The Power of the (Unused) Vote
The People Who Don’t Vote Hold Change in their Hands 40.3% of eligible voters did not vote in the 2024 Irish General Election. This is the lowest turnout since 1923. With the exception of 2011, when people were clearly irate after the economic crash, the voter turnout has steadily declined for decades. It seems that […]
Punch & Judy Politics Not In Touch With Reality
Punch & Judy Putting On A Show – Still Not Listening! Rural Ireland Needs Strategic Investment, Not Handouts! The knee-jerking continues from the two status quo parties on the campaign trail – making promises to impact the pocket in the short-term in an attempt to buy the election. The River of Promises is overflowing! […]
Opinion Polls Are Bleak
Have the people of the west of Ireland learned nothing? The Irish Times September 2024 Ipsos polls make for interesting reading. There’s an interactive chart here also, showing the key issues for voters over the last 12 months. According to their surveys, 53% of people in Connacht / Ulster will give their first […]
Looking Back at the Housing Crisis Origins
“Solving the Housing Crisis” They Say! So Fine Gael say that they are committed to solving the housing crisis and on the surface of it, the charts are finally heading in the right direction. This one from the CSO has some impressive and colourful squiggles. Taken in isolation, you might think we were going in […]
Letter to Minister McEntee
Letter to Minister Helen McEntee Dear Minister McEntee, I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the proposed Hate Crime Bill which, I understand, comes before Dáil Éireann for a vote this week. I believe the Bill raises serious issues in terms of clarity, enforcement and potential overreach. While the intent behind the Bill may, […]
International Obligations on Immigration
Immigration Policy in Ireland is Europe calling the shots Over the last number of years we have constantly been told about Ireland having to fulfill international obligations on immigration. During this time, citizens have raised numerous concerns relating to the impact on housing, our creaking health infrastructure as well as security concerns with respect to […]
Draconian Hate Speech Laws Must Be Stopped
Hate Speech Legislation is Nothing More than Censorship Justice Minister Helen McEntee is fulfilling more “international obligations” with her coveted and dangerous Hate Bill which FG / FF seem determined to impose on the Irish people. What about the national obligations of government and the interests of the people? Much like the referenda on Family […]
The West Is Not Awake
Galway languishes way behind the prosperous East The West of Ireland is in decline and when you look at the neglect of successive governments it’s easy to see why. While Dublin has enjoyed multiple major capital investments over the last two terms of government, the west of Ireland has fallen further and further behind to […]
Lessons Will Be Learned
SPHE Curriculum Concerns
SPHE Curriculum Concerns I have serious concerns about some of the content included in the Junior Certificate social, personal and health education (SPHE) programme which has come to light in recent days and weeks. While I firmly believe that the SPHE curriculum is an important piece of a child’s education and is carefully taught by […]
