Gate Theatre founders Hilton Edwards and Micheál Mac Liammóir: The theatre has a special place in the history of the struggle for sexual equality and respect in Ireland. Photograph: The Irish Times Fintan O’Toole: If theatre is not a safe space, what is left?

A case taken by an actress against a Trinity student in 1747 gives the lie to the notion that there was a time when sexual harrassment in the workplace was okay

Oxford University. One sweet moment happened when a transgender woman said to me: “I am so sorry. This is not Oxford.” Photograph: Getty Images Breda O’Brien: I was shouted down for 40 minutes at Oxford University

Pro-choice students screamed to prevent anti-abortion speakers being heard

Halloween bounty: 45 chocolate bars, 10 packets of chocolate buttons, 17 packets of jellies . . . Photograph: Getty Diarmaid Ferriter: Halloween’s sugar mountain part of a relentless cycle

The Irish Heart Foundation puts it simply: ‘Stop targeting children’

We have some leverage now on the Border issue. We can’t let is quietly slip down the order of priorities if these talks are to progress as this could potentially leave us exposed to pressure to compromise somewhere down the road Cliff Taylor: Government faces first crunch moment in Brexit talks

We have heard more than enough nonsense about frictionless and seamless borders

Sinn Féin’s Northern Ireland leader Michelle O’Neill and Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams: ready to do a deal, but not met with enthusiasm by Arlene Foster and the DUP. Photograph: Paul Faith/AFP/Getty Images All or nothing? Parties – and voters – must accept compromise

As Sinn Féin and DUP lurch towards a deal, there will be the usual hoo-ha about sell-outs and betrayals, but broken promises are sometimes needed for good government

President Michael D Higgins meeting refugees at the Goal nutrition centre in Tierkadi Refugee Camp, during his visit to Ethiopia in 2014. Photograph: Chris Bellew/Fennell Humanitarian aid doesn't come cheap

The professionalisation of aid, and its concentration in a small number of mega-NGOs, has caused its own problems

The Irish Government will insist on a say in how Westminster governs Northern Ireland if no Executive is re-established at Stormont. The Belfast Agreement entitles it to such a say. Photograph: Getty Images Noel Whelan: Britain distracted as Irish relationship faces strain

We are about to see first public divergence by governments on North since Belfast Agreement

People often ask why we are so stuck in this rut. To paraphrase Bill Clinton, “it’s the environment, stupid”. Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire Making a small start is key for our children’s healthy eating
  • Cliodhna Foley-Nolan
  • November 3, 2017

We want to give our children everything but have lost our ability to say “no”

Minister for Climate Action Denis Naughten at the handover of his new 100% electric car. Last month, he flew to Brussels to demand that the State be allowed to opt out of even the basic emissions commitments we had already signed up to. File photograph: Maxwell Photography Ireland showing reckless disregard for climate justice
  • John Gibbons
  • November 3, 2017

As Citizens’ Assembly turns to environment, it is clear Government is shirking challenge

File image of Conor Cruise O’Brien. In the Labour Party his views on the North caused huge dissension, but with the support of Brendan Corish he swung the party behind his policies. Conor Cruise O’Brien forced Ireland to reconsider nationalism

The intellectual challenged the idea the pursuit of unity was the State’s main goal

Sinn Féin’s Conor Murphy at Stormont. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Newton Emerson: Why a Stormont deal remains likely

Sinn Féin and DUP supporters would have no option but to accept a new accord

A mud figure of Carles Puigdemont, known as caganer (Catalan for defecator): More than 1,300 firms have moved their headquarters from Catalonia in the three weeks following its illegal referendum for independence. Photograph: Jon Nazca/Reuters Will exodus of firms from Catalonia economically influence voters?
  • José Guimón
  • November 2, 2017

Damage to Catalan economy’s credibility and investor confidence may persist for years

Ciara Kelly: posted tweets describing an unnamed, “prominent” Irish male who is accused by various unnamed people of serial rape, wife-beating, unlawful detention and relentless harassment. Photograph: Twitter Dangers of Twitter storms highlighted by Weinstein fallout

Social media users who dislike the law should campaign to have it changed

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told Apple executives he would consider changes to the strategic infrastructure Act to speed up the planning process for “large-scale projects” such as its Athenry data centre. Photograph: Tom Honan Oliver Callan: Big Tech rides roughshod over democracy

