Ballymun's first tenants moved into their new homes forty-five years ago, in August 1966. Described by environmental journalist Frank McDonald as the "worst planning disaster" in the history of the State, a comprehensive regeneration plan for the area swung into action in 1999. Paul Walsh traces the successes and failures of "one of the largest regeneration schemes in all of Europe".
With recent research showing that some birds ‘eavesdrop’ on other species in order to protect their young, John Holden looks at other ‘human-like’ traits we share with animals.
Attacks on the social welfare system are really just veiled attacks on all of us. By Michael Taft.
In the school year 2009-2010 the State paid out more than €107 million to fee-paying schools to cover the costs of salaries for teachers, clerical officers and special needs assistants in those schools. In the same year, more than €12 million was given to these schools in capital grants, grants for assistive technologies, and grants for computers and other ICTs. There are 56 fee-paying schools in the State.
It's time we owned up to the fact that Ireland is not an exporting nation. It is a platform for foreign exporting companies, and that platform is often only tangential to the domestic economy. By Michael Taft.
It is difficult enough to wade through the mountain of data to assess what is really happening in the Irish economy. It doesn’t help when we have ministers selectively celebrating selective stats. Take Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton, for example - his PR machine is working overtime.
New studies into global warming patterns show a deep ocean masking real increases in temperature, writes John Holden.
Global warming is not as widely reported as it was in previous times. This, unfortunately, has a lot to do with the commercial and editorial imperatives of news agencies. Environmental problems haven’t gone away. It’s the economy, stupid.
Closer, more pertinent problems caused by the global recession mean the focus on big picture stuff is understandably less of a priority for most people.
We have the opportunity to strike a new deal on the Anglo/INBS debt. Below, Michael Taft, Michael Burke and Tom McDonnell outline a series of approaches which would provide the Government with an opportunity to expunge it.
Last Thursday (15 September), Greek economist Yanis Varoufakis addressed a capacity audience in Dublin's Shelbourne Hotel on the roots of the crisis in the Eurozone, and offered his own proposals for solving it. The meeting was also addressed by Fintan O'Toole of the Irish Times and Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty. Introducing Varoufakis, Doherty said: 'There is an urgent need to come up with new responses to a crisis that is both European in origin and systemic in effect.
Between wage stagnation, tax increases, and debt, the prospect of kicking growth into the economy via consumer demand is likely to disappoint. By Michael Taft.
Deliberative processes are key if Ireland is to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past, according to directors of Social Justice Ireland Seán Healy and Brigid Reynolds.