féin sa chóras pholaitiúil thall ansin agus dhá thaobh den eite dheis le sonrú sa Pháirtí Daonlathach agus an Pháirtí Phoblachtanach. Free article

Easter weekend it may have been - full of commemorations, colour parties, craic and about 4 lbs of chocolate each - but the sporting world carried on regardless. Free article

Following the failure of the Easter Rising in 1916, the leadership of the Irish Volunteers and the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) were in the main arrested, sentenced or interned, or executed. Those who remained at large had to obviously curtail their activities in the few months after the Rising, but not for long. Free article

Keep heart, for you are our heart'' - was the blanketmen's plea for continued support, in smuggled communication, to several thousand people who thronged into Derry's Guildhall Square last Sunday for a rally organised by the National H-Block Committee. Free article

The week in quotes... Free article