Job are desirable but State should not change laws to facilitate light-taxed Apple and its ilk

The M50. “There is a desperate need for someone in Dublin to have real land-use, housing and transport-planning powers so we can tackle the rising rents and gridlock which threaten our city.” Photograph: Alan Betson Planning framework a recipe for ongoing sprawl
  • Eamon Ryan
  • October 31, 2017

Slowing development of Dublin to try to help other centres grow would be a big mistake

The Luas Red line. “If they did not already know it, they now know that they are vulnerable to sexual menace, even in public places.” Photograph: Nick Bradshaw Fintan O’Toole: Boys must behave if women are to be safe

Men’s treatment of women will not change unless boys are taught manners

Patrick Rogers is challenged by Madeline Stringer and members of the Unitarian Church on the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther nailing his theses to the Wittenberg church door in 1517, re-enacted on St Stephen’s Green. Photograph: Cyril Byrne Reformation’s lesson can spur Christian faiths to work together
  • Archbishop Richard Clarke
  • October 31, 2017

500 years after Luther, churches must bear shared witness to unbelieving world

Maybe creepy guys thought silences would protect them forever. But the silence only existed in their orbits. Elsewhere, among women, there was noise. Women talk. Illustration: Dearbhla Kelly. Una Mullally: Breaking the silence around sexual harassment

Women have moved from mutual alert codes to calling out abusers in the public realm

Catherine Murphy: “The fact is that we have been sold a lie about local property tax, which was introduced in haste in 2013 at the behest of the troika.” Huge unfairness lies at heart of the local property tax
  • Catherine Murphy
  • October 30, 2017

Problem lies with flawed way the tax funding baseline for each local authority is determined

Financial Times columnist Martin Sandbu says, “Goods trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain already involves the disruptions of sea (or air) travel: loading, unloading, the crossing and all the associated logistics. That means the hard and soft infrastructure for an economic border is already present.” Photograph: Nick Bradshaw Andy Pollak: Vacuous Brexit talk could yield to creative solution
  • Andy Pollak
  • October 30, 2017

Regulatory line of Irish Sea far easier and less disruptive than land border

Kathleen Lynn was committed to a republic of equals; “the infant has no politics” was one of her mantras Diarmaid Ferriter: Name children’s hospital after Kathleen Lynn
  • Diarmaid Feritter
  • October 28, 2017

Republican activist in Rising also made pioneering contribution to healthcare

The Money Advice and Budgeting Service was founded by volunteers to address poverty and crippling indebtedness. Along with the Citizens Information Services, it is at risk . Photograph: Aidan Crawley Citizens Information Board assault on volunteers is madness

Drive to replace Mabs and CIS with 16 regional structures must be stopped

Flu warning: a new vaccine-resistant strain could lead to the hospitalisation of many Irish people. Photograph: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg A bad dose of flu could endanger the Government’s health

Pat Leahy: Another hospital crisis in early 2018 might be the trigger for an election

The Central Bank of Ireland: The bank has been broken up and put back together again over the years. It is hard to see another divorce achieving much. Photograph: Alan Betson Cliff Taylor: Proper bank regulation is about people and not process

Splitting the Central Bank up again is not the answer. Changes are needed in regulation and in the bank boardrooms.

Chinese president Xi Jinping: “It’s my conviction that the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will become a reality.” Photograph: How Hwee Young World View: Will China’s progress help human rights record?

Xi’s ‘middle-income power by 2021’ will be monitored on ‘seven unmentionables’

US president Donald Trump: this week was a dark moment as criticism by Bob Corker and Jeff Flake found little backing. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters Suzanne Lynch: Trump has faced down his Republican critics

Lack of backing for Corker and Flake comments has bolstered US president

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and RTÉ broadcaster David McCullagh at the National Library for the launch of ‘De Valera: Volume I: Rise (1882–1932)’. Photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons Noel Whelan: Clue to future as Varadkar looks to de Valera’s past

Taoiseach notes thin line between politicians’ great strengths and biggest weaknesses

Leo Varadkar handed out coffees from a hip cafe while he was campaigning to be the next Taoiseach Una Mullally: Varadkar has much to learn about coffee and socialism

The messaging the Taoiseach gravitates towards does not chime with the demographic his party will need to grow its base

Dissatisfaction when high-profile cases come before the courts and apparently inexplicable decisions are made suggests more could be done to foster awareness of the sentencing process. Opaque sentencing policy fosters discontent
  • Ian O'Donnell
  • October 27, 2017

Sentencing must assure public measured response has been taken in its name

Franco-Irish alliance: Emmanuel Macron and Leo Varadkar at the Élysée Palace. Photograph: Ian Langsdon/EPA Leo and Emmanuel: the start of something beautiful?

