It’s just approaching noon in Brussels and the temperature has plummeted, with a fall of light snow.
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…)
The Budget speech is one of the great set pieces in the political calendar. It’s the day when the Taoiseach cedes the bottom right hand corner seat of the Chamber to the Minister for Finance. It’s also the only day of a non-election year when every seat in the chamber, the press gallery, and the public gallery is occupied. (more…)
A few minutes after Enda Kenny finished speaking last night I tweeted a rather obvious sentiment that I’m sure was already put out by many others: When does a political party broadcast end and a state of the Nation speech begin? (more…)
There is a very strange atmosphere in political circles arising from the uncertainty about the future of the Euro. There has never been anything quite like it in recent decades.
One thing credit agencies don’t lack is chutzpah. I was a little agog at Moody’s putting the whole of the EU on a kind of negative watch. Yep, they’re the same guys who passed dodgy bank derivative with triple-A flying colours back in the day (more…)
That was no bland speech from the newly inaugurated president, Michael D Higgins. His denouncement of what you might call the “boom time establishment” in Dublin Castle was pretty powerful stuff. (more…)
When the result of an election becomes obvious early on the day of the count, the lower-polling candidates had better watch out lest they become the talking point of the day. Step forward Fine Gael candidate Gay Mitchell. (more…)
