The Government deserves no credit for Ireland’s energy policy, writes John McGuirk By the time you are reading this, a litre of diesel or unleaded will cost much more than it does as I write this, on the Sunday evening before the budget. The fact that it costs more will have no impact whatsoever…
Government-funded lobby groups crowd out the ordinary citizen from the decision-making process writes John McGuirk The cost of the National Children’s Hospital – coming in at a touch over €3billion – has been a source of some frustration to voters over the last year. The cost of the national broadband plan, another €3billion, has…
We must not allow legislation that would be used to target only one side, writes John McGuirk It was a bit of a mad week across the water, with Boris Johnson deciding as he did to suspend parliament so that it cannot vote to thwart his Brexit plan. The response to this decision was…
One of the strangest and least well-known events in European history happened 807 years ago this summer, in the year 1212. This was an era of fierce religious fervour and piety across Europe. The third crusade, which had ended 20 years earlier in 1192, had seen King Richard the Lionheart of England and King Philip…
Liberal Ireland is working hard to find enemies, writes John McGuirk Something happened last week that was extraordinary, but before I talk about it, it is necessary to remind ourselves of a few things about the country that we live in. Let us start with the fact that four short years ago, Ireland became…
It seems odd that we are asked to pay a fee for a service that many of us don’t use, writes John McGuirk I am childless, but my taxes pay for schools. I am not sick, thank God, but my taxes pay for hospitals. Ireland is not likely to be invaded any time soon, but…
I’m always interested in the stories we tell ourselves about who we are, and the kind of country we live in. The English, bless them, still think that the world should give them thanks for civilising so much of it. The Americans are convinced that no country has ever been as special as they are.…
The leader of Fianna Fáil was at pains to announce to the public this week that he is making every effort to walk places, instead of being driven to places, in order to help combat climate change. If Micheál’s doctor is anything like mine, he or she will be delighted with him. My doctor can’t…
On hundreds of occasions since the commencement of the new abortion law in January, pro-life activists have chosen to picket venues where abortions are carried out. By and large, these protests have attracted very little media attention. It was something of a surprise, therefore, to see such a protest at Holles Street Hospital hit the…