By accepting his errors on the Protocol, the Irish PM is adapting to the new realities of Ireland’s politics Published: 3 January 2023 In his second chance as Ireland’s Taoiseach, a job he recovered in mid-December, Leo Varadkar has finally indicated that he’s learned...
Before I get on to the final three episodes of Netflix’s Harry & Meghan, which I watched last week and found even more excruciating than I feared, here’s an unexpected radio moment that cheered me. Published: 20 December 2022 I had half an ear to Frenemies, a...
The country thought it could have its cake and eat it, by relying on the hated British for its defence Published: 1 July 2022 Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is posing Ireland – which is not a Nato member – with difficult choices. In its happy position of having next...
Last week, the Irish Supreme Court ruled that the republican terrorist Liam Campbell can be extradited to Lithuania — an outcome his lawyers have been fighting for 12 years, I presume still on legal aid. Published: 17 May 2022 The European Arrest Warrant alleges that...
Last Christmas was the first for years that I didn’t write a column about people I would like to deport to a desert island. Published: 28 December 2021 With Covid busily ruining the lives of so many, it seemed tasteless to wrench from their families even people like...
I‘ve recently been reading too much about the UK-EU Brexit negotiations past, present and to come, and am delighted that at last some substantial work is being produced that answers some questions that have been bothering me for a long time. Published: 23 November...
The names of political parties often don’t convey much information. Published: 12 October 2021 If you were a stranger to Northern Ireland politics, what would you make of the Democratic Unionist Party, the Progressive Unionist Party, the Traditional Unionist Party and...
I always scan letters to newspapers. Published: 14 September 2021 Contributors know they have to be brief to be published, so they often can sum up very pithily what columnists tease out at much greater length. This, last week, in the Irish Sunday Independent,...
As people scream about diversity and human rights, the widespread shameless hypocrisy is almost beyond belief. Published: 29 June 2021 Both concepts have spawned movements and industries that make so much noise they drown out the views of the ordinary person. How odd...
A new DUP leader and the anger of Unionists have opened Dublin’s eyes to its border miscalculation Publishded: 17 May 2021 My message to our friends in Europe,” wrote Brexit minister Lord Frost on Sunday, “is: stop the point-scoring and work with us. Seize the moment,...
