Parallels between Westminster and Kildare Street – starting with a vacuum at the top
In the order of importance of the world of real politics, the greatest priorities for England’s two largest parties are their respective leadership struggles. Everything must take second place until it is seen whether Theresa or Andrea emerges as leader of the Tories and until it is seen whether Jeremy or anybody else will emerge […]
Eamonn Mallie meets Michael McDowell
Recently, I sat down to discuss politics, nationalism and other topics with broadcaster and journalist Eamonn Mallie on Irish TV. You can watch the interview back here: https://goo.gl/1tEm8z
An update from the NUI #Seanad16
Dear candidates, Here is an update on polling in the election: As of noon today 18-04-2016: Ballots cast: 19,186 Ballots returned: 19,500 Ballots reissued: 861. Today 18 April is the last day on which a voter can request that a ballot paper be re-issued with a reasonable expectation of getting the re-issued ballot paper in time to vote in the election. We will continue […]
Bewildering, silly, inexcusable – the process of government formation since #GE16
It shows very little self-confidence for Fianna Fáil to refuse, on moral principle, to enter a partnership government in which they would be treated as equals with Fine Gael. But it does display a “cute hoor” mind-set that suggests that FF expects any new government to have to take hard decisions to govern properly for […]
No more political fudges on Seanad reform
Today the NUI have informed me that, of 103,000 ballot papers issued by registered post, only 15,000 completed ballots have been returned so far. A further 18,600 have been returned to the NUI as undeliverable, of which 600 have been re-posted to voters on request. This leaves around 70,000 votes which have yet to be […]
100 years ago the fuse was lit – now we owe it to ourselves to deliver a true democracy
On Monday, my friend and former Progressive Democrat colleague Jason O’Mahony argued in The Times (Ireland Edition) that the Seanad was an “offensive monstrosity” and criticised the manner in which it is elected. He was, as usual, perceptive and pithy on the real shortcomings of the upper house as presently elected, but the real issue […]