'If we want to be a proper player in the globalised world, we need to offer globally recognised education not just for the kids of potential foreign executives but for Irish children too.' Photograph: Dave Thompson/PA Wire David McWilliams: Ireland badly needs a global education business

When multinationals consider moving here, the first thing they will research is schools

Facebook’s European headquarters in the Dublin docklands. Photograph: Aidan Crawley/Bloomberg via Getty Images Ireland’s unanswered questions on the Facebook scandal
‘I can sense Sorcha tensing up when Honor is asked, ‘Do you reject Satan?’’
Family values: If Barack Obama’s lawyer paid off a porn star to conceal her story of having sex with him shortly after his wife had given birth, conservatives would have reacted with rage and disgust. Photograph: Retrofile/Getty Fintan O’Toole: Conservatives have abandoned their core principles
Ulster’s John Cooney in action against Ospreys – injuries saw the scrumhalf moved to outhalf during the game. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho Ulster Rugby: litany of poor decisions have hurt the province
Leo Varadkar still remains the leader with the highest satisfaction ratings. Photograph: Cyril Byrne Are Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil still polls apart?
French president Emmanuel Macron: In the era of Brexit and Trump, his election represented an alternative, much more benign vision of the future. Photograph: Patrick Seeger How should Ireland respond to Emmanuel Macron’s plans to reform Europe?
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe: Never enough in his treasury to satisfy all the demands of his colleagues. Photograph: Gareth Chaney Collins Plenty of money woes for Donohoe
Gordon D’Arcy: I don’t think pressure will alter the way Sexton operates, do you? Photograph: Bryan Keane/Inpho Gordon D’Arcy: Successful culture the difference for Leinster and Munster
Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald (left): embarked on a mini-tour of the country. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire FF chafes over confidence and supply
The Brexit referendum: one of the most important moments in contemporary British and Irish history. File photograph: Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA Wire Fintan O’Toole: Was the DUP involved in Brexit campaign fraud?
For and against: Placards regarding the upcoming referendum on the Eighth Amendment hanging in Dublin city centre. File photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins Una Mullally: Why are Irish journalists again missing a movement?
Military footing: Donald Trump salutes coastguards shortly after firing FBI head James Comey. Photograph: Getty Fintan O’Toole: A Trump war now looks inevitable
'If implemented properly a location tax would address dereliction and liberate millions of income tax payers from the heavy burden of excessive income tax.' Photograph: Getty Images David McWilliams: D7 housing market is a key cultural frontline in the capital
‘I’m not posting bail for Conor McGregor. That focker can use his own money’
Good Friday agreement: ill health has deprived us of the eloquence of John Hume (centre) in recent years, but the importance of his advocacy endures. Photograph: Alan Betson Noel Whelan: 20 things to remember about the Belfast Agreement
Bill Clinton and Tony Blair at Queen’s University on Tuesday, “signalling they were not there to cry over the agreement’s corpse”. Photograph: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images Newton Emerson: Too little hand-holding of North’s politicians brings problems
Dan Leavy: his performances have been sensational both for Leinster and Ireland. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho Gordon D’Arcy: Dan Leavy’s rise a testament to his preparation
A group of BBC journalists attend a hearing into gender pay, in support of Carrie Gracie, who resigned as BBC China editor in January. Photograph: Daniel Leal-Olivas Media should mind its gender pay gap and embrace mandatory reporting
Northern Ireland Troubles: British soldiers on patrol in 1969. Photograph: Peter Kemp/AP Photo It’s time to talk about Irish unification as reconciliation
Denis O’Brien: There is no doubt that he genuinely sees himself as an embattled figure. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill Fintan O’Toole: Denis O’Brien’s thin skin at odds with role of major media player
‘People need to realise ‘Room to Improve’ is just a TV show. It’s not reality’
At the end of the month, the squeezed middle has no money left. Photograph: iStock David McWilliams: There will be no relief for the squeezed middle
‘While schools cannot be expected to counter single-handedly a culture of exploitative sex, they can play some role in highlighting more positive and respectful attitudes.’ Breda O’Brien: Consent alone will not help our children
Actor Meghan Markle, fiancee of Britain’s Prince Harry, arrives to visit the Titanic exhibition, in Belfast, on March 23rd. Photograph: Paul Faith/AFP/Getty Images Meghan Markle has delicate ankles. I fear for them on the Temple Bar cobbles
The storms in March threw up mounds of plastic bottles and other plastic debris around Dublin Bay. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images Stephen Collins: politicians should look at a plastic bottle refund scheme
Andrew Conway takes advantage of Toulon’s lack of defensive discipline to cut through for the crucial try at Thomond Park. Photograph: Dan Sheridan/Inpho Gordon D’Arcy: Attitude and discipline key to Munster
Many are choosing to take advantage of strong rental yields by buying property with their pension fund. Photograph: Cyril Byrne Fancy a buy-to-let property with no tax, no tax returns, no hassle?
