Friday, Mar 12th 2010
There is a blunt irony to the fact that as the Progressive Democrats leave the political stage, their socio-economic and political project largely made void by the financial events of this Summer, the competitive aspect of their project seems to have been transferred almost without modification to the leftish parties. The most striking aspect of [...]
Sarah Carey suggests the Government listen to the Opposition. Agreed. As a rule, we should all listen to each other. Of course, Sarah employs a sleight-of-hand. When she says ‘opposition’, she specifically refers to ‘Richard Bruton’ and ‘Fine Gael’. I guess Labour doesn’t count. But there you are - already commentators are laying down tasks [...]
The Leader of the Opposition would equally be of the view that he needs to see fairness and equity in the way in which scarce resources are allocated. Can he justify a change by his members’ on the basis that a Government decision to offer medical cards to well-off pensioners, to senior civil servants, High [...]
I was pulling my hair out when a friend rang me pulling her hair out. A lot of hair being grabbed. Let’s start with my hair. Noel Whelan has given us the benefit of his deep and comprehensive research into the crisis in Exchequer financing: he has read the reply to a Parliamentary Question. And what he read shocked him: [...]
Having read Michael Taft’s piece on Labour and the two and a half party system last month some thoughts struck me which were underscored in conversation with someone close to the Green Party. They had done a neat little chart which demonstrated that historically it has been smaller fourth parties which have a better chance [...]
Breaking News - Press Association (1 Hour ago) Gilmore claims victory in Irish local elections. The Leader of the Irish Labour Party claimed victory in Ireland’s local election. Speaking at a press conference with the leaders of Sinn Fein and the Green Party, he called yesterday’s result a ‘breakthrough not only for the [...]
It’s hardly a radical proposition that the Irish Left is a curious beast. It is small, gaining perhaps at best twenty five per cent of the national vote at elections. It is scattered, with leftist elements within the Irish Labour Party, Sinn Féin, the Green Party and beyond amongst a number of much smaller [...]