Society

Peter Singer deals with the controversial subjects of abortion, euthanasia and infanticide, amongst others, in a revised and updated edition of his classic 1980 text Practical Ethics. Review by Joseph Mahon.

Are we going to have to get used to Iceland’s volcanoes disrupting Europe’s air traffic plans? The experts say yes. By John Holden.

It is in Ireland's long term interest to become part of a confederated Europe of states; that is, to receive and contribute, tax and spend, and coordinate its labour market and social polices as though it were a region of Europe not a nation state. By Aidan Regan.

The Report of the Independent Review of Employment Regulation Orders (EROs), published on Tuesday, advocates the retention of Joint Labour Committees. It also points out that in certain circumstances increasing wages can actually increase employment. IBEC will not be pleased. By Michael Taft.

The UN Independent Expert for Human Rights and Extreme Poverty, Magdalena Sepúlveda Carmona, has advised that Ireland immediately undertakes a human rights review of all budgetary and recovery policies and ensures that it complies with fundamental human rights principles.

A government with powers of taxation and regulation has a lot of leverage with an under-regulated industry reliant upon tax subsidies, such as, for example, the pensions industry. It should make them a Don Corleone-type ‘offer that can’t be refused’. By Michael Taft.

Dr Mauro Dragone leads a European team of robotics experts in the quest for organic robotic intelligence. We may never worry about doing domestic duties again. By John Holden.

There is a Simpsons Halloween episode where the family get a new robotic home that automatically does all domestic duties and chores in the home. Marge chooses the voice of Irish actor Pearse Brosnan for the robot’s human response system. Then the house falls in love with Marge and tries to kill Homer.

Should Ireland go a step further than the pension levy and implement capital controls to limit investor choice in Ireland, asks Aidan Regan

Flawed analysis and faulty logic have resulted in poor people being wrongly targeted by Government, says Social Justice Ireland in its annual socio-economic review, published today. 

Wage incresases at Bord na Móna will not be paid out of the public purse, regardless of what the Sunday Independent might have you believe. That's because it's a public limited company, or, to put it another way, a private enterprise. By Michael Taft.