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

If you see Charlie McCreevey walking down the street, dining in a fashionable café, or panhandling outside Government Buildings – arrest him. You have the power – the common law citizen’s arrest. The charge? Crimes against the economy. Is that an offence? Yes, it dates back to Saxon times, judicated on by courts that looked [...]

The new union, UNITE (the merged ATGWU and AMICUS unions) has just published a report on Irish wages which is sure to prove controversial. It flatly contradicts the prevailing consensus that Irish wages are somehow ‘high’, that Irish wage growth is high relative to our EU trading partners and that these ‘high’ wages are one [...]

Paul Tansey wrote an impressive list of economic achievements during Bertie Ahern’s tenure as Taoiseach:
On Ahern’s watch, the Irish economy almost doubled in size, while the numbers at work increased by one-half . . The unemployment rate declined from 10.4 per cent in 1997 to 4.6. In the 10 years from 1987 to 1997, [...]

The following is a synopsis of an article that appears on Irish Left Review.
When Eamon Gilmore, TD launched his leadership bid back in August he laid out his primary objective:
‘Labour should break free of, and reject, the “half party” limit which others impose on us - and which, sometimes, we inflict on ourselves.’
Full [...]

Economic growth to slump to the lowest levels since the recessionary 1980s. Unemployment to rise. Inflation heading back up. Tax revenue slumping. Exchequer deficit out of control. Export growth sluggish. No direction, no respite, no hope and . . . no ideas. Yep, it looks like Fianna Fail is odds on to win the next [...]

A number of European leaders have been going through a difficult patch: President Sarkozy, Taoiseach Bertie, Prime Minister Brown and caretaker Prime Minister Prodi. But spare a thought for His Serene Highness Johannes Adam Ferdinand Alois Josef Maria Marko d’Aviano Pius von und zu Liechtenstein, Sovereign Prince of Liechtenstein, Count of Reitberg and Duke of [...]

Senator Mary White has announced her intention to seek a nomination for the Presidency. Though some may question the timing (the election won’t be until 2011) and her ability to persuade her own party to nominate her, it is certainly not too early to assess candidates’ suitability for the highest constitutional office. And given her [...]

When caught in a storm, long-term thinking is understandably sacrificed to more short-term concerns – like getting out of the rain. You’re wet, you’re going to get wetter (the bus stop has no shelter), and you’re just hoping you don’t get a chill or, worse, pneumonia. What you do afterwards can be considered when you’re [...]

Dear Ciaran
I read your speech before the Ireland Institute with great interest. There is much common ground between the Left and the Greens. While various political parties may be on opposite sides in the Dail, we are not, ultimately, politically opposed. In that constructive spirit I’d like to discuss some of your observations - specifically, [...]

Not many of us have the good fortune to found a school of thought. But David McWilliams is a fortunate man. In the final episode of RTE’s Generation Game he has conjured for us an innovative strategy to revitalising the ailing Celtic Tiger which deserves, if only fleeting, a recognisable status. I’d like to propose [...]

‘ . . . some people are saying that the economy is ruined. Anyone who says that knows nothing about nothing.’
Thus, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern responding to the growing concerns about the economy. Of course, a straw-person is being employed here – no one is saying that the economy is in ‘ruins’. But it is [...]

I know some breakfast roll men. I meet them every morning at my local newsagent. They’re building workers. They’d be surprised to learn they are one of the most important political categories today, their lifestyles and electoral choices the subject of endless punditry. Indeed, you’d think, from the commentary that the only debate in the [...]

Fianna Fail certainly read their Sun Tzu. The legendary author of the ancient classic, ‘The Art of War’, stated that
To defeat your enemy without fighting is best.
Yes, indeed. Fianna Fail won the economics debate long before the last election began. And they hardly had to fire a PR shot. Labour’s Pat Rabbitte TD, suggested [...]

Man, it’s hard just to live. Bank of Ireland Private Banking has just produced its second ‘Wealth of the Nation’ report, which is a strange title because really it’s about the wealth of a tiny fraction of the nation. According to the report – the top 1% holds 20% of all the wealth of the [...]

It is well and truly open season on the Green Party. In their first private members session Fine Gael moved a motion condemning hospital co-location. Their next motion dealt with the Ringsend incinerator. It would be nice to think the largest opposition party intends to drive new public sector and environmental agendas – but it [...]

Welcome to the new government, same as. . well, the old government. At least when it comes to the economy. Much commentary has focused on what the Greens got, didn’t get and if what they got is really what they got. This has, understandably, been confined to little more than bullet points, as the full [...]