“God, Kinch, if you and I could only work together we might do something for the island. Hellenise it”

The ESRI working paper withdrawn yesterday suggests that the gap between social protection income and work is not the issue regarding job take-up. What it does show up is the weakness of the Irish welfare state, especially in comparison with other European countries. By Michael Taft.

The hypocrisy of our political class over plans to censure Mick Wallace is quite breathtaking. By Vincent Browne.

Over the years, many of us have become inured to the serial hypocrisy of our political class but every now and again the brazenness of that hypocrisy becomes so breathtaking that our tolerance for it breaks. Now is such a moment and it concerns the plans to censure Mick Wallace.

On Tonight with Vincent Browne, symphysiotomy survivor Teresa Devoy, chairperson of Survivors of Symphysiotomy Marie O’Connor and solicitor Colm McGeehan will discuss the findings of the draft report on symphysiotomy to be published by the Department of Health this week on the misuse of the procedure in Ireland from 1940 to 1980. {jathumbnailoff}

To the misfits of the world, to all of us who do not conform to the closing of humanity:

Now, more than ever, the world looks two ways at once.

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}

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.