Person: Paul Hosford

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Person: Paul Hosford

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>Mary Lou McDonald's party was the most popular in this week’s Irish Times/Ipsos B&A opinion poll at 24%. Picture: Leah Farrell</p>

columnists

Paul Hosford: Why Irish opinion polls rarely decide who actually wins elections

Sinn Féin’s polling lead revives familiar narratives, but Irish electoral history suggests momentum and outcomes are rarely the same thing

Paul Hosford: The State should not be absolved of its role in the public's mental health

Paul Hosford: Ireland must rethink its dependence on the US under Donald Trump

Paul Hosford: Dublin Airport cap debate doesn’t justify Michael O’Leary’s swipe at the Taoiseach

Paul Hosford: As homelessness rises, thousands of Irish homes sit vacant on short-term letting sites

Paul Hosford: Simon Harris’s Fine Gael leadership risks becoming a one-man show

Irish Economy As Latest Retail Figures Released

Paul Hosford: Government's failure to improve people's lives risks a disconnected electorate vulnerable to populism

Danger from failing to address issues, through legislation or the actual implementation of glossy plans, goes far deeper than not making childcare cheaper or housing more available

Sat, 20 Dec, 2025

The Mick Clifford Podcast: What has the political year really been like?

The Mick Clifford Podcast: What has the political year really been like?

Irish Examiner Acting Political Editor Paul Hosford and Political Correspondent Louise Burne join Mick on this week's podcast to discuss the main political developments of the past year

Listen | Thu, 11 Dec, 2025

Paul Hosford: The Government says it’s not them — it’s us. But is that really why nothing gets built?

Paul Hosford: The Government says it’s not them — it’s us. But is that really why nothing gets built?

Record NDP funding promises transformation, yet transport and housing projects continue to drift as political choices and systemic delays collide

Sat, 29 Nov, 2025

Catherine Connolly will speak her mind as President — the template is already there

S Catherine Connolly will speak her mind as President — the template is already there

As Catherine Connolly begins her presidency, echoes of Michael D Higgins’ outspoken style suggest Ireland may not mind a president with convictions

Tue, 11 Nov, 2025

Irish presidential election

Constant stream of presidential debates beginning to feel like 'Groundhog Day'

Last year's general election saw just two broadcast debates. The presidential election has already seen five debates, and there's over a week to go

Tue, 14 Oct, 2025

little boy and girl learn to write and calculate numbers

Paul Hosford: If tough decisions have to be made, remove the secrecy

Labour's alternative budget highlights to Paul Hosford how tough decisions have to be made, but the public could be clued in by the Government before Budget Day

Sat, 11 Oct, 2025

Paul Hosford: Eamon Ó Cuív's defence over hiring of ex-prisoner speaks to his belief in rehabilitation

Paul Hosford: Eamon Ó Cuív's defence over hiring of ex-prisoner speaks to his belief in rehabilitation

Eamon Ó Cuív’s defence of Catherine Connolly highlights not just a row about judgement — but Fianna Fáil’s deep divisions

Sun, 05 Oct, 2025

Paul Hosford: Why Sinn Féin’s decision not to run a presidential candidate may prove costly

Paul Hosford: Why Sinn Féin’s decision not to run a presidential candidate may prove costly

With just three names on the ballot, questions loom over Sinn Féin’s strategy, voter choice, and whether the race is missing something vital

Sat, 27 Sep, 2025

GARETH SHERIDAN

Paul Hosford: Gareth Sheridan may find real work is only beginning as he eyes presidency

He's done well to get here but the businessman will have to quickly switch gears in a race in which he is starting from way behind

Sat, 20 Sep, 2025

Simon Harris at sod turning ceremony

Paul Hosford: Ireland needs long-term budgets that look beyond short-term politics

Simon Harris wants budgets judged as part of a five-year cycle — but true long-termism demands vision beyond elections

Sat, 13 Sep, 2025

Eamon De Valera 50th anniversary

Paul Hosford: Still waiting for forgiveness, Bertie Ahern bows out of the race for the Áras

No TV or radio interviews, no newspaper spreads — in the end, Bertie bowed out of the presidential election re-litigating the Mahon Tribunal at Glasnevin Cemetery

Sat, 06 Sep, 2025

Paul Hosford: What will it take to put childcare front and centre in the national conversation?

Paul Hosford: What will it take to put childcare front and centre in the national conversation?

