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
19/10/2011. Presidential Campaigns
People's forum will allow real discussion on neutrality
The UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine, Francesca Albanese, will be among eminent speakers on Saturday at the People’s Forum on Peace and Neutrality which will examine government plans to enact legislation that would remove the triple lock before the summer recess

Thu, 18 Jun, 2026

Two Business People Using Mobile Phone in The Train
EU Court of Justice ruling may have just radically changed social media regulation
The rule exempting internet service providers from liability as a publisher is the foundation of modern social networks, but the court said it doesn't apply where an algorithm is used

Thu, 18 Jun, 2026

My mother was a child bride — this cannot still be happening to girls in Afghanistan
My mother was a child bride — this cannot still be happening to girls in Afghanistan
Mahbooba Faiz grew up hearing about her mother's shock and horror at being married at just 10 years old. As the Taliban reintroduces child marriage in Afghanistan, she urges the world to act

Wed, 17 Jun, 2026

Cute newborn baby boy just after childbirth and doctor in the background
Women want choice of midwife-led care, as promised in the maternity strategy
All women deserve access to high quality, continuous maternity care. That's not the same as 'going private', writes midwife Jeannine Webster

Wed, 17 Jun, 2026

Conservative leadership bid
Yanis Varoufakis: The gilt markets are every British prime minister's nightmare
The British government's ability to refinance its public debt of almost £3 trillion depends on US financial institutions 

Wed, 17 Jun, 2026

Colin Sheridan: The Phoenix magazine made powerful people uncomfortable
Colin Sheridan: The Phoenix magazine made powerful people uncomfortable
In an often deferential Ireland, The Phoenix developed a reputation for asking questions that others would not

Tue, 16 Jun, 2026

teenage school girls being cyber bullies or just catching up on social media both on there phones, hand level copy space above
Government still talking, rather than enacting social media ban for under-16s
While Australia, France, Spain, and now the UK have announced bans, Ireland still dithers, writes Louise Burne

Tue, 16 Jun, 2026

woman measuring her weight on the scale
Dr Catherine Conlon: Obesity is declining in France, Italy and Portugal. Could Ireland be next?
Amid the many bad public health news stories, here's some good news: Ireland's Department of Health has signalled it is ready to challenge the global giants that promote unhealthy food 

Tue, 16 Jun, 2026

AI has transformed weather prediction — don't let the negativity win
AI has transformed weather prediction — don't let the negativity win
AI has plenty of risks that we must guard against, but data-driven AI is a tool we should embrace to protect our infrastructure, our climate, and our society, writes Andrew Parnell 

Tue, 16 Jun, 2026

AIDS Awareness
On Ireland AIDS Awareness Day, we need to talk about women and HIV
As a queer man living with HIV, I want women to know they are not alone. We have fought this fight, and we're here to help, writes Will Kennedy

Mon, 15 Jun, 2026

Pregnant Woman in Counseling Session, Expectant Mother
Same-sex couples and other surrogate families in Ireland need guardianship rights
I co-authored a report on guardianship for surrogate families in 2022. Minister O'Callaghan isn't publishing it — and we don't know why

Mon, 15 Jun, 2026

Young Business Boys with Money Savings
Do we really want childcare to be the latest investment fund wheeze?
Why is talk about early childhood education more focused on mergers and takeovers than it is on child wellbeing?

Mon, 15 Jun, 2026

Kaja Kallas visit to Dublin
Ireland’s EU presidency could cost €400m. Is the influence gained worth the price?
Rising security threats, geopolitical tensions and major EU negotiations are driving the cost of Ireland’s presidency

Sun, 14 Jun, 2026

Our pilgrim paths offer a massive tourism opportunity for rural Ireland
Our pilgrim paths offer a massive tourism opportunity for rural Ireland
We need to build awareness overseas of our Irish routes which long predate the Camino

Sat, 13 Jun, 2026

The Mick Clifford Podcast: How soon are we likely to have a single-tier health service in Ireland?
The Mick Clifford Podcast: How soon are we likely to have a single-tier health service in Ireland?
Irish Examiner Health Correspondent Niamh Griffin is Mick's guest on this week's podcast

 Listen | Fri, 12 Jun, 2026

 Listen |
Ireland's long school holidays don't suit the modern family — but who's going to change them?
Ireland's long school holidays don't suit the modern family — but who's going to change them?
If the school calendar no longer reflects the two-income realities of modern family life, who exactly is responsible for reviewing it, asks Stephanie Park

