John Downing

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A vaccine cert may deliver sun, sea and sangria – but Ireland isn’t keen

Irish people battling the lockdown blues would love a blast of Mediterranean sun, sea and, er … sangria sooner rather than later. EU Covid vaccine certificates – now being demanded by sunspots Greece, Spain, Malta, among others – might do that.

Embattled Micheál Martin urgently seeks reassurance on Covid vaccine supplies at EU leaders’ online summit

Embattled Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, has urgently sought reassurance on Covid vaccine supplies at an EU leaders’ online summit.

Nursing home residents and workers, who have received the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, attend a special theatre show in Madrid, Spain. Photo: Reuters/Sergio Perez

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John Downing Opinion AstraZeneca woes fuel EU leaders’ worry over timely vaccine supply and putting an end to lockdowns

Persistent doubts about AstraZeneca vaccine supplies continue to feed perilous “vaccine nationalism” – which in turn raises anxieties for Ireland’s only hoped-for path out of this seemingly endless lockdown.

DUP leader Arlene Foster. Photo: Steve Humphreys

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John Downing Opinion DUP pumps up the volume and the rhetoric in case against NI protocol

The volume has gone up and the battle is going to the courts and the political hustings with a battle pledged to be fought in Belfast, London and Brussels.

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John Downing Opinion The politics of pub opening hours may look dead – but they are merely sleeping

The English have some of the best pubs in the whole world. Sadly, they are usually closed.” The words of the late great sportswriter Con Houlihan can be too easily transposed to our the pint lovers’ slough of despondency.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin flanked by Transport Minister Eamon Ryan (left) and Tánaiste Leo Varadkar at a press briefing in Government Buildings. Photo: JULIEN BEHAL PHOTOGRAPHY

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John Downing Opinion It is time for the new pandemic plan to be unveiled to a weary but resigned people

We have to ruefully acknowledge that the ones who successfully argued for “saving the economy” and “giving back hope to the people” have got it wrong – not once, but twice.

Education Minister Norma Foley. Photo: Frank McGrath

Doubts grow over Junior Cycle June exams as talks continue on Leaving

There is increasing doubt over the running of the Junior Cycle written exams in June, as difficult talks continue on finalising options for Leaving Cert students.

Olympic medallist Egan wants drugs cash spent on protecting youngsters

Olympic silver-medallist boxer, Kenneth Egan, wants the Government to ring-fence cash seized from criminal drug barons and use it exclusively for programmes to keep vulnerable youths away from addiction.

‘No repeat of EU error on the Irish border deal’- Brussels has pledged

There will be no repeat of the EU debacle of botched efforts to seal the Border, Irish EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness has said.

A sign opposing the border checks at Larne. Photo: Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne

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Five reasons why Johnson’s ‘buy now, pay later’ Brexit puts the Border into play again

Long after a big election win in December 2019, the blustering slogan ‘Let’s get Brexit done’ is still UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s guiding principle on the issue. But unless London wakes up to the need to honour its legal and political commitments to the EU, grave damage will be done all around.

Maros Sefcovic is set for talks with UK Brexit minister Michael Gove. Photo: PA

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John Downing Opinion The renewed EU-UK Brexit spat brings big risks for access to EU markets

Now here’s one from the cold comfort department: Brexit’s fallout will remain with us long after Covid-19 recedes dimly into the most unpleasant corners of our collective national memory.

Martin tells UK and ‘big beasts of EU’ to ‘dial it down’ over Irish Border

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has warned Ireland “risks becoming collateral damage” in a renewed and bitter EU-UK dispute over Northern Ireland’s special trade status under Brexit.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Photo: AP Photo/Francisco Seco

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John Downing Opinion Five key things we need to know after Ursula von der Leyen nearly says sorry

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addressed the European Parliament yesterday, where she offered her first public explanations of her Irish border Brexit blunder and why the EU is so slow at rolling out Covid-19 vaccines. Here are five things we learned:

Ursula von der Leyen said mistakes were made on Border issue. Photo: Reuters/Johanna Geron

Von der Leyen apologises for botched Border move ahead of new Brexit peace talks

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has publicly said she “deeply regrets” mistakes made in the botched decision to seal the Irish Border in a vaccine supply row.

European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen. Photo: Francois Walschaerts/Reuters

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John Downing Opinion Border gaffe means VDL is now shorthand for ‘Very Damaged Leader’

Ever since her surprise arrival in Brussels in the summer of 2019, Ursula von der Leyen, has been known by her initials, VDL.

