Young Irish high on drugs and booze and vandalism are a disgrace (IrishCentral)

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 05:19:24 PDT

Looking out my study window right now on Tuesday morning I see things are back to normal. It's raining!

But for the past week and right through the weekend things have been far from normal. Not a drop of rain. Hot unbroken sunshine from clear skies all day long. It was like the Mediterranean.

Suffer the little Irish children - the government's regulations failed to protect babies being abused in day care centers (IrishCentral)

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 05:19:13 PDT

Ireland: A tax haven for American tech companies like Google, Twitter and Apple but without the sun (IrishCentral)

Fri, 31 May 2013 04:49:10 PDT

The reaction of Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda Kenny, senior politicians and the IDA boss to the accusation in the U.S. congressional hearing last week that Ireland is a tax haven reminded me of the famous Jack Nicholson line: "You can't handle the truth."

Our leaders can deny it all they want, but the simple truth is that they've been caught with their trousers down. Ireland is indeed a tax haven, and it's the tax haven of choice for some of the biggest high tech companies in the world like Apple and Google, most of which are American.

Pro-Life campaigners need to get a grip - Irish women still have no choice over abortion (IrishCentral)

Fri, 24 May 2013 06:03:58 PDT

Those so-called pro-life demonstrators at Boston College really need to get a grip. As Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda Kenny made clear to them, Ireland has one of the most restrictive attitudes to abortion in the world.

“There is no change in the legislation in regard to abortion which has been on the statute books now since 1861,” he told them, as if that is something to be proud of.

Abortion reform Irish style - Women still have no rights over their own bodies, continue to travel to the UK for procedure (IrishCentral)

Thu, 09 May 2013 05:18:43 PDT

The outline of the government's proposals for legislation on abortion were agreed by the cabinet and published last week.

It's important to remember that what we have so far is the heads of the bill rather than the full detail. There will be much discussion as all the detail emerges in the coming weeks, and the overall bill may be finessed somewhat before it becomes law.

We’re total abortion hypocrites - proposals for new legislation were laughable (IrishCentral)

Thu, 02 May 2013 05:18:29 PDT

The abortion debate in Ireland gathered pace here last week as the outlines of what the government has in mind began to emerge. The proposals are so ridiculous they are laughable.

We've always been known as the island of saints and scholars. To that should now be added the word hypocrites.

Catch 22 for Irish abortion law - navigating Ireland’s rigid, Catholic influence legal framework and Savita Halappanavar’s case (IrishCentral)

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 05:18:24 PDT

The inquest into the death of Savita Halappanavar did not blame anyone for her death. Despite all we have heard over the past two weeks, no one is to be held accountable.

Even the hospital is not to be blamed, despite the admission of the consultant (senior doctor) involved in Savita's care that her death was due to a "systems failure" in her treatment in hospital (mainly due to poor communication and mistakes). Instead the main finding of the inquest is that Savita died of "medical misadventure."

The late Baroness Margaret Thatcher had her good points (IrishCentral)

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 05:18:07 PDT

There were two big stories here last week.

First, there was the seven year extension Ireland was given in the schedule for paying back its bailout loans.

Letters from the tax man - the mounting cost of Ireland's property tax and running the country (IrishCentral)

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 05:32:58 PDT

One thing is sure -- it's going to be painful for everyone.

End to Ireland’s disastrous bank guarantee - an achievement at the expense of the Irish State (IrishCentral)

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 05:02:45 PDT

At midnight last Thursday the disastrous blanket guarantee given to the Irish banks in September 2008 by the last government reached the end of its extended term and finally came to an end.

The present government believes that the banks are strong enough now to function without the guarantee and will be able to access the funding they need without state back-up.

Cyprus? Been there, done that - EU leaders brass necks insist European’s money is safe (IrishCentral)

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 05:17:43 PDT

Good old reliable Ireland - depressed Irish continue paying massive bank debt with no end in sight (IrishCentral)

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 05:17:32 PDT

Here's hoping you all had a great St. Patrick's Day. In Dublin it was less ecstatic than usual, possibly because of the unseasonably cold weather that has afflicted us for the past two weeks.

I see from the TV pictures that it was the same over there, with what looked like sleet showers falling on the New York parade at some stages. That did not seem to dampen enthusiasm in the Big Apple.

Here come the bad house debts - Irish family with mortgage debts left in nightmare situations (IrishCentral)

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 05:17:15 PDT

In the last few weeks we have been listening to lots of positive noises being made about Ireland. For the first six months of this year Ireland holds the EU presidency, so there are important people visiting here all the time for important EU meetings and they tend to say nice things about us when they're here.

Recently it was European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso who hailed our economic recovery, saying the country is "turning the corner" and well on the road to recovery.

State workers are whiners - private sector workers in Ireland stomach the brunt of pay and pension cuts (IrishCentral)

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 05:47:17 PST

Viewing the sequester controversy in the U.S. from this side of the Atlantic last week was a reminder of how much we have in common with you guys over there.

