Contrary to the narrative we are often told, warnings were given. They were simply not listened to. By Vincent Browne.

On January 24, 2008, a confidential paper was circulated within the Department of Finance, addressing the issue of the stability of Ireland’s financial institutions.

It was a prescient overview of the then and future state of Irish financial institutions. While it expressed a then-familiar confidence in the solvency of those institutions, it foresaw grave problems ahead.

It doesn’t matter how long the Oireachtas is closed. The fact is it plays no meaningful role in our society. By Vincent Browne. 

The precipitous end of the Dáil session underlines how nothing has changed in our political system, in our society, in our economy, in our public culture. Except maybe for the worse.

Democracy is hurt by transnational corporate interests. By Vincent Browne.

Today, we look at two coups, one domestic and the other foreign.

Neither of these is actually seen as a coup, even though, in both instances, powerful vested interests used their corporate muscle to get their way.

The domestic coup had its manifestation in Nama and in that September 30, 2008 bailout of the banks.

There is a culture of entitlement amongst lawyers to a lifestyle that is obscenely excessive in this society. By Vincent Browne.

Two barristers, Eddie Walsh and Constance Cassidy, are themselves parties to a legal action concerning the 410-acre Lissadell estate, which they purchased in 2003 for €4 million and on which they have spent about €9.5 million in restoration costs. The case taken by the barristers against Sligo County Council, which concerns rights of way over parts of the estate, ran for 58 days and the legal costs are estimated to run to €6 million.

Sam Smyth has broken some explosive stories over the last 30 years.

His work gave rise first to the McCracken Tribunal and, later, the Moriarty Tribunal.

He has shown shrewdness, persistence and an ability to form and cultivate valuable contacts over the years. It was with expectation, therefore, that many of us looked forward to his two-part TV documentary series on the Progressive Democrats.

We thought these Fianna Fáil people were without backbone. How we underestimated them.

At least we have got some clarity now. It is not so that Fianna Fáil TDs care about nothing. Nor is it so that the Labour Party necessarily cares about anything.

The Boston Consulting Group is one of the most prestigious management consulting firms in the world.

Among its former employees are Benjamin Netanyahu, prime minister of Israel, Mitt Romney who ran for the US presidency in 2008, Ira Magaziner, former policy adviser to President Clinton and an adviser to the IDA here, and lots of business high-flyers and lorry loads of academics. Its research work carries a lot of weight.

Commission must investigate the minister for finance’s intervention in plan to make banks more compliant. By Vincent Browne.

The Greens are about to engage in yet another capitulation over the terms of reference of the commission to inquire into the economic and banking crisis.

Kenny has won the support of his party, but time will tell whether the electorate will take him into their arms. By Vincent Browne.

Enda Kenny is stronger after the leadership heave. The Fine Gael leader showed steel, decisiveness and nerve, qualities relevant to being Taoiseach. There was also a graciousness about him in victory.

The Fine Gael leader does not have the command of economic policy required for credibility. By Vincent Browne.

After the disastrous performance of Fine Gael in the 2002 election, I wrote a column that began with a prayer for Fine Gael: “May the angels lead you into paradise; may the martyrs come to welcome you and take you to the holy city, the new and eternal Jerusalem.”