Eamon Ryan, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Taoiseach Micheál Martin shortly after the Coalition had been agreed. Photo: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

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John Downing Opinion Coalition partners need to pull together for Ireland or voters will have their revenge

This very day 12 months ago we had a general election. But we have not had a “proper government” since then – despite facing the biggest challenges in the State’s history.

The former old-style communist now monitoring the Irish Border battle

The fate of Ireland’s Border in the renewed post-Brexit spat rests to a large degree with a former old-style East Bloc communist from Slovakia who is now a vice-president of the EU Commission.

Britain's prime minister Boris Johnson. Photo: Reuters

All sides appeal for calm to allow for talks to fix EU–North trade deal issue

Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney has appealed to Arlene Foster to take “a pragmatic approach” to the Northern Ireland Brexit protocol to find a solution “that works for everyone”.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Photo: Olivier Hoslet/Pool Photo via AP

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Why Brexit and the Border still have politicians at each others’ throats

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has raised the stakes in the revived Brexit row over EU and UK trade with Northern Ireland. John Downing answers all your key questions about the latest crux.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks with Phil Hogan on December 4, 2019. Photo: Getty Images

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John Downing Opinion No Irish EU official was consulted before the Northern border clause was triggered

Simon Coveney is a man who will rarely use one word where three dozen can be poured in. But he was momentarily lost for words when asked a tricky question this week.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson with DUP leader Arlene Foster, whose party has called on Mr Johnson to invoke Article 16. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

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John Downing Opinion Let’s not get dragged into a dreary Brexit rematch involving vaccine nationalism

It was a serious error by people in the higher end of the EU Commission who are paid to know much better. More usually, tricky calls involving a member state are run past that country’s commissioner.

Veteran broadcaster Tommie Gorman is to retire after four decades as a reporter

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John Downing Opinion ‘The snoots in Dublin openly doubted Tommie Gorman’s intellectual credentials – he proved them wrong’

HOW did we know Tommie Gorman was in Paris? Well, that was easy, his car was the one parked right under the Arc de Triomphe.

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From Marc MacSharry's KKK gaffe to Simon Harris and '18 other Covids': Political ‘Covid clangers’ raining down from all sides

When Mary Lou McDonald gets on the Taoiseach’s case about the lack of “an all-island Covid-19 approach” it’s tempting to ask: “Great idea, Mary Lou – do you know anybody in government in Belfast we could ring?”

Social Democrat co-leader Catherine Murphy has called for mandatory quarantine for people travelling into Ireland. Photo: Tom Burke

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Opposition clamour for tougher sanctions over Covid-19 is beginning to gain ground

The noise in the current debate around new anti-Covid-19 actions means it's often hard to hear the message.

“Europe invested billions to help develop the world’s first Covid-19 vaccines," said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. "And now the companies must deliver." Photo: Olivier Hoslet/Pool via Reuters

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John Downing Opinion A bitter EU-UK vaccine war with hallmarks of Brexit grudge rematch won’t help many vulnerable people who urgently need their inoculation

Is Brussels really up to the job of providing Covid-19 vaccines for 450 million citizens across 27 member states?

New deal: US President Joe Biden signs an executive order in the Oval Office yesterday. Photo: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

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John Downing

A vaccine cert may deliver sun, sea and sangria – but Ireland isn’t keen

Embattled Micheál Martin urgently seeks reassurance on Covid vaccine supplies at EU leaders’ online summit

John Downing Opinion AstraZeneca woes fuel EU leaders’ worry over timely vaccine supply and putting an end to lockdowns

John Downing Opinion DUP pumps up the volume and the rhetoric in case against NI protocol

John Downing Opinion The politics of pub opening hours may look dead – but they are merely sleeping

John Downing Opinion It is time for the new pandemic plan to be unveiled to a weary but resigned people

Doubts grow over Junior Cycle June exams as talks continue on Leaving

Olympic medallist Egan wants drugs cash spent on protecting youngsters

‘No repeat of EU error on the Irish border deal’- Brussels has pledged

Five reasons why Johnson’s ‘buy now, pay later’ Brexit puts the Border into play again

John Downing Opinion The renewed EU-UK Brexit spat brings big risks for access to EU markets

Martin tells UK and ‘big beasts of EU’ to ‘dial it down’ over Irish Border

John Downing Opinion Five key things we need to know after Ursula von der Leyen nearly says sorry

