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

The Sunday Times reports that Fianna Fail are looking for “independently wealthy” -haven’t they hade enough of them? – persons to run as second candidates for Europe. They expect them to spend big on themselves like Royston and raise lots too. In other words they are skint. In Connaught-Ulster the party has set it’s hopes [...]

Interestingly today’s FT front page suggests that Gordon Brown is going to have to follow the USA and pump billions more into their banks following the UK’s 50 billion pound recap/nationalisation scheme. Speaking amid mounting market concerns that banks face further heavy losses, Mr Brown said: “We have got to be clear that where we [...]

Even before my good employer cast me mercilessly onto the dole cue last September, I had already decided that if God were to spare me, I would spend my summer holiday in Ireland in 2009. The reason for this was not patriotism, but economic. Bean Thomaltaigh had given up work to return to college (little [...]

Developing story (here’s the Finance statement)… will the government now use it as a “bad bank” for troubled assets from the other banks?  One quick thought: some sense has prevailed since the proposed capital injection far exceeded the stock market valuation of the bank.  Its liabilities are already government-guaranteed.  And it had made IFSRA look silly. [...]

I don’t think anyone liked the idea of sinking almost €2 billion of the National Pension Reserve Fund into Anglo. The recapitalisation left a bitter taste in the mouths of all those affected by current spending cuts to schools, carers and the cervical cancer vaccine (to name but three hot-button issues).

After the embarrassment at Waterford Wedgewood for Tony O’Reilly, could another legend of Irish business be on the rocks?  The  Wall Street Journal says Smurfit-Stone, formed from the 1998 merger of Jefferson Smurfit and Stone Container, is likely to file for bankruptcy.

Yes Suzy, spotted it too – between the Tanaiste and Martin Mansergh the laughing is unnerving, consdiering it emerges at the most inappropriate time following tough questions. Also, for readers, the Cedars have some great posts I meant to highlight. The post on Petr Mach’s Czech anti-Lisbon party is particularly incisive – Declan Ganley running [...]

Colm McCarthy, UCD economist makes the front page of the Examiner for his contribution to yesterday’s  conference on getting past the downturn. He is now chairman of the board charged with shrinking government spending and helping to target cuts in the public service. Interestingly he has a few things to say about the tax system [...]

‘Once upon a couple of weeks ago… ‘ This is the injudicious phrase that Bono used as he debuted as an op-ed contributor in this Sunday’s New York Times. Good Lord. Never. Never ever. Not even if I was down with the worst respiratory tract infection since the plague of 1343, not even if I [...]

A good Friday news dump as Financial Regulator Pat Neary took the inevitable decision to step down. The regulator has been widely condemned for weaker than lax regulation of the banking sector and his office’s role in the Anglo director-loans scandal. In recent weeks the more worrying turn has been the failure of those stranded [...]

It is a figure that is almost impossible to comprehend and it is only the first full week in January. The expecations game is well and truly over, it is now down to leadership to see us out of this mess. Leadership in both the public and private sector. The Live Register saw an unadjusted [...]

Sorry Limerick.

Newswire is first to break the news that the Dell plant in Limerick is going to close in 2010. 1,900 job loses. I would guess around 10,000 jobs in the region could be gone as well. This is also Irelands biggest exporter so I guess our balance of payments is also taking a massive hit. [...]

Are you a frugal traveller abroad?  See how you’d do on the civil service overseas expenses guidelines (pdf).

Great new blog on the “market” IrishEconomy.ie. Basically a who’s who of Irish Economic Academics.

Beverly Flynn has announced she is giving up her Independent’s allowance. She spoke with Cowen yesterdayand told Midwest radio this morning that she was speaking with the Taoiseach Brian Cowen yesterday and will give up the allowance. Ms Flynn stressed that she not do anything wrong in claiming the money but said that she would [...]