Opinion

Friday 21 September 2018

Obstacles: A wounded Palestinian is evacuated during a protest in the northern Gaza Strip calling for lifting the Israeli blockade on Gaza. Photo: REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Tánaiste must tread tightrope if we're to help promote peace in Middle East

Palestinian President Abu Mazen, better known in the West as Mahmoud Abbas, is visiting Ireland and is meeting, amongst others, President Michael D Higgins and, my former colleague, Foreign Minister and Tánaiste Simon Coveney.

Kiss of the outsider woman: EC President Jean-Claude Juncker greets British Prime Minister Theresa May in Salzburg. Photo: JOE KLAMAR/AFP

John Downing

Chaos: With time nearly up, our own worst-case preparations look belated

Since the waking nightmare of that early morning of June 24, 2016, when we learned UK voters had opted to quit the EU, we have often been told the Irish Government is "preparing for the worst and hoping for the best" when it comes to Brexit.

'The biggest threat to security is thinking there is no threat, and that is the logic that now leaves Ireland vulnerable.' Photo: Frank McGrath

Comment

Comment: Loss of experienced personnel is leaving us vulnerable

Since 1922 our Army, Air Corps, Naval Service and our Reserve Defence Forces have never flinched in unquestioning respect and loyalty to our citizens, our country and our government.

Workmen deal with a fallen tree on Finglass Road by Glasnevin Cemetary, Dublin as Storm Ali has made itself felt across the country. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Comment

Paul Melia: Storm 'fatigue' means people only act on risk when seeing red

Another autumn, another storm, and Ali left its mark on the nation in the most profound way.

Once Britain leaves, Ireland will still have tax allies, but none of the stature of the UK

John Downing

Analysis: Ireland will still have allies, but none of the stature of UK

Ireland has worked in a sea of shifting alliances over its 45 years in the various manifestations of the European Union.

Comment

Bairbre Power: How the softly-spoken 'Queen of Print' invaded every aspect of our lives

The horrified reaction from loyal fans to the news the Orla Kiely business empire was in trouble speaks volumes about the appeal of the Dubliner who earned the moniker the 'Queen of Print' and picked up an OBE from Queen Elizabeth along the way.

Ruth Dudley Edwards

I say victim, you say perpetrator - a twisted version of facts

I'm rejoicing that the brave and dogged Mairia Cahill has been vindicated, that the PSNI Chief Constable has apologised "unequivocally for the hurt and distress" caused by policing failures...

Sinn Fein tried to conceal a cover-up - the apology to me is not enough

Gene Kerrigan

When democracy wears a black mask

The new Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, issued a statement last week on the events involving his Public Order Unit - those are the lads with the big batons and the masks. It was a transparently silly statement, but he had to say something in a hurry.

Labour’s Jan O’Sullivan. Photo: Tom Burke

Colm McCarthy

Why councils are unable to tackle housing

Asked to describe the housing situation quickly to an important visitor from Mars, you would have to be succinct: people in and around the city of Dublin cannot afford to buy or rent houses and apartments, unless they have unusually high incomes.

Irish teenagers’ literacy levels are now close to the top globally (stock picture)

Dan O'Brien

Ireland's education story has been good - but some are still losing out

Ireland's education system has plenty of problems - at all levels. But there is much more that is good than bad across the system. Nothing illustrates this better than the fact that Ireland has one of the highest rates of third-level attainment in the world. More than half of young people entering the workforce have degrees of some kind as...

Mairia Cahill pictured in north Belfast this weekend. Photo: Jonathan Porter

Opinion

Sinn Fein tried to conceal a cover-up - the apology to me is not enough

In December 2013, when Micheal Martin first raised my case, though I was anonymous at the time, Pearse Doherty responded angrily when asked if he knew if the republican movement had investigated cases of abuse.

Most Read
Most Shared

Chaos: With time nearly up, our own worst-case preparations look belated John Downing

Tánaiste must tread tightrope if we're to help promote peace in Middle East Comment

Analysis: Ireland will still have allies, but none of the stature of UK John Downing

I say victim, you say perpetrator - a twisted version of facts Ruth Dudley Edwards

Why councils are unable to tackle housing Colm McCarthy

Farmer convicted after 40 dogs found chained and neglected on property Courts

Major row breaks out over TD letting slip 2019 Ploughing Ploughing Championships

Get Ready for It - Take That bringing Greatest Hits Live to 3Arena with special... Music News

5 September 2010; Tipperary manager Liam Sheedy near the end of the game. GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Final, Kilkenny v Tipperary, Croke Park, Dublin. Picture credit: Paul Mohan / SPORTSFILE

Liam Sheedy set for stunning Tipp return as Premier county turn to All-Ireland-winning... Hurling

'Was that a smart comment? Don't you silence me' - two presidential Presidential Election 2018

The Daily Digest

Don't Miss

Comment: The onus should not be on women to find ways to avoid rape News

Editor's Choice

Chaos: With time nearly up, our own worst-case preparations look...

Since the waking nightmare of that early...

Comment

Tánaiste must tread tightrope if we're to help promote peace in Middle East

Palestinian President Abu Mazen, better known in the West as...

U.S. Supreme Court nominee judge Brett Kavanaugh. Photo: Reuters

The truth about Kavanaugh claims is that we may never know

I believe something happened to Christine...

Thank the stars for the day date, says Bill Linnane. Stock photo

Bill Linanne: 'To hell with nights out - the day date is the salvation of parents'

There comes a point in every parent's life when...