The financial crisis in Europe, in the wake of the global downturn, has been caused largely by governments (like in Ireland) that can't balance their spending with their revenue and that run massive, unsustainable budget deficits. And it's the same in the U.S.

The 'national shame' of the Taliban Tabernacle - Ireland’s recent history of the Magdalene Laundries (IrishCentral)

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 05:17:09 PST

Last week Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda Kenny delivered an emotional apology in the Dail (Parliament) to the women who had spent time in the notorious Magdalene laundries in Ireland, mainly in the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s.

The name of the Magdalene laundries -- called after Mary Magdalene, the fallen woman or prostitute who was forgiven by Jesus -- gives you a good idea of what Irish society of the time thought of the women who were locked up in these grim institutions.

Bolting the stable doors in Ireland - laughing at the horse meat scandal while the food industry suffers (IrishCentral)

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 05:16:45 PST

Don't you love the way the Irish laugh in the face of adversity? Whatever the problem is, you can count on us to turn it into a joke. And let's face it, this horse meat scandal was just made for it ... it's all over Facebook and Twitter here.

There are the ones that give advice on ordering in an Irish restaurant: "I'll start with some horse d'oeuvres before I go on to the mane course."

Truth behind the debt deal with the European Central Bank on Anglo Irish (IrishCentral)

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 04:01:34 PST

What a week! You will have read about the dramatic events in Ireland last week, culminating in a deal with the European Central Bank that the government claims is a significant victory in our battle to get some of the massive debt burden we carry lifted off the nation's shoulders.

The deal means that our borrowing will be cut by €20 billion, the headlines said.

The murder of police officer Adrian Donohoe and Sinn Fein hypocrites (IrishCentral)

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 06:01:26 PST

The callous, almost casual, murder of a detective Garda (police officer) here more than a week ago united the country in outrage and grief. It also made it a very uncomfortable week for the reformed IRA gunmen in Sinn Fein who now sit in the Dail (Parliament).

Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was part of one of the usual two-man security details that accompany significant cash transfers here. This involves two armed detectives in a car who accompany the cash vans as they do their rounds transferring money between bank branches and savings and loans offices, post offices, credit unions and so on.

Drinking and the death of rural Ireland - the demise of pubs, the drink driving permit and isolation (IrishCentral)

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 05:16:15 PST

Meanwhile, the death of rural Ireland continues.

New Catholic Church leader in Ireland won’t change much - Eamon Martin’s take over from Sean Brady as Primate of Ireland (IrishCentral)

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 05:16:13 PST

He is young, conservative and tough, even if it's hidden behind an informal, engaging personality. It's church business as usual, then.

Abortion debate underway in Ireland - hard questions need to be asked and the country's Catholic history reviewed (IrishCentral)

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 05:15:53 PST

There will be more detailed coverage of the church's position here as the abortion debate develops in the weeks ahead.

Ireland’s New Year’s resolution should be to pay no more bank debt, further crippling the Irish people (IrishCentral)

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 05:30:46 PST

Will the Newtown massacre finally force American to tackle its control of guns? (IrishCentral)

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 05:15:16 PST

This week there are people all over America deciding on Christmas gifts for their children. Well here's an idea -- tell your children that one of your presents to them will be a promise that next year you will campaign for or support major change on gun laws in the U.S. And explain to them why this will be the best Christmas present the children of America will ever get.

A budget of a thousand cuts is the latest austerity measure for the Irish (IrishCentral)

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 05:31:53 PST

It all makes a very bleak prospect for Christmas and the New Year.

Ordinary Irish suffer yet again as savage budget cuts will hit poorest (IrishCentral)

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 04:46:31 PST

We need abortion laws, now - Savita Halapanavar’s death force Irish people to make their voices heard (IrishCentral)

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 05:01:30 PST

Now it's up to the government to decide what to do. It's not just a question of meeting the demands of the European Court. It's because we do not want to see another tragedy like Savita.

Ireland is shamed before the world - Thousands of Irish march for Savita Halappanavar and abortion law reform (IrishCentral)

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 05:47:12 PST

Unemployment, emigration and Ireland’s economy - more pressing issues than children’s rights (IrishCentral)

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 05:01:24 PST

Thanks for nothing, Enda.

Irish people at the tipping point - anger and cynicism among Irish over austerity cuts and economy is palpable (IrishCentral)

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 05:16:17 PST

3 billion payment on bank debt back to Europe.

Irish Golden Circle still shining despite massive recession -- Still running the show despite bankrupting the country (IrishCentral)

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 04:00:42 PDT

Let’s get a European divorce -- Angela Merkel drops a bomb on Enda Kenny over Ireland’s debt deals (IrishCentral)

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 05:45:40 PDT

The bottom line is we never owed this money and we need it back. Instead of air kissing Merkel, Kenny should be threatening her with an Irish divorce from Europe.

