There’s not much reason for the average person outside of Cavan and Monaghan to know the name of Shane P. O’Reilly, or to raise much of an eyebrow about his abrupt resignation of the Fianna Fáil whip yesterday, but that doesn’t mean it’s not exceedingly noteworthy. Cllr. O’Reilly is a well known and popular figure […]
Fianna Fáil sat around a Cabinet Table as the economy, with the Banks holding the rudder, was swept over the cliff and into the maelstrom of the economic crisis that scarred a generation. They watched from the sidelines as the Irish Constitution was ripped into pieces and the Dail legislated for non-medical abortion. Then, notwithstanding […]
Climate change is only a top priority for 8% of voters according to a new poll from Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll. In fact, it’s only a leading concern for 4% of Fianna Fáil voters, with the same percentage of Fine Gael supporters choosing the issue as the most important task facing the government. When voters […]
The newly agreed Programme for Government includes a commitment to impose ‘exclusion zones’ which would stop even silent pro-life vigils outside hospitals and GP surgeries where abortions take place or are facilitated. This is an extreme measure and, as a national law, would be unique in Europe. The Programme includes other measures of concern (see below). For example, it promises yet […]
“It really doesn’t make any sense”, says Green TD Neasa Hourigan, of the economic programme which she negotiated: Green party TD @neasa_neasa on why she abstained on vote for programme for government and her concerns over the deal #TonightVMTV pic.twitter.com/LKng5V6GpK — TonightVMTV (@TonightVMTV) June 16, 2020 She is right, of course, though you wouldn’t know […]
Given that today is Bloomsday, perhaps it is timely to point out that there has been as much arm chancery about interpreting his politics as there is about many other things Joycean. The only real clue from his written work is that his family were Parnellites who stood by the Chief after his downfall. “He was […]
So the Greens now have their hands on the reins of government, surely bringing some badly-needed compassion to considerations regarding all helpless creatures in peril such as red squirrels and maybe even unborn babies? Not so. The Programme for Government agreed by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Greens includes 17 references to animal welfare […]
On Wednesday, the Dáil is due to hear Statements on ‘Supporting Inclusion and Combatting Racism in Ireland.’ There can be little doubt that much of the scheduled 105 minute debate will be taken up by TD’s seeking to outdo each other as they breathlessly scale the peaks of The High Moral Ground and hurl vitriol […]
It’s always worth reading the small print before you make a purchase, and Green members who do just that might find that the relentless media advertising of the programme for government is, well, overly optimistic. Here’s what the PFG says about emissions. We’ve taken the liberty of highlighting some relevant parts: An average 7% reduction […]
Enjoyable historical echoes here. It is always risky, after all, if you’re a fella called Mick from Cork, to sign a historic agreement without the approval of the head of the DeValera family. Let’s hope Mr. Martin knows what he is doing: FIANNA Fáil stalwart Éamon Ó Cúiv has urged Irish language enthusiasts and supporters […]
The draft Program for Government, laying out everything FF, FG, and the Greens will prioritize over the life of the next government, makes an explicit, and deeply disappointing, commitment to bring in hate speech laws. It doesn’t really come as a surprise, we’ve seen an increased push for these laws from NGOs and politicians over […]
A poll at the weekend was very clear: The public, given the choice, would really rather not have Micheál Martin as Taoiseach. By a 48% to 18% margin, given the choice between the two men, they want Leo Varadkar, not the Fianna Fáil leader. In recent opinion polls, Fianna Fáil have the support of between […]