Von der Leyen apologises for botched Border move ahead of new Brexit peace talks

John Downing Opinion Border gaffe means VDL is now shorthand for ‘Very Damaged Leader’

John Downing Opinion Coalition partners need to pull together for Ireland or voters will have their revenge

The former old-style communist now monitoring the Irish Border battle

All sides appeal for calm to allow for talks to fix EU–North trade deal issue

Why Brexit and the Border still have politicians at each others’ throats

John Downing Opinion No Irish EU official was consulted before the Northern border clause was triggered

John Downing Opinion Let’s not get dragged into a dreary Brexit rematch involving vaccine nationalism

John Downing Opinion ‘The snoots in Dublin openly doubted Tommie Gorman’s intellectual credentials – he proved them wrong’

From Marc MacSharry's KKK gaffe to Simon Harris and '18 other Covids': Political ‘Covid clangers’ raining down from all sides

Opposition clamour for tougher sanctions over Covid-19 is beginning to gain ground

John Downing Opinion A bitter EU-UK vaccine war with hallmarks of Brexit grudge rematch won’t help many vulnerable people who urgently need their inoculation

John Downing Opinion Ireland will only have role in Biden’s new EU relationship by pushing hard to get space

Government is under pressure to impose more restrictions on travelling here

‘Downgrade’ of EU’s UK mission a risk to Irish ‘Brexit monitoring’

John Downing Opinion These Covid times offer a chance to think about our past and show some generosity

John Downing Opinion Martin played uphill for 10 full years – but he still looks like he’s leading FF in its final act

John Downing

A vaccine cert may deliver sun, sea and sangria – but Ireland isn’t keen

Embattled Micheál Martin urgently seeks reassurance on Covid vaccine supplies at EU leaders’ online summit

John Downing Opinion AstraZeneca woes fuel EU leaders’ worry over timely vaccine supply and putting an end to lockdowns

John Downing Opinion DUP pumps up the volume and the rhetoric in case against NI protocol

John Downing Opinion The politics of pub opening hours may look dead – but they are merely sleeping

John Downing Opinion It is time for the new pandemic plan to be unveiled to a weary but resigned people

Doubts grow over Junior Cycle June exams as talks continue on Leaving

Olympic medallist Egan wants drugs cash spent on protecting youngsters

‘No repeat of EU error on the Irish border deal’- Brussels has pledged

Five reasons why Johnson’s ‘buy now, pay later’ Brexit puts the Border into play again

John Downing Opinion The renewed EU-UK Brexit spat brings big risks for access to EU markets

Martin tells UK and ‘big beasts of EU’ to ‘dial it down’ over Irish Border

John Downing Opinion Five key things we need to know after Ursula von der Leyen nearly says sorry

Von der Leyen apologises for botched Border move ahead of new Brexit peace talks

John Downing Opinion Border gaffe means VDL is now shorthand for ‘Very Damaged Leader’

John Downing Opinion Coalition partners need to pull together for Ireland or voters will have their revenge

The former old-style communist now monitoring the Irish Border battle

All sides appeal for calm to allow for talks to fix EU–North trade deal issue

Why Brexit and the Border still have politicians at each others’ throats

John Downing Opinion No Irish EU official was consulted before the Northern border clause was triggered

John Downing Opinion Let’s not get dragged into a dreary Brexit rematch involving vaccine nationalism

John Downing Opinion ‘The snoots in Dublin openly doubted Tommie Gorman’s intellectual credentials – he proved them wrong’

From Marc MacSharry's KKK gaffe to Simon Harris and '18 other Covids': Political ‘Covid clangers’ raining down from all sides

Opposition clamour for tougher sanctions over Covid-19 is beginning to gain ground

John Downing Opinion A bitter EU-UK vaccine war with hallmarks of Brexit grudge rematch won’t help many vulnerable people who urgently need their inoculation

John Downing Opinion Ireland will only have role in Biden’s new EU relationship by pushing hard to get space

Government is under pressure to impose more restrictions on travelling here

‘Downgrade’ of EU’s UK mission a risk to Irish ‘Brexit​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ monitoring’

John Downing Opinion These Covid times offer a chance to think about our past and show some generosity

John Downing Opinion Martin played uphill for 10 full years – but he still looks like he’s leading FF in its final act

‘Downgrade’ of EU’s UK mission a risk to Irish ‘Brexit monitoring’