For 20% of families, fees have not only not gone down, they have gone up in the months following an election in which the prohibitive cost of childcare was a key factor

Sat, 16 Aug, 2025

Paul Hosford: Attacks on Indian people come from the normalisation of racism

Paul Hosford: Anti-immigrant rhetoric is fuelling racist violence against Indian people in Ireland

Recent racist attacks on Indian people show how anti-immigrant rhetoric is emboldening violence and eroding Ireland’s inclusive identity

Sat, 09 Aug, 2025

Israeli attacks continue on Gaza

S Paul Hosford: Canada recognises Palestine as Gaza crisis deepens — but is symbolic support enough?

Canada joins countries recognising Palestine, but critics say recognition must go beyond symbolism to address the deepening crisis in Gaza

Sat, 02 Aug, 2025

Caucasian waitress stacking wine glasses in restaurant

Paul Hosford: Public patience has limits — especially when their tax cut is on the line

Budget choices reveal deeper values, but without clear public benefit, a VAT cut risks being seen as a giveaway for business

Sat, 26 Jul, 2025

Paul Hosford: Why no younger candidates are stepping up for the presidency in 2025

Paul Hosford: Why no younger candidates are stepping up for the presidency in 2025

Despite historic civic movements like Repeal, no new voices are emerging for the presidency — and the barriers remain high

Sun, 20 Jul, 2025

Paul Hosford: Greta’s Gaza aid trip drew scorn — but the real story is the online backlash

Paul Hosford: Greta’s Gaza aid trip drew scorn — but the real story is the online backlash

The outrage over Greta Thunberg’s Gaza aid mission says more about us than it does about her or the boat

Sat, 14 Jun, 2025

Paul Hosford: Trump’s America goes it alone — and the world is left to pick up the pieces

Paul Hosford: Trump’s America goes it alone — and the world is left to pick up the pieces

Trump’s return to power has thrown global diplomacy into chaos, as world leaders struggle to navigate his unpredictability

Sat, 22 Feb, 2025

New Taoiseach appointed

Paul Hosford: Unprecedented political storm has not helped public’s perception

It is hard to imagine that anyone who tuned in on Wednesday to Dáil proceedings would feel better about the processes, the systems, or the main players across the political spectrum

Sat, 25 Jan, 2025

SWITZERLAND Davos 11

Paul Hosford: Seanad is not representative of Irish society and needs to be reformed

The Seanad elections are here again, but with reform efforts stagnant and public engagement low, Ireland’s second chamber struggles to find relevance

Sat, 11 Jan, 2025

Kitchen and Great Room in Apartment with painted accent wall, Pennsylvania, USA,

Paul Hosford: How do we spend the €13bn Apple tax windfall?

Between EU rules and political realities, the government must think carefully about how to spend the cash it found down the back of the sofa

Tue, 10 Sep, 2024

Close up of boy praying

S Paul Hosford: Inquiry into abuse in religious-run schools leaves bike shed in the ha’penny place

A redress scheme for sexual abuse at religious-run schools could run to hundreds of millions, if not billions

Sat, 07 Sep, 2024

Child playing with mathematical toy

S Paul Hosford: Time to put our broken childcare system back in the hands of the State

It’s not sustainable for parents to pay €12,000 a year for one child at a creche, and so the National Women’s Council has suggested that the State provide childcare services

Sat, 24 Aug, 2024

Michael McGrath — From child entrepreneur to Ireland's next European Commissioner

Michael McGrath — From child entrepreneur to Ireland's next European Commissioner

From reselling lost golf balls in his youth to 25 years as an elected representative, it's been a long road for the 'savvy, shrewd, and tough negotiator' that is Michael McGrath

Tue, 25 Jun, 2024

Paul Hosford: In search of election enthusiasm

S Paul Hosford: In search of election enthusiasm

There isn't a massive amount of public attention focused on what are important elections. Why is that?

Sat, 01 Jun, 2024

Rhasidat Adeleke after winning her heat 20/8/2023

S Paul Hosford: Those who kick the hornets' nest have no defence when others get stung

We can refuse to allow Irish discourse to be shaped by small, loud groups who weaponise vitriol, writes Paul Hosford

Sat, 04 May, 2024

Paul Hosford: The sign everyone is interested in is any hint of the next general election

S Paul Hosford: The sign everyone is interested in is any hint of the next general election

Right now, the sign everyone is interested in is any hint of the next general election, writes Paul Hosford

Sat, 20 Apr, 2024

FILE PHOTO As the Government announces plans for temporary accomodation for Ukrainian refugees, the issue of homeless asylum see

Paul Hosford: Homelessness is now becoming more of a statistic than a tragedy

There is something of a rule in journalism or any storytelling. At its heart, it comes down to that Kurt Tucholsky adage of one death being a tragedy, but a thousand being a statistic.

