Stop demonising one-off rural housing. Not everyone wants to be surrounded by neighbours
Discussion on our response to global warming and climate change becomes unduly polarised between points of view held by eco-activists on the one hand and sceptics on the other. Without needless controversy, there are some serious issues on which I believe fair-minded discussion is badly needed. One of these issues is that of what is […]
We must never repeat the colossal damage we inflicted on ourselves during Covid-19
As I write, Ireland still awaits the outcome of the review process chaired by Prof Anne Scott, an expert in medical ethics, into the State’s response to the Covid pandemic of 2020. And rather than waiting further for the outcome of that report, I feel compelled to express my own opinions on how the Irish State (and […]
There’s a Bermuda Triangle of dereliction in Dublin. The solution lies in Leinster House
Last week Olivia Kelly reported in The Irish Times that Dublin City Council was “finally” appearing “to be arming itself” in the battle against dereliction. Its superweapon, apparently, will be the Dublin City Development Corporation, a special-purpose vehicle (SPV) dedicated to city regeneration. This will happen “in the coming months”. The non-statutory SPV will have an “independent” board of directors […]
War in the Middle East has cooled enthusiasm of conservatives for an Irish Trump
Less than three months ago, US Ambassador to Ireland Edward Walsh attended both days of the inaugural IRL Forum organised by Eddie Hobbs. Hobbs reportedly told the Irish Examiner that there was potential for an “Irish Trump” in the ranks of the Independent Ireland party. The newspaper reported that Walsh’s office had contacted Hobbs to facilitate his attendance at […]
Donald Trump is mad, bad and dangerous. Only the midterms can save the US now
As soon as Operation Epic Fury began to move dials in Wall Street in the wrong direction, and the prospect of international inflation, stagnation, energy market mega-turbulence registered with the idiot king Donald J Trump, who is the shame of the US and Americans, the brakes were slammed on. The war that Pete Hegseth, self-styled US Secretary […]
An independent Irish State was never a foregone conclusion. Nor is a united Ireland now
The creation of an independent Irish state in 1922 has turned out to be a good thing for the great majority of Irish people. While you may read about Irexit (and a small minority believes in it), no group of any significance now believes or argues that Ireland should re-join the UK. And while Irish […]