2 days ago · For those of us who have spent decades in the private sector, watching the financial mismanagement within the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) is like witnessing a slow-motion car crash—predictable, avoidable, yet somehow inevitable.

Feb 6, 2025 · For many years, the Israeli far right have debated how to clear all of Palestine of Palestinians and give Jews untrammelled control of all of the territory as part of a one state Greater Israel project. 2.7 million Palestinians have already been displaced into refugee camps in Jordan and illegal Jewish settlements have steadily encroached on further Palestinian settlements, land, and precious ...

Jan 14, 2025 · Michelle O’Neill is saying turn that frown upside down. From the Irish News: Michelle O’Neill has defended the Stormont executive’s performance in its first year since restoration, claiming it has a “very strong track record of delivery”. She said the executive had “made huge strides forward”. “I only have to point to things like a …

Jan 29, 2025 · The Role of the Electorate in Political Accountability: A Reflection on Nicola Mallon’s Comments In a recent episode of The View, with interviewer Mark Carruthers, Ms Nicola Mallon, former Minister in the Northern Ireland Executive, made a provocative observation about the lack of government delivery, pointing to the role of the electorate in shaping political outcomes. The comments, despite ...

Jan 14, 2025 · President Donald Trump has just written to thank Irish Poet W. B. Yeats for his poem. The poem it appears was commissioned to mark President Trump’s second inauguration, January 20th 2024. The Second Coming Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is ...

Jan 4, 2025 · A new article today from Sam McBride in ‘the Belfast Telegraph’ wherein he reveals that there have been ongoing talks regarding the holy grail of Unionist unity since 2022. The article, Secret DUP-UUP talks in 2022 failed –but unionist unity may now be closer than any time since 1971, is behind a paywall but is a very interesting read and if you are a subscriber to the Telegraph, please ...

Jan 8, 2025 · Ireland’s Past and Future economic growth prospects The Irish exchequer recorded a record surplus of €12.8 Billion in 2024, helped in no small measure by a one off receipt of €11 Billion in tax arrears from Apple following a ruling of the European Court of Justice. Even without that bonanza, corporate taxes increased by 18% to …

Nov 23, 2024 · This is a quite different political autobiography. Most focus on the achievements of the office holder (often exaggerating their personal involvement and positioning them at the centre of significant political events). This book tells of ambition and failure culminating in bursting into tears in Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s office. Eoghan Murphy was the controversial Fine Gael housing minister ...

Dec 6, 2024 · The BBC is reporting that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will be attending today’s British-Irish Council meeting in Edinburgh. Starmer’s attendance at the meeting is only the third time a British Prime Minister has been there in seventeen years. He will be meeting with those also attending, which will include current Taoiseach Simon Harris, current Tanaisté Micheál Martin (though ...

Jan 9, 2025 · Each July my father made a choice not to erect a Union Jack outside our home, which was in a predominantly unionist area. This was out of respect to our neighbours, who were Catholic. However, this piece is not really about the flying of emblems from private property. Along many streets in various parts of Northern Ireland, flags of various sorts fly high and proud on public lampposts and ...