The only north Johnson cares about is the north of England

One intriguing question to emerge in the aftermath of the UKl election is whether the SDLP will deepen its flirtation with Fianna Fáil. The SDLP’s successes in the South Belfast and Foyle constituencies were really remarkable. In Foyle, party leader, Colum Eastwood, who was being written off by many political commentators as incapable of halting […]
Time to stop kowtowing to China over Taiwan

While seeking a place on the United Nations Security Council, you might think that Ireland, as a small independent state committed to a world order based on peace, international law and human rights, would stand up bravely for those values whenever given the opportunity. You would hope that Ireland would use its membership of the […]
Daft white-water rafting plan is anything but a capital idea

Am I the only person in despair about Dublin City Council and the almost complete absence of effective local democracy and decision-making in our capital city? I hope not. A city that could even be contemplating the “redevelopment” of the derelict, boarded-up and endangered Joyce house on Ushers Quay as a low grade hostel with […]
Let’s not be throwing shapes on issue of Irish unity

Confederal model is only viable approach in North for foreseeable future
No workable alternative to some form of direct provision
There is a world of difference between economic migration and asylum seeking in national and international law. Ireland, as a member state of the EU has certain obligations to permit EU citizens to migrate to Ireland to pursue economic activity in the state. We have entirely different and separate obligations under EU law, international law […]
Proxy voting an attempt to subvert the Constitution

Watching the procedural trench warfare at Westminster over the last weeks, you cannot fail to be struck by the consequences of not having a written constitution in the United Kingdom. To take a simple example, their hugely problematic Fixed Term Parliament Act simply could not have been enacted in Ireland. Why not? The Constitution provides […]