Fri, 12 Jun, 2026

Our navy's work in the Mediterranean shows importance of triple lock
Our navy's work in the Mediterranean shows importance of triple lock
Ireland has gone from saving thousands of lives at sea, to participating in missions that aid human rights violations, to new laws that will permit troop deployment to hostile military missions

Fri, 12 Jun, 2026

Close Up of a Professional Office Specialist Working on Desktop Computer in Modern Technological Monitoring Control Room with Di
Ireland does not need an arms industry — it needs capability
Is Ireland willing to invest steadily in the technological, cyber, industrial and maintenance capabilities that allow a small state to remain independent, asks Paul Davis

Thu, 11 Jun, 2026

North Belfast stabbing
Gemma McSherry: For these Belfast boys, violence is a rite of passage
There is nobody more dangerous than a man who has nothing to lose — just ask the women of Northern Ireland, 98% of whom have experienced gender-based violence

Wed, 10 Jun, 2026

Joyce Fegan: Women 'go private' because they don't trust the maternity system
Joyce Fegan: Women 'go private' because they don't trust the maternity system
As another row over women's maternity care gets laid to rest, the pressing question is why do 25% of women giving birth in Ireland feel the need 'to go private' in the first place?

Wed, 10 Jun, 2026

The counselling room is not a court room: Bill must protect sexual violence survivors' right to fair trial
The counselling room is not a court room: Bill must protect sexual violence survivors' right to fair trial
Rape Crisis Ireland supports the changes to the law on counselling notes, but they need more work 

Wed, 10 Jun, 2026

Ireland v Israel European cup match
Ireland v Israel: Government puts the boot in to support match going ahead
Coalition parties finding more and more reasons why fixture should happen

Wed, 10 Jun, 2026

Why hasn't Ireland nationalised Aughinish Alumina?
Why hasn't Ireland nationalised Aughinish Alumina?
In 2022, Irish officials formulated a plan to nationalise Aughinish Alumina, as a 'last resort'. The plant's alumina is key to the Russian war effort, and other European countries have done this already, writes journalist Jason Corcoran

Wed, 10 Jun, 2026

Dr Niamh Lynch: Dangerous baby products show retailers abuse parents' trust
Dr Niamh Lynch: Dangerous baby products show retailers abuse parents' trust
Sleep-deprived new parents trust that if an item is for sale, it must be safe.  But large online selling platforms have no social contract when it comes to babies' safety

Wed, 10 Jun, 2026

The health tracker backlash is here, so ditch the data and set yourself free
The health tracker backlash is here, so ditch the data and set yourself free
A rebellion is rising against the dull, highly optimised lives big tech wants for us. It’s not a second too soon

Tue, 09 Jun, 2026

Waymo rider-only robotaxi test ride in San Francisco
Jillian Godsil: The future of AI is already here in San Francisco
Upscale Conf speakers suggest that, just like the industrial revolution, the AI boom may bring benefits after the disruption — and could even help creativity flourish

Tue, 09 Jun, 2026

First contact with extraterrestrials: How the new rules differ from science fiction
First contact with extraterrestrials: How the new rules differ from science fiction
The International Academy of Astronautics has just voted to accept a major overhaul of the scientific code of conduct for what happens after we find evidence of life beyond Earth

Tue, 09 Jun, 2026

Republic of Ireland v Qatar - International Friendly - Aviva Stadium
Sinéad Gibney: The FAI is hiding behind FIFA on Israel game
A decision by Ireland not to take on Israel in the UEFA Nations League would be a watershed moment, just like it was a few years ago when Russia was excluded from FIFA and UEFA competitions after Sweden and Poland refused to play them

Tue, 09 Jun, 2026

Niamh Griffin: Rotunda row is over but women are left asking — where is our maternity strategy?
Niamh Griffin: Rotunda row is over but women are left asking — where is our maternity strategy?
In the wake of a controversy sometimes framed in terms of choice, a maternity advocate said: 'We need to talk about the choices that we don’t have'

Mon, 08 Jun, 2026

Waikiki Beach
We can’t afford to ignore AI when it comes to planning processes
Planning authorities in Honolulu, Los Angeles, Australia, Singapore and the UK have introduced AI-driven tools to speed up their approval processes. Garry Miley believes Ireland should making a start on our AI in planning journey

Mon, 08 Jun, 2026

Israel Palestinians
The human cost of illegal occupation is central to the Occupied Territories Bill
There are times when taking a stand against injustice matters more. This is one of them

Mon, 08 Jun, 2026

Occupied Territories Bill retreat lays bare Irish Government’s subservience to US big tech
Occupied Territories Bill retreat lays bare Irish Government’s subservience to US big tech
To comply with our international legal obligations, the Government must re-insert services into the Occupied Territories Bill

Sun, 07 Jun, 2026

Irish migration
ieExplains: What is the EU Migration Pact, and can Ireland opt out?
Ireland officially opted into the pact in June 2024 and, in the intervening two years, the Government has been adopting legislation to enact the pact. But what is it?

