This is a giveaway budget. In substance and delivery, if not tone, it is a throwback to the halcyon days of that other great smoke and mirrors merchant, Charlie McCreevy, writes Michael Clifford

The Government’s reform of politics has been negligible, writes Michael Clifford

Michael Clifford looks at the contrast between the fire inspection report on the controversial apartment block in 2014 and those who signed off on the complex’s safety features eight years earlier and asks who, or what, was responsible for the glaring differences.

Poor old Bernard McNamara got a going-over during the week. McNamara is a developer and former Fianna Fáil councillor. A hardened cynic might say that’s enough to merit a perpetual going-over. But in fairness to the man, he was well got in places high and low before his own fall from grace into the clutches of bankruptcy.

Maria O’Callaghan was waiting for the call yesterday.

Alan Kelly’s department announced a review into problems over homes which effectively are fire-traps, but this will do little to alleviate home owners fears, writes Michael Clifford    

If there is to be greater equality, the price will have to be paid by ’middle income’ earners, writes Michael Clifford.

Enda Kenny should have faced an Oireachtas committee over the Callinan scandal, writes Michael Clifford

Documents furnished to a buyer of a unit at the questionable Longboat Quay complex did not reveal the extent of existing issues, writes Michael Clifford