Notwithstanding Gerry Adams’s place in Irish history, perhaps he is a figure from the past. His grasp of detail on economic matters here is questionable. Beyond bland clichés, policy specifics are scanty. Sinn Féin’s Dáil performance has been weak and low-profile

There is another bastion that needs to come under scrutiny – the Supreme Court This most august, overriding authority is unelected and unaccountable. Its judges are probably our most learned lawyers. However, they have handed down judgments in relation to referenda that almost render the process unmanageable

The future narrative of national politics seems foreseeable. The FF/Green government will circle the wagons and limp on in a weakened state. With each unpopular measure, the clamour for change will escalate. Eventually they will buckle on some specific issue

Our republic is just over 60 years old. As you mature through life, you reflect on your own failures, errors and shortcomings. As a nation we need to face these with honesty. We have been too trusting and deferential to those on whom we have conferred authority

It has been suggested that my past as a Fine Gael politician renders me unsuitable and inappropriate as a broadcast presenter because of party prejudice. I want to confront this issue head-on.

The OPW is renting – at high cost – dozens of unoccupied buildings, partly arising out of the aborted decentralisation scheme. It’s a disgrace. Heads should roll. I would issue an edict to terminate such leases forthwith.

Every forecast he and the Government have made over the past three years has been laughably wrong. The forecasts of the live register of unemployed and tax revenues have been so erroneous that ordinary people just don’t believe the Government has a proper grip on the deteriorating economic situation

How can a country with a GDP output of €150bn a year continually borrow €30bn annually to run Government services? Is it not completely inevitable that the IMF and world bankers will have to take charge of the situation? Bring it on

FF’s results in previous Euro elections are poor. From 1979 to 2004 the average FF Euro vote over the 30-year period was 34.73%. Over the same period, the FF vote in general elections from 1981 to 2007 shows a significant differential. Their average over nine general elections was 43.05%

I can’t shed many tears for the teachers. Especially when I reflect on the sleepless nights we are all having in coping with our fears of job insecurity and falling incomes.