Irish Election - Coverage of Irish Politics, News and Current Affairs

Every 3 years the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development does a standardised test to measure the educational attainment of secondary school students across many countries in the world.  The point of the test is to be able to compare how educational systems are doing across countries despite differences in structure.  It’s very mixed news [...]

The Independent today has a story which seems to cast further cloud over Bertie Ahern in the period while he was Minister for Finance. With Mahon unlocking a lot of information from NCB and Des Richardson, it seems that further fuel has been added to the fire when it emerged that Ahern authorised the National [...]

One more Tony Blair loose end The Nat West Three are set to plea bargain with US authorities.

‘Turmoil in financial markets’ scuppers Athlone Towncentre deal It bites, it bites.

Ahern’s web of deceit: Gavin’s Blog Piece by piece Ahern’s story of dig-outs and donations is falling apart. And it will continue to fall apart. Both of the so-called digouts no longer stand up to scrutiny. They were not friends helping out a pal in need.

Padraic O’Connor’s contribution to the Bertie Ahern dig-out is proving to be one of the most awkward points of the Planning Tribunal so far. All sides agree that the donation — the largest individual contribution to the (December 1993 “legal expenses“) whip-around — was given on a NCB cheque on foot of an fake invoice. [...]

Mansergh cover up at Public Inquiry

Jimmy Page’s Trousers » I’m a political animal, me. Jimmy is indeed a pundit, though it may surprise him. And I think that Bertox is a name worth keeping for Master Ahern.

Men show who’s boss as female-run firms flounder Research shows that male run companies out preform female led companies

The Dail vote results are in and the Government have defeated the motion of no confidence in Mary Harney as Minister for Healty by 83-73 with Ned O’Keeffe abstaining. O’Keeffe had circulated a speech which he was prevented from delivering. It decried the state of the health service and the treatment of patients according to [...]

Hearing from Leinster House that Ned O’Keeffe has resigned from the Parliamentary Party of Fianna Fail tonight ahead of the vote of confidence in Mary Harney. Waiting for confirmation of it but it seems almost certain. It is unclear whether he intends to vote against Mary Harney at present with some suggesting he will others [...]

The health debate culminating in the no-confidence motion in Mary Harney is already heated and likely to get more so.  If the pivotal leaders debate before the last election was Bertie at his vote-getting best, then the cut-and-thrust of Dail debate illustrates the less pleasant side of his character.  Consider this RTE account of what appears to have [...]

Summit advances Middle East peace process Looks like a positive development but can you deliver any peace without talking to Hamas?

The biopsy report: The Mary Harney Debate A patient’s perspective on the HSE and Harney debate.

It took me a while to realise there was something very odd about the latest RedC poll in the Sunday Business Post. Sure, Fianna Fáil has dipped precipitously. Well, after the month they’ve had one would think they’d better be down, at least a bit. Provisional Licences, pay increases, the latest noises from the Tribunal [...]

RTÉ News: Gormley to outline Seanad reforms All eyes on the Dail tomorrow so this will probably be lost unless it goes farther than widening the electorate for 3/6 seats.