Polls, wallops and political messaging as Brexit campaign reaches the home straight
The Brexit campaign, in horse racing terms, has rounded the last turn and is on the run in to the winning post. It is a two horse race. “Stay” and “Leave” are matching each other stride for stride, if the polls are to be believed. Which horse has the greater reserves of energy and which […]
Seanad Bill 2016 initiated 15/06/16
I was delighted to today initiate the Seanad Bill 2016, which was co-sponsored by a number of colleagues in Seanad Éireann, please see link below to a pdf of the full document Seanad Bill 2016 BILL (as initiated) SeanadBill2016 An Act to implement reforms proposed in the Report of the Working Group on Seanad Reform […]
Democracy, for all its difficulties, is in need of being cherished
The savage slaying of Jo Cox, by all accounts a really great emerging politician, at the hands of a deranged loner came at a time when the Brexit referendum campaign was about to reach its climactic last weekend. And the awfulness of her death led to a temporary cessation of hostilities in that campaign. Terrible […]
Five myths about the Rising
The centenary of the Easter Rising is surrounded by myth, moral ambiguity, historical revisionism, and by political re-interpretation and re-invention. For those, like myself, who unambiguously value and cherish the establishment of an independent, sovereign Irish republic, 1916 is the starting point of its existence, albeit that it was not brought to fruition for years afterwards. It is […]
Kenny and Martin must choose stability over stalemate
Under Article 28.10 of the Constitution, Enda Kenny must resign from office if a motion to nominate him as Taoiseach is defeated on Thursday 10th March. If that happens he places his resignation in the hands of the President. In that case every other member of the Government shall be deemed also to have resigned, […]
No public appetite for general election re-run
It seems clear that some members of Fianna Fáil may have their “tails up” because of the very significant improvement in seat numbers and in their share of the General Election vote. This positive feeling which they have about themselves contrasts with the sense that Fianna Fáil was a toxic political brand from 2009 onwards. […]