From Frodo to Mojo – why Enda Kenny is in no hurry to vacate the top job
Like Frodo standing at the precipice on Mount Doom, torn apart by simultaneous, conflicting emotions about casting the Ring into the inferno (no reference to Michael Ring intended!), Enda Kenny stands on the political ledge of Government Buildings, eyeing the mob below, a large portion of which is shouting “Jump!”. But will he? Or will […]
No sudden post-Brexit clamour for unification in the North
As someone who is by conviction a republican and aspires to live in a united Ireland, I have to say that I have found the sudden outbreak of “unification” chatter in the aftermath of Brexit a bit far-fetched and, alas, counter-productive. There is absolutely nothing apart from the grossest wishful thinking to suggest that the […]
Islamic extremism is incompatible with our liberal society
The cruel murder by ISIS adherents of a defenceless, elderly Catholic priest celebrating Mass in a small Normandy church is by no means the first of its kind. Jihadists waging “holy war” have been doing similar cowardly acts to Christian clergy and lay-people here and there across the Maghreb, the Middle East and in Saharan […]
Citizens’ Assembly is a phony piece of window dressing
The Citizens’ Assembly which the Government has decided to convene is, in my view, a somewhat ridiculous idea. That is why I spoke and voted against it in the Seanad. The media have, in general, left the public largely in the dark about its purpose and its composition. Anyone that I have spoken to believes […]
Mad, bad and dangerous. Trump and the connotations of language
Language in politics has consequences and its meaning is always in the ear of the audience.
The Ventotene mini-summit and the dangers of the Euro-federalist agenda being pursued by governments
Prior to the tragic loss of life in the Umbrian earthquake this Wednesday, Italy was in the news for an all-together different reason on Monday. Italian premier, Matteo Renzi, had invited Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande to join him for a short conference to discuss the future of the EU in the aftermath of Brexit […]