The importance of calling out Trump for what he is
Am I alone in detecting a whiff of raw evil in the Trump administration’s utterances this week? I spoke in the Seanad on Thursday about the evil plans of this man, the POTUS, to reintroduce torture, including waterboarding, for detainees suspected of having information useful to the US in its war on terrorism. Lest we […]
Trump’s jump into the US political pool causing potential tsunamis in Europe
It is a funny old world – politics. A few weeks ago, Francois Fillon appeared to be on course to win the French presidency. But an Exocet has hit his campaign in the form of a scandal about his placing of his wife on the public payroll as a political advisor when in fact she […]
Minister Fitzgerald’s attempt to push Sexual Offences Bill through the Seanad in one afternoon is shameful
On Wednesday the 15th of February at the old League of Nations building in Geneva, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) will be addressed by an Irish Government delegation which it is planned, at the time of writing, will be headed by Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald, Minister for Justice and […]
The time has come to speak a little “Truth to Power” – to Samantha Power
“Is there nothing you will not lie about? Do you have no shame?” With these moving words passionately spoken, the US ambassador to the UN Samantha Power rounded on her Russian counterpart at the Security Council this week. Her outrage was genuine and compelling. Her words were flashed across the western world. As I watched […]
“Freedom of expression” is one thing; “freedom of anonymous publication” is another thing entirely
There is a current obsession in the Irish media with securing instant online reaction from readers and audiences. I am by no means convinced that online comment by readers of online newspapers adds anything at all to the quality of the journalism or to the enjoyment of the reader. Nor does it add revenue. But […]
Trump is damaged goods and no ally of Irish interests
Let me show a little of my politics on my sleeve. The night that Barack Obama was elected eight years ago, I watched American media through the night. When it became obvious that Obama was a sure thing in the early hours, I was watching alone when, to my utter surprise I started crying – […]