Sat, 16 Mar, 2024

Paul Hosford: Irish public require more than constitutional vibes to pass a referendum

Paul Hosford: Irish public require more than constitutional vibes to pass a referendum

The Government found a public that didn't really want these referenda utterly bereft of a reason to pass them.

Sat, 09 Mar, 2024

Youth vote

Paul Hosford: Does accelerating child benefit change hint at early election?

Families will be enticed by the additional payment that can be sold on the doors during canvassing, writes Paul Hosford

Wed, 14 Feb, 2024

Paul Hosford: Covid discussion panel puts spotlight on misinformation

Paul Hosford: Covid discussion panel puts spotlight on misinformation

TD Sharon Keogan organised an event in Leinster House which featured a panel of prominent far-right individuals and anti-vaccination campaigners, writes Paul Hosford

Sat, 10 Feb, 2024

Paul Hosford: Seeing dead children on our timelines is traumatic, but how do we avoid becoming desensitised?

Paul Hosford: Seeing dead children on our timelines is traumatic, but how do we avoid becoming desensitised?

“I saw a dead baby today/While I was sitting on the toilet/When a colleague sees me later and asks how I am/I’ll tell her fine, and I’ll smile. ” The poem posted to Instagram by the writer Elena M.

Sat, 28 Oct, 2023

Irish Budget 2024

Pizza for Paschal's people, shepherd's pie for McGrath: How Budget 2024 came together

At 2. 45am on Tuesday morning, the printers in the Department of Finance were whirring away, the staff manning it in for the long-haul, publishing the material that would make up that day's — and arguably the year's — political set-piece: Budget 2024.

Sat, 14 Oct, 2023

Drawer of wooden commode full of paper documents

Paul Hosford: Why has the State been sitting on the Mulcahy Report since 2017?

The report into planning corruption allegations — which themselves date back to 2010 — is still under lock and key. It's a fine example of the sclerosis that holds up reform in Ireland

Sat, 12 Aug, 2023

Paul Hosford: Quad rides and gaggle of geese don’t detract from Varadkar’s job at hand

Paul Hosford: Quad rides and gaggle of geese don’t detract from Varadkar’s job at hand

Varadkar was willing to enjoy some Wexford strawberries — when in Rome, after all

Thu, 13 Jul, 2023

Paul Hosford: RTÉ is the star of its own best drama this week — or is it a true crime show?

Paul Hosford: RTÉ is the star of its own best drama this week — or is it a true crime show?

"Maybe the taxpayer was defrauded.

Sat, 01 Jul, 2023

Taoiseach visit to the US

Paul Hosford: Paddy’s Day trips have more value than their price tags

Is it worth it?The question that abounds this week every year as ministers, their advisers, and civil servants leave our shores for St Patrick’s Day trips abroad.

Sat, 18 Mar, 2023

Taoiseach visit to the US

Leo regrets out-of-turn Clinton quip to the interns

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar made the comment just hours after meeting Bill Clinton's wife Hillary.

Fri, 17 Mar, 2023

Paul Hosford: The Celtic Tiger warned us — bad planning is no solution to the housing crisis

Paul Hosford: Hard road ahead to sell transport emission targets

Transport is the only sector that will be expected to make upper-limit carbon reductions under plan to reduce greenhouse gases

Tue, 07 Mar, 2023

Social Democrat leaders stand down

Paul Hosford: Is a SocDems and Labour merger a fait accompli?

If the local — and subsequent — general elections don't go their way, the conversation of joining forces will begin

Sat, 25 Feb, 2023

Paul Hosford: It's not popular to say so, but we need more ministers

Paul Hosford: It's not popular to say so, but we need more ministers

As the Dáil grows and the world around us changes, it is reasonable to ask if the bare 15 is really sustainable

Sat, 04 Feb, 2023

Paul Hosford: More questions as Donohoe donor's business not registered with Sipo

Paul Hosford: More questions as Donohoe donor's business not registered with Sipo

Minister Paschal Donohoe will address media and the Dáil tomorrow over the Sipo revelations, writes Political Correspondent Paul Hosford

Mon, 23 Jan, 2023

Paul Hosford: Lampooned Greens must sell themselves to the public

Paul Hosford: Lampooned Greens must sell themselves to the public

Eamon Ryan has an interesting knack for saying things that rile people up.

Sat, 31 Dec, 2022

Paul Hosford: The Celtic Tiger warned us — bad planning is no solution to the housing crisis

Paul Hosford: Is this the Ireland we want to continue to build?

This country is now a place where a job and a college degree are not sufficient for all to earn a decent standard of living

Tue, 01 Nov, 2022