Hardly know Ciarán Cannon. He is a junior minister – I looked it up: “Training and Skills”. He was briefly leader of the Progressive Democrats (remember them?) before they wound up and now he’s in Fine Gael.
It’s just approaching noon in Brussels and the temperature has plummeted, with a fall of light snow.
Enda Kenny faces a major decision in the near future. Should he put the forthcoming European fiscal treaty to popular vote in a referendum or not? Here are some of my own thoughts on the matter, from today’s newspaper. Tell me what you think:- (more…)
The economic crisis we are going through is like nothing else since the 1930s. Heaven forbid, but it may turn out to be even worse. What is the average citizen to do? Our political leaders can often seem helpless in the face of these unpredictable and alarming events. Here are some thoughts, in a piece for the print edition of this newspaper, on the political implications of our current difficulties:-
Every year I am assigned with colleagues to peruse the newly-released State Papers. It’s a pity to have to absent oneself from the current political scene for a while, especially when there is so much happening in the contemporary world. But it is also quite informative to read through the internal government documents of yesteryear and you frequently gain a fresh insight into events that, in the present writer’s case, you actually lived through. (more…)
Once more into the blog, dear friends, and a Happy New Year to all our customers. Your comments on the following would be welcome. It’s an analysis piece for today’s Irish Times attempting to put the events of 1981 in perspective. Today, the State Papers from that year are released to public view under the 30-year rule. Now read on:
This is the 16th summit since the existential crisis affecting the eurozone first erupted. (more…)
Michael Noonan gave an indication last night the cuts in disability allowances will be reviewed. (more…)
An otherwise quiet day has been enlivened by a squawk of dissent from the Labour benches. Newly-elected TD Patrick Nulty has announced his intention to vote against the Budget.