Senator Marie Louise O’Donnell: discouraged young people from being involved in politics, while a public gallery full of teenagers looked on. Una Mullally: Senator’s remarks show establishment does not want young people in politics
Protesters in Belfast following the unanimous not-guilty verdict. Photograph: Pacemaker Press ‘The trial was on a par with the rape, but I’m glad I testified’
‘I’ve chosen Vladimir for my Confirmation name. After Vladimir Putin’
Children learn through trial and error. The child who is allowed to make mistakes might be the one better equipped for life. Photograph: Getty Images David McWilliams: The economics of driving a child to school
Jamie Heaslip lifts the Heineken Cup after the win over Leicester at Murrayfield in May 2009. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho No quarter given: Jamie Heaslip recalls Leinster's last-eight battles
‘It’s time to look at rugby schools again for the aggression and thuggish behaviour they engender. Rugby is the most aggressive of contact sports.’ Photograph: Eric Luke Belfast rape trial highlights the toxic culture of our elite schools
Simon Coveney: support for the Government’s proposals was ‘conditional’. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times Abortion and the Coveney conditions
Jim Allister: he has been trying to raise the alarm about some “small print” in the EU-UK draft Withdrawal Agreement Newton Emerson: Something big written in ‘backstop’ small print
Peter O’Mahony will be central to Munster’s chances against Toulon. Photograph: Dan Sheridan/Inpho Gordon D’Arcy: We need to deal with threats to Ireland's 'national sport'
Five financial mistakes to avoid in your 50s
A file photograph shows the scene of the poison attack in Salisbury, England, on Sergei Skripal and daughter Yulia. Photoraph: AFP/Getty Images Ireland comes late to Russian expulsions
Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg: he specialises in non-committal nothingness such as “I’m not sure we shouldn’t be regulated”. Photograph: Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images One of Facebook’s biggest sins is against language
Dark web: Cambridge Analytica is controlled by a key funder of the hard right in US politics, the billionaire Robert Mercer, who also owns AggregateIQ’s intellectual property. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/Reuters Fintan O’Toole: The DUP’s Cambridge Analytica link
Dublin Docklands: Canadian economist Jane Jacobs argues against having specifically targeted “business districts” because these areas empty out at 5pm and become wastelands. Photograph: Alberto Pezzali/NurPhoto/Getty David McWilliams: Dublin is squeezing out low-income workers
‘Instagramming your food will result in you being violently removed from the premises’
Pope Francis makes his visit to Ireland in August, a trip which was formally confirmed this week. Photograph: Stefano Rellandino/Pool Photo via AP Diarmaid Ferriter: Pope’s visit will do little for image of church in Ireland
The housing valuations used for property tax purposes have been frozen at their 2013 level, even though average house prices have risen by almost two-thirds since then. John FitzGerald: How increasing property tax will make Ireland a fairer society
Turned down for a mortgage? Here’s why it might have happened. Photograph: Getty Ten reasons why you can’t get a mortgage in Ireland
The Dáil passed all stages of the referendum Bill last night by an overwhelming majority Referendum train gathers pace despite opposition
German chancellor Angela Merkel and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar prepare to review a guard of honour. Photograph: Sean Gallup/Getty Images Varadkar looks to steady the ship
Ireland players celebrate the Grand Slam. It’s important after scaling the mountain top to relax your mind for the way back down because there’s always another peak on the horizon. Photograph: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images Gordon D’Arcy: What’s next? How about giving Sexton and Murray a rest?
Theresa May: expressed confidence an alternative arrangement with Ireland could be brokered. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images Brexit win follows rugby success
Donald Trump and Leo Varadkar: the Taoiseach speaks for a country that is being forced to think deeply about its place in the world. Photograph: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Fintan O’Toole: No, Taoiseach, Irish values are not American values
The Ireland team celebrate with the NatWest Six Nations trophy and the Triple Crown trophy after their match against England at Twickenham. Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Best of the Slams: This is the most successful Irish team – ever
London children: we played the same games and watched the same TV programmes and listened to the same pop songs Fintan O’Toole: The British and Irish are no big deal to each other, which itself is a very big deal