The chances of Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, and Sinn Fein coming together to form a national government are, let’s face it, almost zero, for the simple reason that politicians probably feel that it would probably disadvantage all three parties. But that may well be wrong, and, more importantly, leaving the politics out of it, there’s […]
Almost one in every four babies are now aborted in England and Wales, new figures show – an increase from the already horrifying figure of 1 in 5 previously recorded. The British Office for National Statistics said today this was the highest level on record. The numbers are just heartbreaking. One in every four babies […]
The very first session of the newly convened Citizens Assembly to consider Gender Equality (February 15/16,2020) doesn’t leave any doubt about the point of the exercise. Previous assemblies were accused of manipulating participants in various ways to bring them to pre-determined conclusions. However, it would be hard to point at anything so blatantly biased as […]
There are basically two competing approaches to thinking about the Coronavirus: The first is popular with many policymakers and media observers, and it is to basically accept that the virus is now out of control globally, that most of us will probably get it and survive, and that it’s just a fact of life that […]
Poor Pope Francis has had something of a torrid week of it. It began with the announcement that the Pontiff has been struck down by a mystery illness and was confined to bed. It approaches its end with an unwelcome letter in the post from Ireland’s most high profile Catholic. Of course, it seems fairly […]
It’s perfectly understandable if you missed it, because, let’s face it, the news is Coronavirus 24/7 these days, but on Monday the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) released data on new car sales for the first two months of 2020. The figures were, well, not good: New car registrations for February were down […]
A report released today from KBC bank indicates that first-time buyers need to be earning nearly €100,000 a year to secure a mortgage for a new home in Dublin. In the real world, that means at least 80% of Irish people are now priced out of the housing market in the capital. KBC’s study noted that the […]
One of the questions arising from our look at the role of cuckoo funds in the Irish property market is whether it is possible for states to curb their power and influence. Are there any countries which have been able to prevent international funds gaining a major foothold within their domestic housing market and pricing […]
The Citizens’ Assembly on gender equality met just over a week ago. Regrettably, the session on “The family in the constitution and law”, was a prolonged attack on marriage and its special status in the Constitution. Prof. Siobhan Mullaly from NUI Galway, who spoke as an expert, should have explained why marriage deserves constitutional protection. […]
Those of us who live in certain parts of Dublin and other cities and towns will be aware that there is a significant drug economy. Lots of people it would seem use all sorts of substances that can only be bought from the people who are the Dunnes Stores and Tescos of this economic demi-monde. […]
A few short days ago, the nation’s gallant Minister for Health strode purposely out of a meeting with his officials, sleeves rolled up, frown artfully affixed to his forehead, and announced to the waiting public that he had a plan to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus: He was going to cancel a rugby match. […]
With the Labour Leadership contest underway, and the country slowly coming apart without a government, it’s time to bring back what is undoubtedly one of the greatest achievements of Irish politics – the Alan Kelly election rap. The rap was produced by GMC Beats in Cork for the 2009 election, which saw Alan Kelly […]