Macron and Varadkar are the EU’s ‘new leaders’. Do they really agree on its future?

’It is to completely misunderstand the nature of child sexual abuse when the status and public profile of the convicted sex offender are viewed as a mitigating factor in sentencing’ Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire High profile sex offenders use prestige to access and then silence children
  • Maeve Lewis
  • October 26, 2017

Abusers not only manipulate the child, they groom and manipulate the people around them

Tom Humphries (54) of Sutton, Dublin, arriving at the Criminal Courts of Justice. He has been sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail for grooming and defilement of a child. Photograph: Collins Courts Susan McKay: Tom Humphries is no aberration
  • Susan McKay
  • October 26, 2017

Not all men are abusers. But too many men rape, or condone rape, or blame the victims

Catalan protesters: Sinn Féin is pointing to Spain and unwittingly reminding everyone of how passive the UK is towards its constituent parts. Photograph: David Ramos/Getty Images Newton Emerson: Catalan crisis a double-edged sword for Sinn Féin

Making comparisons with Spanish situation only serves to show how accommodating UK is

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, at a press conference at the Élysée Palace in Paris on Tuesday. Photograph: Kamil Zihnioglu/AP Photo Stephen Collins: Varadkar emerges as EU diplomacy natural

Confident Taoiseach engaged with EU debate on Brexit contrasts with shambolic British

ANO leader Andrej Babis at Lany Castle after a meeting with Czech president Milos Zeman following the general election. Photograph: EPA/Martin Divisek Paranoia in Prague as Czechs turn to a populist leader
  • Michael O'Loughlin
  • October 25, 2017

It is hard to justify the displays of racism and xenophobia on display in the election

Minister for Arts Heather Humphreys: she and her team should review the newly expanded “auspices” of Creative Ireland and consider how taxpayers will respond to the creation of a secretive, parallel institution for disbursing public money. Photograph: Dara Mac Donaill Heather Humpreys taking political control of arts funding
  • John McAuliffe
  • October 25, 2017

Creative Ireland appears to be intruding on Arts Council’s enshrined finance role

Senator Terry Leyden: his casual peddling of something he saw on Google as a serious contribution to public policy should be a matter of serious concern. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill Kathy Sheridan: Terry Leyden remarks show up poor debate

Comments by politicians with no scientific basis must be exposed in public as fake

Thousands gathered in Dublin in 2012 following the death of Savita Halappanavar to demand legislation on abortion. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill Kitty Holland: Repeal movement settles for crumbs

Oireachtas committee vote on Eighth Amendment a significant setback

The Central Bank. The Dirt scandal is not ancient history – we’re still living with it. The Dirt scandal was the great alarm bell. Photograph: Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters Fintan O'Toole: The corruption of Irish banking goes back 30 years

The betrayal of basic ethics goes so deep only the criminal law can root it out

Archbishop Eamon Martin: “The reaction since my presence and words in the Church of Ireland cathedral on such a significant occasion, has affirmed my decision to accept the invitation.” Christians in Ireland share responsibility in healing the pain of our troubled past
  • Archbishop Eamon Martin
  • October 24, 2017

Outsiders see a history of division and sectarianism, of intolerance and open hostility

Act Up campaigners last year calling on the Government and others to address the HIV crisis. Photograph: Eric Luke Una Mullally: Preventative HIV drug must be made available

Almost 25 years ago, homosexuality was decriminalised in dark days of HIV/Aids

European Union chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier and European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker: in some eyes, achievements are being made on the road to Brexit. Photograph: Dario Pignatelli/Reuters Patrick Smyth: Mixed signals from Brussels on the border

There was confusion after last week’s summit about whether sufficient progress had been made

A severe influenza season will create a huge consequent strain on the health service. Emergency departments will choke up and some will be forced to close. Photograph: Alan Betson This is the winter our health system will finally collapse

