comment and analysis

This is my father and it's the first time we met
This is my father and it's the first time we met
PSNI announce new powers to randomly stop drivers and perform drink driving breathalyser tests, Northern Ireland.
'Drink‑driving is not an accident': Cork emergency consultant calls for urgent reforms to save lives
As a doctor, what is hardest of all to accept are the lives lost due to the reckless and selfish behaviour of others — too often, drink-driving 

Tue, 31 Mar, 2026

Stoneage hunters
Could AI be as transformative as the emergence of agriculture?
The biggest risk of artificial intelligence is that we sleepwalk into a 'new normal' that benefits the system more than the people living inside it

Tue, 31 Mar, 2026

Mick Clifford: Sallins Inquiry gig a sold-out show of solidarity 
Mick Clifford: Sallins Inquiry gig a sold-out show of solidarity 
Nearly 50 years on, the Sallins Inquiry Now gig marks a renewed call for justice

Mon, 30 Mar, 2026

Mick Clifford: Inheritance tax 'reform' calls show gulf between haves and have-nots
Mick Clifford: Inheritance tax 'reform' calls show gulf between haves and have-nots
Inheritance tax is a contentious issue, especially for those wealthy enough to pay it

Mon, 30 Mar, 2026

The Ireland team dejected after losing to the penalty shootout 26/3/2026
Enda Brady: Last week shows that we need to merge our two football associations
It’s beyond ridiculous that a small island fields TWO international football teams. Just look at what the Ireland rugby team is regularly able to achieve, writes Enda Brady

Mon, 30 Mar, 2026

Teacher and students in a classroom
Teachers are not trained as first responders to students’ mental health needs
Teachers are on the frontline of student mental health. It is time the system supported them for the sake of the children

Mon, 30 Mar, 2026

Afghanistan Women
The Taliban has weaponised misogyny. They're not alone
It isn’t just in Islamic countries that religion is being harnessed to repress women, or to undermine their rights and freedoms and erode their equality as citizens, writes TP O'Mahony

Mon, 30 Mar, 2026

Colin Sheridan: Lebanon’s endless war — a country trapped in other people’s conflicts
Colin Sheridan: Lebanon’s endless war — a country trapped in other people’s conflicts
Lebanon’s tragedy is not only that it is repeatedly drawn into other people’s wars. It is that this condition has come to be seen as natural, writes Colin Sheridan

Mon, 30 Mar, 2026

Czechia vs Republic of Ireland - 2026 FIFA World Cup European Play-offs - Semi-Final - Fortuna Arena
Paul Hosford: State must provide the facilities for sporting stars of the future
Sport Ireland found that there is a 19 percentage point gap between participation in sport at the highest and lowest socio-economic levels

Sun, 29 Mar, 2026

GERMANY-IRAN-US-POLITICS-DEMO
'Anti-war' groups drown out voices of Iranians opposed to Islamic Republic regime 
Mahya Ostovar says protests in Ireland echo a global phenomenon — Iranians protesting against the repressive regime are being swamped by the dominant political narrative

Sat, 28 Mar, 2026

US-POLITICS-TRUMP
Donald Trump is remaking the US media in his own image — and smashing accountability with it
Continuing his war against what he calls “fake news”, the US president is hobbling journalists and media outlets he considers to be hostile to him

Sat, 28 Mar, 2026

FRANCE-META-ARTIFICIAL-INTELLIGENCE-NEW-LOGO
Have we finally reached the 'Big Tobacco moment' for Big Tech?
Finally, a legal argument has pierced the protective shield Big Tech has been given by the three-decade-old Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act (1996), writes Alex Cooney

Fri, 27 Mar, 2026

Limerick mayoral experiment will fail without legislative review
Limerick mayoral experiment will fail without legislative review
As Ireland's first directly elected mayor, John Moran has been given a mandate, but no way of delivering it 

Fri, 27 Mar, 2026

Rising fuel costs, Bantry, Co Cork. Ireland
Why Ireland’s energy supports are becoming part of the problem
What begins as emergency support can quietly become a standing feature of the system, rarely questioned and even more rarely removed

Fri, 27 Mar, 2026

Europe Frontex Migrants
What's behind the increased focus on European border security?
The billions allocated to border security and surveillance technology — and paid to the same arms and defence companies profiting from the conflicts people are fleeing — could be better spent on housing and social services for all

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

Natalie McNally death
Emma deSouza: Too many women in Northern Ireland are dying at the hands of men
Northern Ireland's violence is not in the past — it's merely retreated behind closed doors, where women bear the brunt, writes Emma deSouza

