Time to stop and reconsider the Metrolink madness
Tempted as I am to devote this column to the monstrous dishonesty of Donald Trump’s claim to have mis-spoken at Helsinki or to the Tory attempt to wriggle out of their Irish border backstop commitment, I prefer to let some dust settle on both of those matters and to deal with the Dublin Metrolink project […]
Trump considers bullying and thuggery as forceful and full blooded political behaviour
Donald Trump’s rampage across Europe reminds us that he is a buffoon with a bouffant. His brittle personality is aptly symbolised by his insubstantial, highly lacquered, yellow-dyed comb-over fascinator hair-do that “milliner to the stars” Philip Treacy would envy for its ambition. Trump’s grotesque pre-summit interview with The Sun in which he deliberately sought to […]
What are the chances of an early general election?
Here are three uncomfortable truths. First, despite furious public protestations to the contrary, both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael strategists are privately reconciled to the fact that neither of them is likely to have any chance of forming a government after any early election unless one of them does a coalition deal with Sinn Féin. […]
There is no way that the UK could leave the EU without a deal
Emmanuel Macron visited Germany hoping to persuade the weak and embattled Chancellor Merkel to join with France in his plan for a new Euro zone budgetary regime. He received a luke-warm reception for his plans and left with a fig-leaf statement of agreement in principle for a very diluted version of what he was proposing […]
We must reimagine Dublin – it cannot continue to grow as a low rise sprawl
Instead of tabling a motion of no confidence in the Housing Minister, the member of Dáil Éireann would be far better employed establishing a forum on the future of Dublin – a forum which would consider how the city of Dublin and the neighbouring counties are to be governed in future, a forum which would […]
The Brussels establishment should tone down the rhetoric and concentrate on what works in Europe
“When in Rome, do as the Romans do” is a well-used counsel to observe the local tradition or to defer to those with practical experience. This week, it has taken on a slightly different meaning. It is a counsel against heavy-handed foreign intervention in the political affairs of the Italians. Guenther Oettinger, the EU’s Commissioner […]