Columns - Irish Examiner

Ivan Yates

As we sleepwalk through crisis, it’s time to stress test our exchequer

BEFORE the good people from BlackRock Solutions and Boston Consulting Group leave the jurisdiction, they might be asked to do an additional stress test — on Ireland’s exchequer. Larry Fink and the lads carry the ultimate status of credibility worldwide. No one seems to have followed the logical conclusion of their analysis, beyond banks, for their state guarantor.

Thu, 07 Apr, 2011

It will be another day of bleak bank news — we had better get used to it

TODAY was supposed to be the day when we would get “finality” and “definitive” endgame figures about the extent of bank losses and size of ultimate cheque tax payers would have to write to bail them out. Dream on.

Thu, 31 Mar, 2011

Howlin must stand firm to deliver real public sector reform

FOR Ireland to escape the drop zone and avoid relegation from the euro currency league, we must win our home fixtures. Away games are subject to vagaries of fortune.

Thu, 24 Mar, 2011

It’s Noonan’s moment of truth — can he change the course of the nation?

MICHAEL NOONAN can correctly claim a lot of credit for the resuscitation of Fine Gael in the polls since last June by providing a credible anchor of economic policy.

Thu, 17 Mar, 2011

Forget the false election promises, we’re out of cash and out of choices

WAKEY, wakey. The alarm clock is set early this morning for our new cabinet.

Thu, 10 Mar, 2011

Serious soul searching needed for FF to escape the political wilderness

GREATEST misnomer of the election was of any outright winner.

Thu, 03 Mar, 2011

Enda, only a coalition government can help you sort out the mess we’re in

DEAR Enda,

Thu, 24 Feb, 2011

Winners, losers and coalition capers: My predictions for Election 2011

JUST one full week of campaigning to go. Time to finalise predictions for the election outcome. Many undecided voters don’t finalise their preferences until the last few days. There is still time for variations and late surprises but the overall shape of the result is now apparent.

Thu, 17 Feb, 2011

FG and Labour’s master stroke will only sow the seeds for FF comeback

LET’S fast forward to Monday, February 28 … After a hectic weekend of counting, the last seats have been allocated. Voters have spoken.

Thu, 10 Feb, 2011

Now is the opportunity to finally demand more from our politicians

THE death of the 30th Dáil can allow rebirth of Irish democracy. An unnoticed aspect of Bertie Ahern’s tenure was the irrelevance of policy platforms within parties.

Thu, 03 Feb, 2011