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

National Children’s Hospital shambles should warn us about future projects – Tadgh McNally
National Children’s Hospital shambles should warn us about future projects – Tadgh McNally
The NCH saga is far from over as it misses its 18th deadline. But we should be looking ahead to the way Ireland does tendering and procurement of major projects such as Metrolink

Wed, 25 Mar, 2026

Open female mouth during oral checkup at the dentist. Selective
Hygienists could solve Ireland's dental health problems
Workforce shortages, long waiting lists, widening inequalities and an over-reliance on crisis treatment have all contributed to creating a system that intervenes too late and costs too much

Wed, 25 Mar, 2026

Asylum-seeking children will bear brunt of changes to international protection legislation
Asylum-seeking children will bear brunt of changes to international protection legislation
New law will allow Ireland to detain children who are seeking safety here for the first time, writes Children's Ombudsman Niall Muldoon 

Wed, 25 Mar, 2026

Lebanon Israel Iran US
An Iranian woman's war diary: 'The fighter jets were like vultures circling their prey'
A young Iranian woman in Karaj, near Tehran, describes the devastating impact of the US-Israeli war on Iran on ordinary people. She sends fully verified daily updates when she can get online. Here, in the final of a four-part series she tells of a drone attack that reduced a house to powder

Wed, 25 Mar, 2026

Detail of a fuel pump in a gas station
Paul Hosford: Unwinding fuel supports may prove difficult 
The measures are forecast to cost the exchequer somewhere around €250m, but expire at the end of May

Tue, 24 Mar, 2026

Iran Daily Life
An Iranian woman’s war diary: 'The hellish sounds have become normal'
A young Iranian woman in Karaj, near Tehran, describes the devastating impact of the US-Israeli war on Iran on ordinary people. She sends fully verified daily updates when she can get online. Here, in the third of a four-part series, she tells of listening to somewhere being bombed nine times in a row on the 12th day of the war

Tue, 24 Mar, 2026

Lorcan Sirr: Meath house the latest example of our disrespect for planning
Lorcan Sirr: Meath house the latest example of our disrespect for planning
From the developer who superglued himself to a County Council office door, to the case of Chris and Rose Murray, our relationship with planning law has always been turbulent, writes Lorcan Sirr

Tue, 24 Mar, 2026

School stock
Convention can be cornerstone for teachers shaping future generations
As the National Education Convention gets under way, INTO president Anne Horan looks at the urgent need to address issues relating to disadvantage and inclusion in schools

Tue, 24 Mar, 2026

Ursula von der Leyen
Ursula von der Leyen: Why a stronger EU–Australia relationship matters
In this age of mounting geopolitical tension, we must draw closer to partners who share our values and vision, writes the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen

Mon, 23 Mar, 2026

Parent comforting helping sad emotional child at home, concept of bullying, stress disappointment, sadness.
'All the advice about having rhythms and routines — none made any difference' for child avoiding school
After two years of engaging with welfare services and being threatened with prosecution over her son’s school avoidance, a mother was told there were no autism class places available when he got his diagnosis, says Jess Casey

Mon, 23 Mar, 2026

Iran US Israel
An Iranian woman’s war diary: 'The news called it carpet bombing'
A young Iranian woman in Karaj, near Tehran, describes the devastating impact of the US-Israeli war on Iran on ordinary people. She sends fully verified daily updates when she can get online. Here, in the second of a four-part series, she explains how the current conflict has reawakened the terror she felt in January when thousands of protesters were killed

Mon, 23 Mar, 2026

'All of the lengths' Margaret Loftus went through believed to be catalyst for FiosrĂș unit
'All of the lengths' Margaret Loftus went through believed to be catalyst for FiosrĂș unit
Having fought hard against the system for her case to finally reach the courts, the Mayo woman has since met with the minister for justice and TĂĄnaiste to press hard for change in the area of domestic violence investigation

Mon, 23 Mar, 2026

Offshore Technician Observing landing Helicopter and Wind_Farm from deck
Harnessing wind energy to become self-sufficient opens economic opportunities 
Geopolitical disruption only serves to reinforce the reality that energy independence and security have never been more important, writes Phil Murphy

Mon, 23 Mar, 2026

The Children of Wolves," performance work, is part of CruinniĂș na nÓg (a festival of creative activities for children and young
Children's creativity shouldn’t be left to a once-a-year celebration
The soft skills learned from the freedom to be creative are ones we all need in daily life, so where are the extra points for those who want to study arts, asks Patrick Holloway

Mon, 23 Mar, 2026

How Oscars campaigns really work: Inside the strategy behind wins like Jessie Buckley’s
How Oscars campaigns really work: Inside the strategy behind wins like Jessie Buckley’s
From Jessie Buckley’s triumph to Hollywood lobbying, the Oscars reveal a system shaped by strategy, spending, and storytelling

Sun, 22 Mar, 2026

Iran US Analysis
An Iranian woman’s diary: ‘It feels as if we are trapped in a massive, lethal video game’
An Irishwoman’s Diary is dedicating this week’s column to ‘M’, who is offering unflinching testimony of the reality of war at a human level, starting today with some extracts, which show the fear, stress, and anxiety being experienced by one woman, on the situation and life near Tehran.