Good clean fun: Sean Esmonde from Carlow at the National Ploughing Championship in Screggan, Co Offaly, yesterday. Photo: Steve Humphreys

Irish farming could follow the UK down the Brexit rabbit hole

'If you don't know where you're going, any...

More than a name: When Unionists flirted with 'Carsonia'

The game is up: Roy Keane and the same old story

Europe: the Final Countdown

Comment: Land Development Agency must consider bigger picture - not only housing

Comment: It is time to let the people have their say on the Church’s involvement in education

Eilish O'Regan: Report raises issues but victims still wait to learn who failed them

Columnists

Chaos: With time nearly up, our own worst-case preparations look belated

Since the waking nightmare of that early morning of June 24, 2016,...

Taking the hump over Trump

Our indignation that Donald Trump was coming to Ireland was...

Terrifying people can themselves be terrified

We have spent a considerable portion of the last few weeks discussing the...

Pope Francis, pictured arriving at Dublin Airport greets Archbishop Eamon Martin, during his recent visit to Ireland. Photo: David Conachy

Will the Pope's fresh vision give us hope?

On Tuesday, it is Independence Day in Chile. This important...

Tánaiste must tread tightrope if we're to help promote peace in Middle East

Chaos: With time nearly up, our own worst-case preparations look belated

Comment: Loss of experienced personnel is leaving us vulnerable

Paul Melia: Storm 'fatigue' means people only act on risk when seeing red

Analysis: Ireland will still have allies, but none of the stature of UK

Bairbre Power: How the softly-spoken 'Queen of Print' invaded every aspect of our lives

I say victim, you say perpetrator - a twisted version of facts

When democracy wears a black mask

Why councils are unable to tackle housing

Ireland's education story has been good - but some are still losing out

Sinn Fein tried to conceal a cover-up - the apology to me is not enough

Chaos: With time nearly up, our own worst-case preparations look belated John Downing

Tánaiste must tread tightrope if we're to help promote peace in Middle East Comment

Analysis: Ireland will still have allies, but none of the stature of UK John Downing

I say victim, you say perpetrator - a twisted version of facts Ruth Dudley Edwards

Why councils are unable to tackle housing Colm McCarthy

Farmer convicted after 40 dogs found chained and neglected on property Courts

Major row breaks out over TD letting slip 2019 Ploughing Ploughing Championships

Get Ready for It - Take That bringing Greatest Hits Live to 3Arena with special... Music News

Liam Sheedy set for stunning Tipp return as Premier county turn to All-Ireland-winning... Hurling

'Was that a smart comment? Don't you silence me' - two presidential Presidential Election 2018

The Daily Digest

Don't Miss

Comment: The onus should not be on women to find ways to avoid rape News

The original Trip to Tipp: 1990 was the year of the first Féile - when the Irish summer would be altered forever Festivals

Exclusive 'Total nightmare' - students tell of health problems in 'mouldy' €1,000-a-month luxury apartment Irish News

'Can it happen again? Sure it can!' - experts say another financial crisis will happen, it's just a question of when Business

20 greatest destinations in Italy – and the best time to visit each one Europe

Look inside Facebook's Clonee data centre: home to 50k bees, renewable energy and the machines that work... Technology

15 best Christmas Markets in Europe - your seasonal city break sorted

While anger over housing boils over, the plight of many tenants continues to be ignored

Reclaim your weekends... this guru tells you how to ensure you don't waste your weekend

Celebrating more than half a century of creating jobs with the inaugural awards for the FDI sector Irish

Editor's Choice

Chaos: With time nearly up, our own worst-case preparations look...

Paul Melia: Storm 'fatigue' means people only act on risk when seeing red

Comment

Tánaiste must tread tightrope if we're to help promote peace in Middle East

The truth about Kavanaugh claims is that we may never know

Bill Linanne: 'To hell with nights out - the day date is the salvation of parents'

Irish farming could follow the UK down the Brexit rabbit hole

More than a name: When Unionists flirted with 'Carsonia'

The game is up: Roy Keane and the same old story

Europe: the Final Countdown

Comment: Land Development Agency must consider bigger picture - not only housing

Comment: It is time to let the people have their say on the Church’s involvement in education

Eilish O'Regan: Report raises issues but victims still wait to learn who failed them

Columnists

Chaos: With time nearly up, our own worst-case preparations look belated

Taking the hump over Trump

Terrifying people can themselves be terrified

Will the Pope's fresh vision give us hope?

Brendan O'Connor: Here is the one secret of how to give less of a damn

Victims of this scandal deserve an end to spin

Mary Kenny: Dearest stepmum!

The best response to anarchists? Why, mockery, of course

Ian O' Doherty: If you need quotas then you don't deserve the gig in the first place

Comment: Micheál's boxed into a corner - so he'll just have to fight his way out

Letters

Trapped by inheritance tax

Magic of puppet masters

People of faith do not deserve ridicule

My church ought to choose reconciliation

Adams shows no concern for past

Is Trump listening to voices of reason?

Pope deserves warm welcome from us all

Please think again, Ryanair

Stop bashing Brexit Brits

Line gives help to combat loneliness

Editorial

Politics a decade after the crash

Trump visit and the right to protest

It's important for debates to be held

Actions will be test of new covenant

Growing menace of anti-social crime

Let in the light on President's office

Frictionless border solution on track

Ireland should be UK's friend, not foe

Europe must act on migration crisis

Ireland must push for Brexit deal