Our party whip system is too severe. Politicians should be able to vote with their conscience
British and American systems do not quake at the thought of governments losing votes via their supporters who disagree with the majority
Michael McDowell columns and stories
British and American systems do not quake at the thought of governments losing votes via their supporters who disagree with the majority
Depending on one’s point of view, Minister for Housing’s landmark creation is either a dangerous folly or an architectural gem
Minister for Justice says new procedure ‘just and fair’ in process used less than 10 times since 1956
With reform repeatedly promised and not delivered, the only way to fix the lack of Seanad reform it is at the next Dáil election
Senator describes 747-page Bill as ‘telephone directory’ and a ‘massive supertanker coming to dock in a very small port’
Labour Senator warns of ‘fundamental flaw’ as Upper House debates third largest Bill in history of State
Sloganeering about “populism” is over the top when discussing real peoples’ real concerns for their city
Michael McDowell: The recent debate proved Biden is well past his political sell-by date and urgent action is required to prevent the unthinkable of Donald Trump reclaiming the White House
Self-inflicted economic, diplomatic and strategic damage will be blamed on Rishi Sunak by Tory media and not on Michael Gove, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss or the Brexit-cheerleading media itself
The question needs to be asked why Ireland, on the geographical periphery of the EU, is facing 30,000 claims for international protection each year
The mutual backslapping between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael marked a watershed moment in Irish politics, but voters need more choices than just a hard-left coalition or the status quo
Successive ministers in the department have failed utterly to appreciate this fact
Michael McDowell: Democracy has never hung on such a fraying thread since the dark days of the 1930s
Referendums are not mere political games. What we now know happened should have political consequence
A recently announced Dublin taskforce is typical of the campaign to counter falling support for Harris's government
What exactly will it be illegal to say in future that it is not currently illegal to say? Nobody seems to know
While the Rwanda option remains on the UK’s statute book, Irish courts will be obliged to refuse deportation of migrants refused asylum to the UK
TD Verona Murphy was scandalised by the allocation of school buses in Kilkenny, but her fellow Senators and TDs were in a more celebratory mood with May Day, Mary-Lou’s birthday and Lyric FM all on the list
Discussion of gender identity among children and adolescents has become much more prominent in the last decade. Questions remain about the extent to which schools should deal with such complex issues
Compromise should never be a dirty word in any true democrat's lexicon, says former tánaiste as he unveils plaque to War of Independence hero, Sean O'Donoghue
The Irish State now has fewer than 10,000 trained military members that it could call up in the event of an emergency
Expectation is Dáil and Seanad will vote in favour of opting into pact, but volatility of views on immigration issues means outcome is far from certain
Independent Senator Michael McDowell said he was ‘most anxious’ that the ‘very serious constitutional consequences’ of the pact be investigated
A massive black hole has opened up between the Oireachtas and the EU legislative process
Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu may have calculated that widening the conflict frames him as someone fighting an existential war for Israel’s survival
If Irish voters are shifting to the right, that would place a premium on the powers of Independents such as Verona Murphy and Michael McDowell
Commemorative and funeral marches by non-State actors wearing uniforms are polarising, ridiculous and ultimately unrepublican
The effects of the Provisional movement’s fundraising campaign are still visible in Irish politics, north and south
Cynically choking off food, water and medical supplies to defenceless, vulnerable and suffering people is utterly unforgiveable
The sneering backfired on the Yes side
A short history of political advisers in Ireland, from the early 1990s to today
Your essential end-of-week politics catch up: Ministers’ relief to go wheels-up for St Patrick’s Day
Department of Finance records prompted No campaigner Michael McDowell to accuse the Coalition of misleading voters
Lack of independent scrutiny raises questions about spending of public money in family and care referendums
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
Inquests into the nightclub fire that led to the deaths of 48 people
Weddings, Births, Deaths and other family notices