Sat, 21 Mar, 2026

US attack on Venezuela
The Russian shadow fleet: Inside the ships that blur commerce and strategy
Understanding how these vessels operate — and how they might be mobilised under Russian doctrine — is increasingly important for assessing risk, enforcing sanctions, and safeguarding European waters

Sat, 21 Mar, 2026

In an era of drone attacks on data centres, digital resilience is key
In an era of drone attacks on data centres, digital resilience is key
As digital infrastructure becomes a target in modern conflict, countries like Ireland that depend heavily on shared digital systems must begin treating resilience as national infrastructure

Fri, 20 Mar, 2026

Canterbury meningitis and septicaemia outbreak
Meningitis deaths in England are concerning, but vaccinations work 
Irish children are vaccinated against meningitis B and C, but if they missed it, it's wise to get teenagers vaccinated through your GP now

Fri, 20 Mar, 2026

St Patrick's Day 'Epstein files' float shows manosphere isn't only on TikTok
St Patrick's Day 'Epstein files' float shows manosphere isn't only on TikTok
Being a solitary voice in a group of men, from your local St Patrick’s Day Parade all the way to the Oval Office is not a reason to speak softly

Thu, 19 Mar, 2026

Taoiseach visit to US
Paul Hosford: Taoiseach emerges as EU’s unlikely hero
After his success navigating the Donald Trump Show, MicheĂĄl Martin arrived in Brussels as a potential bridge-builder between the EU and US

Thu, 19 Mar, 2026

Colin Sheridan: Taking a DNA test to trace your ancestry can have more sinister outcomes than finding your roots
Colin Sheridan: Taking a DNA test to trace your ancestry can have more sinister outcomes than finding your roots
Someone spitting into a tube to gain insight into their ancestry — and occasionally their health — is giving away highly valuable and tradable information, not just about themselves but their families too

Thu, 19 Mar, 2026

Should you take a break from social media to look after your mental health?
Can’t stop endlessly scrolling? Tips to help you take back control
Social media is designed with an infinite scroll. Here are some simple changes you can make right now to counter it

Thu, 19 Mar, 2026

The Mick Clifford Podcast: MicheĂĄl Martin emerges intact after Oval Office meeting with Donald Trump
The Mick Clifford Podcast: MicheĂĄl Martin emerges intact after Oval Office meeting with Donald Trump
Irish Examiner political reporter Tadgh McNally is on the podcast to discuss MicheĂĄl Martin's visit to Donald Trump and the Oval Office.

 Listen | Wed, 18 Mar, 2026

 Listen |
Iran US Key Oil Facilities
Donald Trump’s Iran war has cost Americans at least $11bn already — and that’s just the start
Nobody knows how or when this war will end, but Americans will find themselves far poorer because of it, writes Arwa Mahdawi

Wed, 18 Mar, 2026

Lebanon Iran
Ali Larijani was ruthless — and clear-eyed about west’s implacable hostility to Iran
A 2006 Guardian interview with Iran’s slain security chief now reads as a grim warning of the conflict that killed him

Wed, 18 Mar, 2026

Defence Forces must pay deserving cadets their true worth
Defence Forces must pay deserving cadets their true worth
Cadets are paid far lower than the enlisted soldiers they work beside for the first five years — this anomaly would be indefensible in any other profession, writes Conor King

Wed, 18 Mar, 2026

Israel Palestinians Gaza
Every Gazan student in Ireland is haunted by what they cannot express
We are like children in the dark, feeling for another being made of flesh and not just a ghost. We tell each other without words: You are still here, writes Abdallah Aljazzar

Wed, 18 Mar, 2026

Taoiseach visit to US
St Patrick's Day: A carnival in Ireland, just another sideshow in Donald Trump's circus
Like many another visiting leader, MicheĂĄl Martin was left sitting in silence as Trump held forth in his White House

Tue, 17 Mar, 2026

Taoiseach visit to US
Paul Hosford: Getting out of Oval Office unscathed as good as MicheĂĄl Martin could have hoped
Under pressure at home to raise the legality of the Iran war as well as the ongoing situation in Gaza, few would envy MicheĂĄl Martin's position in having to deal with the US president on St Patrick's Day

Tue, 17 Mar, 2026

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