It’s interesting to be in the People’s Republic of China when there is so much happening at home. Your humble scribe is here to cover the official visit of Taoiseach Enda Kenny for the purpose of promoting trade and investment.
There’s no shortage of drama in Irish politics these days. Sometimes it descends into farce, as in the sequence of events at the Finance Committee last night. Read my colleague Mary Minihan’s report here.
The silly season normally waits until the dog-days of August but it has come early this year. Incredibly, the main government party was planning a self-congratulatory event today in Merrion Square Park, close to Leinster House, to mark 12 months in government.
It’s been a while since the present writer was on assignment in Brussels. It takes a while to get back into the rhythm of the place. Happily I managed to find accommodation close to the EU complex of buildings and it is a blessing not to have to traipse all over town.
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…)
Well, there you have it. No great surprises in that, were there? It was billed as a National Address but really it was in many ways a Party Political Broadcast on behalf of the coalition partners. Quite rightly, the Opposition are getting a chance to reply.
That was the week that was! The last days before close of nominations were a mad scramble for Norris and Dana. Your humble blogging scribe was present at South Dublin County Council in Tallaght when Fine Gael and some Labour people voted down the Norris bid. (more…)
It may be the longest political honeymoon in recent decades but, after 100 days, it is well and truly over. From now until the next Budget in December, the Fine Gael-Labour coalition will be coming under increasingly severe scrutiny from media and public alike. As suggested in this piece on the mood in the Labour Party, which I wrote for the print edition of the paper recently, one of the Government’s problems may be that its majority is too big.
As usual, to pass the time prior to the formation of a new government, we indulge in a little bit of fantasy cabinet-making. It’s particularly difficult on this occasion and I’m not happy with scarcity of non-Dublin TDs on the list, for example, but here goes. Not to be taken too seriously: let’s be having your list in return.
One of the first things to remembers about politics is that logic is a very poor guide. We may be in a phase in our evolution as a State when that maxim is about to be proven yet again. (more…)
