Trump and Musk’s ‘conversation’ reveals dangers not explicit until now
The seriousness of the threat that Donald Trump poses to liberal democracy was re-emphasised in his online “conversation” with Elon Musk late Monday evening. But it reveals heightened dangers that we had not seen made explicit until now. Perhaps the most plain was the job offer that Trump made to Musk to participate in any administration that he would […]
Is Metrolink the best way to provide a rail link to Dublin Airport?
At the end of July the Government published jointly with the Department of Infrastructure of Northern Ireland a document called All-Island Strategic Rail Review, authored by Ove Arup Ltd, a reputable engineering consultancy. The review is “focused on how the rail network across the island could contribute to the decarbonisation of the island’s transport systems, promote sustainable […]
A Trump presidency will embolden Putin and Netanyahu
So much depends on the outcome of the US presidential election in November. It isn’t just the Ukraine war, the war in Gaza, a possible war with Iran, a regional war in the Middle East, and war over Taiwan. The very future of the United States is now at stake as never before. And bound […]
The whip system is too severe – conscience votes should be permitted
The Oireachtas is the name given by the Constitution to our national parliament. Article 15.2 states that it “shall consist of the President and two Houses, viz. : a House of Representatives to be called Dáil Éireann and a Senate to be called Seanad Éireann”. Using American terms such as House of Representatives and Senate […]
Seanad reform has been cynically promised and never delivered
You may recall that when the people rejected Enda Kenny’s threadbare political stunt proposal to abolish the Seanad, supported by the Labour Party, he remarked that the defeat was a “wallop” for his government. He had even tried to blackmail voters by threatening no reform of the Seanad if his proposal was defeated. Chastened by that wallop, he […]
Let’s not make the Dublin traffic plan the subject of a culture war
With a yellow weather warning in operation for Dublin and the east of the country, it was notable that centre city traffic was very light on Tuesday morning. Were people working more than usual from home? Was it the holiday effect? Whatever the reason, it was no day to venture out unnecessarily. And there was every reason […]