Call me a sucker for punishment, but this is a question that’s been on my mind since Social Democrat TD Holly Cairns raised this issue yesterday: The “ridiculous” lack of maternity leave for politicians is a major barrier to women entering public life, it has been claimed. Social Democrat TD Holly Cairns is pushing to […]
It’s not hard to guess where the blame will fall for yesterday’s figures showing that, overwhelmingly, the wealthiest young people still dominate the most elite college places. As I remarked to Niamh when we were doling out the stories for today, “wealth finds a way”: Students from the wealthiest families continue to retain a firm […]
The alternative of excluding unvaccinated citizens from day-to-day activities based on a small chance that the 95%-effective vaccine doesn’t work is about as divisive and intolerant as any policy could be.
In the five years from 2014 to 2018, a total of 4,821 Deportation Orders were imposed on non-EU nationals found to be illegally residing within the state. Of course, this does not mean that anything like that number then went on to leave the state. Because while Deportation Orders do create a legal obligation […]
Next time you find yourself in front of a judge, for speeding, or whatever, make sure to tell his or her honour that you are deeply sorry and that lessons have been learned. Maybe, to emphasise the point, you could pledge to go on a course that teaches you about the speed limit: A HEALTH […]
There is, in Ireland, a law against stealing cars. If you steal someone’s car, you are liable to be arrested, prosecuted, and, if convicted, either fined or sent to prison. If the Gardai recover the car you stole, it will be returned to its original owner. So imagine for a moment how people might react […]
In Arthur Koestler’s novel Darkness at Noon, the Stalinist Rubashov’s prison neighbour responds to the news that Rubashov has fallen foul of the regime by tapping out “Bravo. The Wolves devour one another.” Some of us may be forgiven by having the same feelings with regard to the turning of the woke witch hunters on […]
Many of us living in rural Ireland feel the Green party is openly hostile to anything beyond the Pale. From telling their canvassers to use “simple language” on the doors of country folk, to the demonization of farmers over climate change, the Greens seem to have very little comprehension, understanding or empathy for the people […]
Some recent dissembling on the part of Amnesty Ireland has reminded me of a previous instance when that organisation engaged in disingenuous sophistry. As someone who agrees with the majority of positions taken by Amnesty Ireland, I find such behaviour disappointing. While there are many contemporary issues where reasonable people may differ, it seems worthwhile […]
Taxpayer-funded organisations are meant to be transparent and accountable. Proper order, given that so many millions in our taxes are granted each year to entities which often seem to be a favourite of the politically powerful rather than the public. One of the ways in which transparency is achieved is in inviting various parties to […]
A new group made up of various far-left organisations is formally launching today in order to campaign against Ireland’s “far right”. “LeCheile” is made up, as you might guess, of all the usual suspects: The National Women’s Council, The Irish Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, Sinn Fein, The Union of Students in Ireland, Gaza action Ireland, The […]
Just as the Government rolled over for the far left on the Euthanasia Bill, it seems that they will do the same on Labour’s Private Members Bill which seeks to overturn the decision of the 2004 referendum on citizenship. Yesterday in the Seanad, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee told Senator Ivana Bacik that she supported […]