The ineffectiveness of this year’s flu vaccines means hospitals will not be able to cope

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe: He can harangue the banks. But will he give the Central Bank new powers? Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill Tracker scandal: consumers sacrificed on altar of rescuing banks

Cliff Taylor: Quiet acceptance emerged that customers could be charged a bit extra

Derville Rowland Director, director general of financial conduct at the Central Bank, and the bank’s governor Philip Lane. The Central Bank has still not made a single report of suspected fraud. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins. Fintan O’Toole: Tracker scam must become criminal inquiry

The banks’ rip-off of customers is not a scandal. It is either a miracle or a crime

Voting on the pro-choice motion on abortion at the Fianna Fáil ardfheis earlier this month, in the RDS. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill Abortion reform now entering the political process

Referendum will depend on what Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil agree between them

“The whole emphasis now will be on painting those who want abortion on demand, and those who want no abortion, as similarly extreme, and the fallacy of the middle ground will be trotted out again and again.” Oireachtas committee’s decision on Eighth Amendment was predictable

Committee cannot now cast around for fig leaves by inviting anti-abortion advocates to address it

“And what of the Central Bank? It has been investigating for two years and insists it will continue to ‘challenge’ the lenders on their obfuscation.” File photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times It is time to be less deferential to the banks

Institutions' culture of indifference to society has been evident since origins of the State

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar: Government ministers tend not to speak any foreign languages. Mr Varadkar has twice gone to Downing Street but has yet to pay a visit to Paris or Berlin. Photograph: Cyril Byrne Ruadhán Mac Cormaic: Monoglot Ireland will be at loss post-Brexit

Tight links to Anglosphere have blinded Ireland to other political and trade avenues

“Harvey Weinstein was so powerful it is said that he could spin or suppress any investigation of his now revealed predatory sexual behaviour.” Photograph: Loic Venance/AFP/Getty Images Gabriel Byrne: There are the likes of Weinstein in Dublin who should be feeling nervous
  • Gabriel Byrne
  • October 21, 2017

Victims were silenced by fear and shame, convinced they would not be believed

A member of Iraqi Shiite group Hashd al-Shaabi stands in front of a crossed-out flag of the Kurdistan region in Kirkuk. Photograph: Bareq al-Samarrai/EPA Dreams of independent Kurdish state remain elusive as ever
  • Vincent Durac
  • October 20, 2017

Resumption of control by Baghdad over Kirkuk bolsters Iraqi president's position

The ineffectual politicians in ‘The Thick of It’ look almost competent compared with Theresa May. Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Noel Whelan: Brexit has become a diplomatic dialogue of the deaf

The mantra ‘There will be no hard Border’ is not enough to magic the prospect away

Micheál Martin and Leo Vardkar: Sorry, chaps, it’s not all about who’s in charge Ten lessons for Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil from Tory election disaster
  • Tim Bale
  • October 20, 2017

Tips include: Goodbye negative campaigning, and beware the Eighth Amendment

A demonstration in Barcelona against the arrest of two Catalan separatist leaders. Photograph: Lluis Gene/AFP/Getty Images A peculiar bourgeois nationalism brings Spain to the brink
  • Vincent Boland
  • October 19, 2017

The puzzle is why Madrid gifted the Catalan nationalist cause an easy propaganda victory

An Irishman's Diary

‘Call me a grinch, if you like, but I suffer a just-as-visceral reaction to the grotesquely-premature lights that are already decorating some Dublin shops.’ Photograph: Getty Images November distemper – An Irishman’s Diary about the premature outbreak of Christmas

Many famous verifiers breathed their last in the eleventh month, including Kavanagh and Wilde and Milton

Editorials

Sexual harassment: an overdue reckoning

Men who mistreat and degrade women will sleep a little less easily this weekend

Direct provision: a positive move

Political and administrative reluctance to provide the kind of supports Irish emigrants once received in similar circumstances remains

Letters

Is South Africa suitable for Rugby World Cup?
Garda lack of response to breath-test query
How we can help victims of crime
Return of the slums to Dublin
Catalonia and the EU
CSO discrepancies
Silent culture around sexual harassment
Fighting white-collar crime
Amnesty abortion poll
WhatsApp doc?

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