I have not had Covid 19. At least, that is true, to my knowledge. Many people who do get Covid 19 have no symptoms whatever. So, it is possible, at least in theory, that it’s spent a few days in my system, and gone on its merry way. It is equally possible that over Christmas, […]
In an odd sort of way, the Taoiseach was making a very reasonable point yesterday, when he stood up and told the country, in the Dáil, that the banks were not bailed out when his party last lead a Government. But rarely in Irish history can a reasonable point have been made in a more […]
It’s a basic principle of Irish democracy that taxpayer funding may not be used to promote candidates for election, or sides in referendums. Actually, let me rephrase that: It used to be a basic principle of Irish democracy that taxpayer funding may not be used to promote candidates for election, or sides in referendums. But […]
It wasn’t Leo’s fault at all you see, this whole fuss about the leaking of confidential documents. The real issue is that when you’re madly popular and powerful (and a media darling to boot), all these hangers-on start to think you’re their friend, when you’re not. It’s the kind of problem other globetrotting celebs like Prince Harry – and […]
One of the noticeable aspects of the Trump campaign, which Irish people would not have noticed inside the echo chamber of the lazy and biased reporting of RTÉ and other D4 emigres in Washington, was the prominence of non-white people among Republican candidates and supporters of the President. When it seemed that things were going […]
The author, John Hamill, is Co-Host of The Free Thought Prophet Podcast Last week, the Seanad debated the Electoral (Civil Society Freedom) (Amendment) Bill 2019, which proposed to remove several restrictions on the influence of money within our political process. Currently, the Electoral Act places limits on the value of individual donations made for political purposes. This new […]
What’s the point of giving every student in the country €250 in the budget? The pubs are closed, after all. But nonetheless, that’s what the Government is doing, apparently: NEW: In budget third level students to be given €250 each to help meet the cost of this year. Total cost €50m. Details to be worked […]
For many people in Ireland, these are tough times. Businesses are in danger of bankruptcy. School students face uncertainty, and teachers are struggling to teach through restrictions. Many people are entering their sixth or seventh month since being able to see, or hug, elderly loved ones. Christmas itself, we hear, may now be imperilled. So, […]
“The IPCC is partly a scientific organisation, partly a political organisation”. That was what Richard Tol, a convening lead author of the 5th review of climate change from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), told Michael Shellenberger when he interviewed him for his recently released book, Apocalypse Never. In 2010, Tol was assigned to the team to draft the […]
Democracy, as some of you will know, is a Greek word which means “rule by the people”. “Irish Democracy”, on the other hand, is an English phrase which means “rule by the right sort of people”: Quotas for young people in politics, similar to gender quotas, and lowering the voting age to 16, were among […]
The tragic and unjust death of George Floyd reignited two discussions that had long been had right the way across the Western World. The first was how to deal with the supposed ‘systemic’ racism that existed within our society? And the second – and what some people see as the root of all evil in […]
To lose one agriculture minister might be regarded as a misfortune. To lose two, the IFA might have said to the Taoiseach last night, is just rank carelessness: Cullinan said: “We are very concerned about the disruption caused by the loss of two Ministers for Agriculture since the new government was formed, and reports that […]