Our so-called national debate is merely a process of softening us up for cuts while real options are ignored, writes Vincent Browne.
This Government has lost the support of 80 per cent of the people, the vast majority of these want Fianna Fáil and the Greens out of office ASAP.
In the rather ironic settings of Lloyds bank in London, Senator Shane Ross addressed members of the Irish International Business Network (IIBN) last Monday on the banking and financial crisis in Ireland. Answering questions from a plethora of Irish entrepreneurs and bankers, Ross spoke of endemic cronyism and corruption in Ireland. After delivering a speech covering material from his books 'The Bankers and The Wasters', Ross took a Q&A session from members of the IIBN.
Solidarity had to be won in that mine in Chile, writes Vincent Browne.
In the early days after the mine collapsed on August 5, there were fistfights. Five of the miners who worked for a sub-contractor broke away. A few of the miners simply stayed in their beds underground, waiting to die.
The absurd, menacing consensus among our political parties means a chance to improve society is being missed, writes Vincent Browne.
The idea of a national government is absurd, unless, that is, the establishment parties, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour and the Greens, agree on everything. And there is reason to suppose they do agree on everything – at least on all essentials – aside from which of them should partake in the spoils of office for another four or five years.
It is unfortunate for the country that we have a government that may be the worst ever - and that is saying something, writes Vincent Browne.
The irrelevance of Dáil Éireann can hardly ever have been more evident than now, writes Vincent Browne.
In the midst of the gravest crisis to afflict the State since the Civil War, our national parliament has no role to play, 141 of our 166 elected representatives have no function. They stand by, as mere onlookers, while the remaining 15 decide in secret the fate of the country.
There is a sense of apprehension now about how our country is being run that I don't recall having witnessed before, writes Vincent Browne.
Yes, we have often been infuriated by the ineptitude of governments, by the inequity and unfairness of so much they did, by the spectacular wastage of public funds.
However, it's different now - and very alarming.
There is a sense that those in power might bring down the whole show, that in this moment of crisis there is no one in charge who knows what they are doing or where we are going.
In this interview on TV3 from 2 July 2009, Brian Lenihan says that "it is not being suggested by anybody that the taxpayer has to make up a loss of €35bn [in relation to the banking bailout]". He says: "It would be serious if we did." Lenihan also says that "Nama in itself could end up as a profit for the taxpayer in time". Of Anglo Irish Bank he said it was "difficult to see us getting a return for our investment".
Ireland lags many countries in the openness and accountability of public institutions. Experts in Freedom of Information (FOI) identified the shortcomings of Ireland FOI Act, and measures that could improve access to public information. By Malachy Browne
Yesterday's hike in the yield on Irish 10-year bonds (to 6.9%, 4.7% higher than Germany), prompted Brian Cowen to address international bond brokers. He sought to reassure them with the following statement:
What is the point of the Labour Party being in government if it again fails to make the tough decisions to tackle inequity in society?By Vincent Browne.