Emigration the only way out for young Irish in Ireland -- No future, no jobs, no hope if they stay behind (IrishCentral)

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 04:15:28 PDT

be consigned to where it belongs -- the history books.

The Time of Enda Kenny’s life - Superman act does hide the fact that Ireland’s a long way from a “comeback” (IrishCentral)

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 05:15:36 PDT

appears to have beguiled a lot of people outside Ireland that all will be well in the Irish garden. But the reality is very different. The truth is we're a long way from any kind of Celtic Comeback.

A lot more action needed by Fine Gael/Labour coalition to save Ireland from economic ruin (IrishCentral)

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 05:32:49 PDT

Action speaks louder than words. And so far there has been no action worth talking about.

Ireland is no country for young men or women anymore -- Sky high taxes, lower incomes means only bad news for the young (IrishCentral)

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 04:17:35 PDT

We’re too good for our own good - Ireland’s image in Europe isn’t doing us any favors (IrishCentral)

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 05:32:31 PDT

You don't think we're up to it? Just wait a couple of months. The upcoming budget in December could be the turning point.

Scandal over public service pensions continues as IMF calls time on state workers (IrishCentral)

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 05:47:13 PDT

Ireland’s state pensions and pay safe as private sector funds go down the toilet (IrishCentral)

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 05:47:05 PDT

Howlin's full title, by the way, is minister for public expenditure and reform. That's right -- REFORM. Don't laugh.

Pensions time bomb in Ireland - financial torture for the Irish people as worst budget to date arrives (IrishCentral)

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 04:46:54 PDT

Members of the Irish police force can retire in their fifties with a full state pension.

For the past two weeks, the papers here have been full of dire predictions about what's going to be in the budget in December.

We know that a raft of tax hikes and state spending cuts are coming down the line because we have to get our deficit down by another three billion or so in 2013. It's all part of the EU/IMF plan under which we got the bailout money and which requires us to balance the nation's books -- or at least get the deficit down to three percent -- by 2015.

We will be looking at the financial torture that is on the way for us in detail in this column in the coming weeks. But before we start talking about the budget it's worth taking time to focus on a real hot issue here which so far has stayed just below the radar.

Former billionaire Sean Quinn tells a story of two Ireland's (IrishCentral)

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 05:31:34 PDT

How Irish gun laws would have prevented the Aurora massacre (IrishCentral)

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 04:31:09 PDT

No one here seems to find any of this a problem. I don't have the latest figures, but the number of guns per 100 population in Ireland is around five. It's an insult to the intelligence of the American people that nothing is done about gun control once and for all.

The state of play in Irish economy -- the IMF tells it like it is (IrishCentral)

Wed, 18 Jul 2012 06:01:01 PDT

It's sad but true that we are unlikely to get real reform here until it's shoved down our throats by the EU and the IMF.

Fifty Shades of Green - formerly reserved Catholic Ireland goes wild for 'mommy porn' (IrishCentral)

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 05:31:19 PDT

In comparison, Fifty Shades is as erotic as the Bible.

Germans need to pay for much of Irish bailout after Euro crisis -- Finally, some hard facts hit home as reality dawns for Merkel (IrishCentral)

Thu, 05 Jul 2012 04:45:45 PDT

If we were irresponsible, so were they. On that basis, it's only fair that the cost of sorting out the mess in the Irish banks should involve the German taxpayer as well as the Irish taxpayer.

Ireland financial system doesn’t know how to change (IrishCentral)

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 06:30:41 PDT

They're not capable of doing it by themselves. Sad, but true.

Reflections on Ireland's UEFA Cup performance (IrishCentral)

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 06:45:22 PDT

“What good is it to you? You get all that money but you have still got to sit in your house at night in L.A. and you have got to say to yourself, ‘What are you doing? What is my life about?’ Where he has gone now is a pretty empty place."

Spanish bailout from the EU won’t help the Irish (IrishCentral)

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 06:45:08 PDT

Ireland will be watching Spain closely after 'Yes' result in EU Fiscal Treaty (IrishCentral)

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 05:45:15 PDT

Ole! It's the Spanish solution to the Irish problem.

Ireland's Fiscal Treaty: No is tempting, but we’ll vote yes (IrishCentral)

Wed, 30 May 2012 06:00:12 PDT

The Irish World War II shame - Irish soldiers faced hostility after arriving home (IrishCentral)

Thu, 24 May 2012 05:30:07 PDT

This week we're going to give you a break from the mind-numbing economics and politics of the euro crisis and the referendum here on the Fiscal Compact Treaty. It will be unavoidable next week in the run up to the vote in Ireland on May 31, so make the most of your time off!

So this week we will ignore all that euro stuff. There also happens to be a good reason for switching the focus this week because it gives us the chance to take a look at an important new book which was published in Dublin on Tuesday, May 22.

ICBlog: Ireland Calling