Category Archives: Ireland

The quality of life

Posted on 19/11/2012 by Rodney

Up to this point I’ve avoided commenting on the whole story of Savita Halappanavar. Partly this is because I have no specialist knowledge to bring to bear on the issue, and while I am conscious that facts can sometimes become … Continue reading →

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The strange dynamic of democracy

Posted on 08/05/2011 by Rodney

Ever since the Northern Ireland state was founded in 1922, it has suffered from a single, and apparently necessary, democratic deficit. Because its entire raison d’etre was the defence of the rights of Protestant / Unionists, its boundaries were drawn … Continue reading →

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Good to go or gone for good? Ireland’s emigraduates

Posted on 14/03/2011 by Rodney

I used to see them, sometimes,  as I sat on early morning bus taking me to work. As we passed through Kilburn and Cricklewood, there were men gathered by the roadside, waiting. Middle-aged men, a little overweight, standing waiting for … Continue reading →

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Decision time

Posted on 05/03/2011 by Rodney

The future of the Irish government is still being decided. It’s not even decided whether there will be a Fine Gael / Labour coalition. Except that, there certainly will be, even if the election results had not already pointed that … Continue reading →

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ge11 – The Reckoning

Posted on 28/02/2011 by Rodney

The Reckoning So, it’s over. The votes have been counted. And then counted again. And then recounted. And the results are nearly all in. There are still a few seats to be filled; a few final transfers will decide who … Continue reading →

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ge11 – day 23/24

Posted on 25/02/2011 by Rodney

Tracking the tweets I happened to be in the Republic yesterday, enjoying some seasonal warm weather – there were some  young girls actually out swimming at Malahide – and noticed some of the election paraphernalia: posters everywhere, candidates out canvassing. … Continue reading →

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ge11 – day 22

Posted on 24/02/2011 by Rodney

Young, gifted … and still here With a thousand people leaving the country every week, the question of who young people will vote for may well be irrelevant. They may already have gone. With so many former Fianna Fáil members … Continue reading →

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ge11 – day 21

Posted on 23/02/2011 by Rodney

Too Big to Fail? Despite the surge of the past week or so, it’s still looking like a coalition government. If current predictions turn out to be true, a Fine Gael / Labour coalition would have an overall majority of … Continue reading →

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ge11 – day 20

Posted on 21/02/2011 by Rodney

The Future Is Now I’ve not lived in the Republic for well over twenty years, and even though I used to be fascinated by elections I pretty much lost interest in Irish voting patterns a long time ago. This time … Continue reading →

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ge11 – day 19

Posted on 21/02/2011 by Rodney

It’s official – the civil war is over If the election of 2011 is remembered for one thing it will be the end of the civil war. The fighting – with guns at least – finished nearly 90 years ago, … Continue reading →

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