Private landlords – little choice but to exit the market
The Government is about to decide on whether to extend the ban on private landlords evicting their tenants. As we are in the middle of a housing crisis, there is little doubt that they will extend the ban if only in a desperate attempt to keep up poll ratings now that their term is more […]
No time for consultation in the middle of a crisis
In the middle of a crisis, there is very little sense in attacking the Government for failing to consult local communities about the selection of places to accommodate refugees or asylum seekers. Who in the community would you need to consult if you were minded to use, say, the disused Baggot Street Hospital or the […]
Ireland has real problem with getting things done
If we in Ireland can harness our offshore wind energy capacity, our likely energy needs could be more than met. Minister for Energy Eamon Ryan was waxing lyrical about this opportunity recently. And it is an attractive and achievable goal – provided we take it seriously and provided that we implement the steps needed to […]
Grotesque that Sinn Féin should raise the issue of political donations
The controversy over Paschal Donohoe’s postering is faintly ridiculous. The amounts in question are tiny in the greater scheme of things. Nobody is suggesting that Donohoe dishonestly concealed anything. Nobody is even suggesting that he deliberately sought to mislead SIPO or the Dáil. Nobody is suggesting that Michael Stone deliberately infringed election expenses rules. Nobody […]
We have a national right and duty to determine migration policy
Like it or not, Ireland is part of what is called the West. While we may not be part of any military alliance with other western states, we are a member state of the EU and we depend on the West for our security, our prosperity, for our freedoms, and, in some respects, for our […]
Radical change is needed to make Dublin a liveable city
Three articles recently appeared here dealing with issues which, in different ways, go to the heart of the future of Dublin as a liveable city. The first, by Anthony Reddy, examined how our planning regulations prevent “own door dwelling” construction densities that could hugely increase our capacity to use urban land zoned residential for redevelopment. […]