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

At the Saint Patrick’s Day reception –
President, as we say good-bye on this occasion, but hopefully we’ll keep in touch over the years, I will remember — and I hope that everyone in Ireland will — how kind, how favorable you’ve been, how really open you’ve been to helping us, and the amount of time [...]

From RTE.
Amnesty International has said Ireland is clearly contravening international law by allowing its territory to be used to facilitate the practice of extraordinary rendition.The group is basing its claim on the findings of its latest report.Amnesty in Ireland claims Shannon Airport was used to refuel an aircraft that the following day was allegedly used to move [...]

Interesting reading in the Financial Times today. First, a short comment piece by Quentin Peel on Bertie and the Lisbon referendum; nothing that we don’t know in Ireland but since it reflects chatter in Brussels, perhaps indicative of growing nervousness amongst the Eurocrats about Bertie’s handling of the vote. Second, an [...]

While his row with John Deasy was the one which caught the headlines, the interesting comments from Willie O’Dea last week were his comments on the Chinese involvement in Chad’s civil war:
The rebellion is supported by Chad’s powerful neighbour, Sudan, whose regime is in turn by the Government of China.
…
Approaches to the Chinese authorities would [...]

One wonders if the Cabinet have decided to collect their deferred pay raises as travel benefits. Just in the last few days: Mary Hanafin postpones a trip to the USA by a day to appear at a Dail debate on autism; Dermot Ahern still says he’s travelling across the world to East Timor even with [...]

It’s very rare for Ireland to have a potential military dilemma given that any overseas military activities are always under the colour of the United Nations.  While there have been occasional concerns expressed about whether European Union military operations might breach neutrality, those concerns have never been able to overcome the general momentum of EU [...]

It was greeted with shock last week when it was “revealed” that Albert Reynolds stopped of in the Bahamas and how no one knew this. How it all seems a bit of cloak and dagger. And the way RTE put it.
In a statement this evening, the Fianna Fáil TD, Martin Mansergh, who was a [...]

Over at the Washington Post Global website, Amar C. Bakshi is investigating how the world sees America. He’s looking for contributions so if you’ve got an opinion on America, Americans or American culture, just go here.
Amar has just finished up a stint in England and is currently touring India in his attempt to understand how [...]

The Green position on Europe has long been one of opposition. Since they opted to enter government last month speculation has been building here and elsewhere as to what the sticky issue of Europe will do to the government dynamic. Would they continue to oppose Europe? Embark on a volte face? Or would they fudge [...]

Today a draft agreement will go before a hastily assembled national convention of Ireland’s Green party which, its leadership hopes, will to take them into office for the first time ever on Thursday.

Friday’s Irish Times reports on a potential hurdle in coalition formation that while not fatal, will deal a blow to the credibility of several of the independent TDs if/when a dodge is found around it. The issue is that some of them signed a pledge not to participate in any government that allowed the [...]

“…we’ll always have Berlin.
Here’s looking at you, die Kanzlerin.”

Update: America gets involved and the same day we get a press release how predictable. US air strikes in Somalia will escalate conflict, says Green Party. A Four year old is killed by Americans and John Gormley comes out and condemns it. 1000 people killed by Africans and he is at the sales. [...]

Word has reached me—not entirely confident about the source—that RTE have bought the rights to show Loose Change, the show about 9/11 being a government conspiracy, etc., etc. It will be interesting to see if the program discusses the reality behind some of the claims. Anyway, it might give Morgan Stack who we interviewed here [...]