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

Brian Lenihan has claimed that the Irish income tax system is progressive.   This is incorrect, and for the simple reason that he’s not applying the right definition of progressivity –

Interesting stuff from esteemed Fianna Fail TDs today. Following Senator Jim Walsh last night: “RTÉ is facing a shortfall in its revenues for 2009 in the order of €50 million and the director general has already indicated to this committee that members of senior management have taken a cut in their salaries,” he said. Well-paid [...]

The Oireachtas has today launched a detailed profile based on the 2006 Census of all the constituencies in the country. The information is quite interesting and comprehensive and details all 42 constituencies in the country.

Miriam Lord’s Dáil sketch is depressing reading.  Usually the sketch reporter tries to spread the blame for a typical day’s buffoonery but apparently in this case the antics of the government in general and Noel Dempsey in particular spoke for themselves.  In the meantime, the government, the unions, and the employers work to stitch up [...]

Brians Cowen and Lenihan are head to head with unions and business and – whisper it – a deal is near. The deal they have been flagging for weeks? Stage metaphors are the right ones.. Fear not, progress is being made. At least the narrative is driving them into conflict. In economic conditions where seventy [...]

Brian Lenihan repeatedly stresses no tax increases this year. Cowen hints otherwise today? (Granted it is a liberal interpretation of “medium term” but why let that get in the way when the ground is possibly being softened)

Admittedly this post is basically an excuse to use that title, prompted by the description from David Begg of what sounds like a bizarre morning of talks with the government on a crisis package – Earlier Mr Begg said the Government had presented unions with a document setting out “broad protocols” for discussions later in [...]

There is a palpable anger in the Irish air. For many, their standard of living has already gone into decline. Some have suffered wage freezes or wage cuts. Others have been dealt the ultimate economic blow and have lost their jobs. The numbers now are quite stark – there is something like 100,000 more on [...]

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I am sorry to say it, but as far as I can see, Ireland is no longer a true Republic because the present Government, and its two immediate predecessors have killed it, culminating with their wreckless nationalisation of a bank propped up by their friends. As far as I can see, this means that if [...]

Chris O Leary, Cork Green Councillor and European Election candidate in 2004 resigned from the party today in protest at their role in government. Chris O’Leary announced the decision this morning, saying he plans to contest next June’s local elections an independent councillor. Mr O’Leary thanked his constituents for all their support and pledged to [...]

Photoshop was acting the bollix on me so apologies for tardy Taoiseach. Click the pic for full size yo.

Another dodgy financial vehicle causing problems for 2 banks.  And not for the first time, the vehicle in question is listed in Ireland, but no one here apparently is responsible for regulating it.

Brian Cowen chose to use his Dail Anniversary speech to forge a link between the first Dail in 1919 and Ireland’s role in Europe. Under the wider topic of republicanism Cowen addressed partition, Europe and the wider economic downturn. It is a starting gun on raising the profile of the EU’s role in stabilising the [...]

Thanks to everyone who got irishelection.com to the long list in three Irish Blog Awards categories (Best Political, Best Group and Best News/Current Affairs). Some great blogs in there and I look forward to meeting everyone in Cork for the event. Thanks for Damien for his hard work and well done on what looks like [...]

At today’s share prices, the government could buy Bank of Ireland and Allied Irish outright for €1.16 billion.  That’s less than the cost of the €1.5 billion that it’s now not putting into Anglo Irish, but still more than it proposes to put in as preference shares to the two institutions.  Yet with Gordon Brown [...]