The idea of constitutionalising economic and social rights is nothing new – either here or abroad. While these kinds of rights won't be debated in the Government’s charade, they could be in a People’s Convention that is rooted in civil society. By Michael Taft.
On Tonight with Vincent Browne, Brian Carey, Siobhan Creaton, Peter Browne and Constantin Gurdgiev will be discussing the outcome of the Independent News and Media (INM) AGM last week, as well as the latest eurozone developments. {jathumbnailoff}
Spain should have been the terrain on which to end the deadly embrace of public debt and banking losses that is bringing the Eurozone down. But Europe, in its infinite idiocy, decided against such action. By Yanis Varoufakis.
The claim by Mick Wallace that he needed to make a false Vat declaration because of cashflow difficulties raises questions. By Vincent Browne.
There are questions about TD Mick Wallace's explanation for having made a false Vat declaration on behalf of his construction company.
He said he needed to do that on a short-term basis to ensure a positive cashflow for his company, which was in financial trouble, and he said that he intended to correct the falsification and pay the tax due at a later stage.
Mick Wallace has insisted that he is fit to be a TD despite making a false Vat declaration and under-declaring his company's tax liability by €1.4m. (€2.1m under the terms of his settlement with Revenue, including interest and penalties.) This tax liability will never be paid given his company is insolvent. However, Mick Wallace himself is tax compliant, hence his insistence on keeping his seat.
Delivering the 2012 TASC Annual Lecture in the Royal Irish Academy last night, social justice campaigner Fr Peter McVerry said that the mantra of the old economic model "more is better" must give way to "moderation and restraint".
On any set of measurements the record of this government on jobs is a failure. By Michael Taft.
Far from being a 'solidarity fund', the EFSF is more like a Victorian workhouse into which states are invited in order to work on behalf of their bankers. By Yanis Varoufakis.
It is the job of politicians to defend equality and human rights structures precisely because it’s not a populist issue. Austerity has brought increased levels of unemployment and increasing levels of discrimination. It is precisely during this period of economic crisis and consequent austerity that the effective and independent functioning of our statutory infrastructure to address discrimination and promote equality is even more critical.
At both European and national level the best-laid plans to resolve the euro crisis can be undermined by a lack of urgency, which in turn further limits the room for manoeuvre. As time goes on, options are becoming fewer. By Michael Taft.