Brendan Simms

7 results

There was ‘a failure to appreciate how divisive and destabilising’ Brexit would be for Northern Ireland, said Prof Mary Murphy, of the Department of Government and Politics at UCC. File image: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
British policy on Brexit is part of an historical pattern, conference told

The UK’s decision to hold a referendum on Brexit with little thought to the consequences for Northern Ireland and Anglo-Irish relations follows a patt(...)

British prime minister Theresa May: “It is more likely...that history will show that the backstop brought about the collapse of the May government, the succession of Boris Johnson, and perhaps a no-deal Brexit...”
If Johnson becomes PM, he should thank Varadkar, says historian

Brendan Simms is the quintessential European. Raised in Ireland, the son of a German mother, he is the grand-nephew of a Irish communist who became a (...)

Brendan Simms: Prospect of Brexit should fill Ireland with dread

Ireland has recently elected a new Government. The most important vote for the Irish this year, however, will be taking place next door, on June 23rd,(...)

A ceremony on Europe Day in Rome on Monday. The day is aimed at celebrating peace and unity on the continent. Photograph: EPA/Massimo Percossi
Europe Letter: EU debates its future as UK prepares to vote

On Monday, staff at the European institutions in Brussels took to the summer sunshine as European Union buildings closed their doors for Europe Day. (...)

Angela Merkel the “indispensable European” for “defending Germany’s interests without losing sight of Europe’s”. Photograph: Carsten Koall/Getty Images
Derek Scally: Germany is here, Berlin is back

Nigella Lawson is not a regular in this column, but she has a nose for trends and her latest trend is Germany. In a review of her latest show, I read (...)

Michael McDowell: Ireland was about to enter into a three-month period of “inane debate” leading to “largely worthless” European Parliament elections: Photograph: Dara MacDónaill
Federalists gearing up for move towards European state, cautions McDowell

Former tánaiste Michael McDowell has warned that “elitist eurofederalists” are “firing up the boilers” for one more step towar(...)

Eamon Gilmore made the announcement at the 13th annual NGO Forum on Human Rights, which is taking in Dublin Castle today.
Gilmore announces ‘complete review’ of State’s foreign policy

Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore has initiated a complete review of Ireland’s foreign policy and external relations - the first such audit t(...)