When politics and journalism becomes a self-reinforcing echo chamber, with each side adopting the attitudes and opinions of the other, that’s good for neither.
If it is Dawkins, rather than some prelate, who softens the hearts of the alienated when it comes to attitudes towards the role of the church in society, then there’ll be a rich irony to the fact that he, of all people, is doing God’s work.
Many of those who call themselves Irish Patriots claim – fairly or unfairly – to be defending western civilisation, and our way of life. Acting like civilised people ourselves might be a good start.
While other cities glory in open, uncluttered spaces, Dublin does its best to feel, and appear, cramped and over-regulated.
Thus, the contortions: The transparent attempt, having spent years accusing everybody else of “dog-whistling”, to learn how to do it themselves.
“He will never be more politically powerful than he will be on his first day in office – if he has big changes in mind, that’s the day to make them.”
“Being the Finance Minister allows him to plausibly claim credit for all Government successes, since he funded them, while distancing himself from failures, because all he did was fund them.”
If the Leo Varadkar of 2004 could look at the Leo Varadkar of 2024, I think it perfectly fair – even if perhaps slightly harsh – to ask whether he would even recognise himself.
If we assume that the Covid enquiry takes a similar length of time to that of the “Grace” enquiry, then we are looking at a report date of 2031, more than a decade after the events that it purports to report on.
Any other workplace that was suddenly losing a third of its workforce, many of them in the prime of their careers, would be considered to be in trouble. Serious questions would be asked of the senior management.
To blame Roderic O’Gorman is to concede that Irish policy contributed to the crisis and made it worse, and since official Ireland backed the policy wholeheartedly, this cannot be acknowledged.
Wokeness is ultimately an attitude. It is reflected in the perpetual disappointment that our leaders appear to feel towards the people they govern.