August is so regarded as a slow news month that folks call it the “silly season.” The time of year when idiotic political statements get a prominence they wouldn’t otherwise attract. But even this basic fact of political life cannot explain last week’s grotesque series

When I called for a mid-term review of the Programme for Government (PfG) little did I expect the Taoiseach and Tánaiste to respond as indignantly as if I’d demanded they abstain for a month from foreign travel and soft-focus interviews. But that’s what happened. Opening

I rarely attend Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meetings. Gone are the days when they saw a lively exchange of ideas and suggestion. They are now a listening exercise, with the backbenchers expected to stay in listening mode.   Not that I am missing out on

–  If there is to be a debate on our policy on international defence and security I will advocate strongly for a continuation of our policy of military neutrality –   There are few political topics that can evoke as much raw passion and base

By Willie O’Dea TD – Minister for Defence 2004 – 2010 Last Wednesday the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces was published. It is an excellent piece of work. The Commission members have done the State a great service by avoiding the temptation

I have written to the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health urging them to remove all Covid restrictions by the end of January, as hospital and ICU figures have remained stable as a result of high levels of vaccination and natural immunity. Hospitality businesses should