Sun, 07 Jun, 2026

TOPSHOT-LEBANON-ISRAEL-IRAN-WAR
Marion McKeone: Another ceasefire, another dead end on Lebanon’s long road to peace
As violence intensifies, questions grow over Western inaction, sanctions and the future of Lebanon’s fragile democracy

Sat, 06 Jun, 2026

Henry Nowak death
Henry Nowak was failed in his last moments – and again by Britain’s disgraceful political class
There are vital lessons to be learned from Nowak’s death. Instead, it has been used to refuel a pervasive lie about ethnic minorities and ‘two-tier’ policing

Sat, 06 Jun, 2026

UPLIFT; NEUTRALITY; TRIPLE LOCK; FIANNA FAIL ARD FHEIS
Colin Sheridan: Why Ireland should keep the triple lock despite calls for reform
As conflict intensifies globally, Ireland should strengthen oversight and diplomacy rather than dilute military deployment safeguards

Sat, 06 Jun, 2026

Truth-telling is crucial for those who experienced abuse in Spiritan schools
Truth-telling is crucial for those who experienced abuse in Spiritan schools
Being a senior executive, a political figure, a successful lawyer, or medic does not provide immunity from the fear of speaking about childhood sexual abuse, writes Marie Keenan of the Restore Together initiative

Fri, 05 Jun, 2026

Dorcha Lee: Even with Trump's flaky ceasefire, Lebanon needs UN troops again
Dorcha Lee: Even with Trump's flaky ceasefire, Lebanon needs UN troops again
For Lebanon, the best hope is that a new Israeli Government in the autumn will commit to withdrawing the IDF, under UN supervision

Fri, 05 Jun, 2026

Arthritis Medical Exam
New migration law will shut out the home carers Ireland needs
The fuel crisis showed how quickly elderly and vulnerable people who need home care are forgotten when the loudest voices are shouting. The migration debate is the same, writes Joseph Musgrave

Fri, 05 Jun, 2026

Administrator looking at medical record
Patients forced to wait months or even years for medical records, despite legal right to access 
Legally, authorities are supposed to provide records within one month. In practice it can be a year or more

Thu, 04 Jun, 2026

School children in classroom
Terrible timing but some positives in Special Needs Assistants Workforce Development Plan
The Irish Examiner's Education Correspondent on a key document regarding SNAs — and the Department of Education's decision to publish it on one of the busiest days of the year

Wed, 03 Jun, 2026

young mum queries a bill on the phone .
Childcare: State is doing more than ever to reduce costs — but parents aren't likely to be grateful
Government is putting a total of €1.5bn into childcare to reduce maximum fees, freeze current rates, and increase wages for staff

Wed, 03 Jun, 2026

Mick Clifford: The house of Healy-Rae has fallen victim to 'The Split'
Mick Clifford: The house of Healy-Rae has fallen victim to 'The Split'
The smart money isn’t looking too smart of late, but it says there will be no coming back from this, writes Mick Clifford

Wed, 03 Jun, 2026

Meta Data Centres
AI backlash is growing — and tech execs know it
AI data centres are inflating a financial bubble — and even top tech execs know the bubble will burst if we don't all adopt AI, and fast, writes Patrick Brodie

Wed, 03 Jun, 2026

Ursula Shannon fought for the Bessborough babies — now we must continue
Ursula Shannon fought for the Bessborough babies — now we must continue
Trafficked as a baby and adopted from Bessborough, former Lady Mayoress Ursula Shannon fought for all the forgotten babies — we cannot allow them to be concreted over

Wed, 03 Jun, 2026

Pollution from smokestacks filling the air at the Boise Cascade Paper Plant in Rumford Maine
Irish people's lack of concern over climate action due to mixed messaging from politicians
What is clear from the Irish Examiner climate poll is that the gap between the intensifying global climate crisis and public concern is still very wide

Tue, 02 Jun, 2026

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