Politics

Fine Gael should publish their corporate donations, argues Martin Ferris

Denis O'Brien was on a beach in Mayo when he heard of the findings of the Moriarty Tribunal. Michael Lowry was near a beach in the south of Spain when he heard of the findings, writes Vincent Browne.

Lowry decided to stay away for a day to get his thoughts together.

Fine Gael acted with gross impropriety in accepting a donation from Esat and then attempting to conceal it, writes Vincent Browne.

The Moriarty tribunal report seriously compromises this Fine Gael-Labour government. Nine of its cabinet ministers were part of the government that was in situ in 1996 when it (the then government) approved the awarding of the second mobile phone licence to Esat Digifone, the company then led by Denis O'Brien.

Enda Kenny has had a charmed 11 days as Taoiseach, writes Vincent Browne.

He has appeared assured in the Dáil, impressive in his public utterances in Brussels and at home, and fortunate in the St Patrick's Day visit to the White House. Certainly, there are tough times ahead and, ideally, there will be a crisis soon on Ireland's solvency, so that the issue of the bank debt can be sorted quickly. But so far, so good.

If those with means forgo a new car and holiday and pay into State coffers, the poor could be spared and the fiscal hole dramatically reduced, writes Vincent Browne.

We still have choices on how to manage our affairs, important choices, choices that define where we are at politically.

Most of us do not know what leeway there is for the Government in the renegotiation of the EU-IMF memorandum of understanding of 28 November, 2010.

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan's first speech in the Dail on the nomination of Enda Kenny as Taoiseach. 'Hope' is the word he uses most in the speech. [See Wordle below]

"James Connolly would be ashamed by the Labour Party today". This is an edit of his speech to the Dáil on the nomination of Enda Kenny as Taoiseach. A Wordle below outlines the most used words in his speech.

This is an edited version of his speech to the Dáil on the nomination of Enda Kenny as Taoiseach in which Shane Ross welcomes the integrity of the new government, but fears that it will end up being similar to the last one. [There's a Wordle below highlighting the most-used words in this speech]

An avalanche of public goodwill is moving in the direction of the Government and I hope and pray that it will capitalise on it and fulfil the faith which has been put in it by the Irish electorate.

Sandy Hazel reports on the meeting of Dublin City Council on Monday 7 March following the Smithfield Horse Fair. 

Delusional programme for government offers little hope that new incumbents can finally deliver a fair society, writes Vincent Browne.

The election of another Fine Gael-Labour government is hardly welcome for anybody wanting to see the structure of society changed radically.