Place: Glenageary Co

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

columnists

Wife circumventing curbs on President’s utterances

Sabina Higgins’s presence at the National Student Midwives’ Debate, on May 4, where she said that our abortion laws were ‘an outrage against women’, was one of 16 events attended by her in a solo capacity this year.

State funeral for Kent a politically inspired stunt

We need to put strict employment protocols in place for embassies

Cardinal’s comments will not help the Church

Man who sank Lusitania was invited here in 1966

Are we to turn role of President into random social science experiment?

Now improve relations with North’s Unionists

President Michael D Higgins’ successful State visit to Britain marks the normalising of relations between us and our near neighbours. That was the easy bit.

Wed, 16 Apr, 2014

UCD could have looked to homegrown leader

One of the most profound obligations of a leading university in any major city is its capacity to nurture, inspire, educate and deliver the next generation of a nation’s leadership.

Mon, 05 Aug, 2013

We must renounce our united Ireland dream

The smug, ‘holier than thou’ mutterings of nationalists regarding the recent loyalist rioting ignores the fact that our dream of a united Ireland is the fundamental cause of the conflict.

Wed, 24 Jul, 2013

Politicised President

The recent speeches and media comments attributed to President Michael D Higgins, and the explanations that he and Labour Party ministers subsequently made, have unfortunately politicised an office that must be above politics.

Thu, 09 May, 2013

Generous donation by Walsh would be welcomed

Louis Walsh tumbled like a showman from the High Court this week into the embrace of waiting media and described in great and vivid detail the pain, anguish and distress he endured when his character and reputation was egregiously undermined. His pain from loss, humiliation and deprivation was palpable.

Sat, 01 Dec, 2012

Math skills do little for job-seekers now

MATHS has been centre stage lately in such a way that would lead you to believe that it is not just an important factor but an essential skill in gaining employment.

Sat, 27 Aug, 2011

Thank you very much

LAST Christmas I collected shoe boxes and filled them with gifts for the homeless.

Mon, 04 Apr, 2011

Greens should put climate bill on hold

WHILE Ciaran Cuffe and the Greens have been in the wild blue yonder dreaming of an Irish paradise, unperturbed by the calamity dished up by the two Brians, they might imagine farmers, manufacturers, motorists, and others eagerly awaiting the Climate Bill and all the goodies it will bring.

Fri, 14 Jan, 2011

It’s time for a reality check on our international aid

JUSTIN Kilcullen of Trócaire has severely chastised the Government for “reneging” on its commitment to spend 0.7% of GDP per annum on international aid – a target set by the UN a decade ago.

Fri, 24 Sep, 2010

Pakistani envoy needs to assure Irish aid donors

THE catastrophe that has struck Pakistan is gargantuan, but the Irish aid agencies and Government responded with customary spontaneity and wholehearted engagement, supported by the generosity and compassion of the Irish people.

Wed, 18 Aug, 2010

Church can’t be renewed without change at the top

THE 2009 annual report of the National Board for Safeguarding Children highlights the need for radical change requiring nothing less than a major step away from the defensiveness of the past to a more open and accountable present.

Fri, 21 May, 2010

Tallaght X-ray ‘hysteria’

THE media hysteria last week surrounding the Tallaght X-rays was amazing.

Tue, 16 Mar, 2010

If our €24bn gap doesn’t start to close soon, we’ll make the Greeks look prudent

LISTENING to Brian Lenihan, and many commentators, you would think we are well on the way to sorting our €24bn fiscal deficit.

Mon, 22 Feb, 2010

IBEC and unions — the watchdogs that didn’t bark

DESPITE the Taoiseach clinging tenaciously to the concept, the principal stakeholders of social partnership have been reduced to empty rhetoric and the threat of disruption that will be seen in due course to resolve nothing.

Sat, 19 Sep, 2009

Why give borrowed money as foreign aid?

THE comment by minister of state Peter Power to the effect that the amount spent on the Irish aid programme is equivalent to what the Government will borrow over 10 days is the weakest possible argument for this programme in present circumstances.

Sat, 12 Sep, 2009

All schools must introduce Stay Safe guidelines

IT’S always too easy to blame “them” for past scandals and avoid doing what’s necessary right now.

Mon, 08 Jun, 2009

Storing the wind

AFTER all the hot air spouted about wind power in recent years, the announcement from the Spirit of Ireland organisation last week was a breath of fresh air.

Wed, 13 May, 2009

We need real leadership – not a partnership of vested interests

IS it merely a coincidence that the demise of the national partnership process in its current form and the US motor industry is being reported simultaneously?

Mon, 11 May, 2009