John Downing

Seán Mac Stíofáin and wife Máire at a press conference at the Ormond Hotel in July 1975

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The IRA 'deceiver' accused of tipping off authorities about arms shipment

There have long been strong hints that Seán Mac Stíofáin, first chief of staff of the Provisional IRA, used to "talk to the guards" regularly. These were publicised after his death, aged 73, in May 2001.

Call: Seán Haughey wants security files from 1970 released. Photo: Tom Burke

Release all files on IRA leader Seán Mac Stiofáin, urges Fianna Fáil TD Seán Haughey

Fianna Fáil TD Seán Haughey says the time has come to release all security files relating to the first commander of the Provisional IRA, Seán Mac Stiofáin.

The main spotlight today was on Boris Johnson’s announcement of new Covid-19 restrictions. Photo: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/PA Wire

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Brexit Briefing: As Boris Johnson's controversial legislation goes to the next stage, a German government minister warns London to 'stop the games'

As focus moves increasingly towards a “minimalist” EU-UK trade deal by the deadline at the end of the year, we take a look at the today’s Brexit developments around Europe.

Pitch invasion: Damage to the synthetic turf at Oliver Bond flats. Photo: Mark Condren

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John Downing Opinion Lockdown breaches demand action - but carrot would help more than stick

We are at a curiously contradictory place in our dealings with the ferocious Covid-19 virus. All of Dublin has been put into lockdown and tighter restrictions have extended all across the six counties of Northern Ireland.

Working it out: Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe’s Budget 2021 will be unlike any we’ve seen before

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John Downing Opinion Brace yourselves for a 'survive now re-pay later' Budget to manage Covid and Brexit

Time has come to ban a range of overused Covid-19 terms like "strange times" and "a big day like no other". The latter one of these is interchangeable, applicable to the sublime, such as "a Derby Day like no other", down to the more banal level of "a Pancake Night like no other".

Onwards: Micheál Martin led the process of building up the party. Photo: Brian Lawless

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John Downing Opinion Martin avoided the feared fate of becoming the first Fianna Fáil leader never to have been Taoiseach. Now he is at serious risk of becoming the last ever Fianna Fáil Taoiseach

Seán Lemass wanted to call the new organisation simply the "Republican Party" - but Eamon de Valera successfully argued that his baby be called "Fianna Fáil". The wily Lemass, who did so much to get the organisation a presence in every half-parish in the nation, got his suggestion into the second line.

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Brexit Briefing Roundup: From Joe Biden’s intervention to Boris Johnson stepping back from the brink (just a little), what you may have missed on the Brexit front this week

Another mad Brexit week gave Ireland a few reasons for hope – and many reasons to fear the worst.

Tough work: Taoiseach Micheál Martin's Government has been hit by a Covid-19 resurgence. Photo: Gareth Chaney/Collins

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John Downing Opinion Government's clumsy messages have fuelled 'them and us' divide

The quintessential 'Dub' of the 1950s and 1960s, Brendan Behan, liked to say: "A 'culchie' is a Dubliner's father."

Britain's Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab. Photo: Peter Nicholls/PA

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Brexit Briefing: Johnson gets a ‘Stateside broadside’ as he tries to calm the home front – but Ireland is preparing for the worst

Irish interests: Boris Johnson hopes to seal a rapid US-UK trade deal, but there are significant political obstacles in his path. Photo: PA

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John Downing Opinion Irish-America still 'packs a punch' despite British hopes to the contrary

Dominic Raab appears to have got out and about a lot more since he horrified many people in November 2018 by admitting he "had not quite understood the full extent to which the UK relied upon the Dover-Calais" freight link.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Photo: PA

Brussels looks to British Lords to put a stop to Boris Johnson’s treaty-breaking

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson continues to ship scathing criticisms – but his plan to break an EU treaty and change Northern Ireland’s special trade status is marching on.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

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Brexit Briefing: Pressure mounts on Boris Johnson – but he still has the parliamentary numbers so this law will march on

The Brexit focus moves to London this week as MPs debate Boris Johnson’s move to change Northern Ireland’s special trade status.

‘Events’: Micheál Martin has experienced a series of political mishaps since he became Taoiseach. Photo: Domnick Walsh

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John Downing Opinion Martin and Co must up their game or FF is on slippery slope to being political history

Micheál Martin could be forgiven for succumbing to the Monday blues today - just pulling that duvet back over his head and staying in bed. Critics might say it would not be such a bad political strategy on grounds that it could do least harm.

Deadline: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson intends to break the EU Withdrawal Agreement. Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

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John Downing Opinion Treaty breaks take us back into our dark days of history

When he got a few jars, my late father liked to tell us: "We always went to Béal na Blath, you know - we just didn't go there the same Sunday as the Blueshirts."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

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Brexit Briefing: Seven key moments from a crazy week of negotiations

Seven days ago Brexit talks were just deadlocked. Then Boris Johnson unveiled plans to flout a done-deal on Northern Ireland and all hell broke loose. Here’s a swift look-back at what took place.

Hard talk: EU lead negotiator Michel Barnier leaves EU House in London yesterday. Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

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John Downing Opinion This time the risk of a no-deal calamity is far more real as furious Brussels plays hardball

The EU will play hardball with Boris Johnson - and Brussels is serious about international legal action.

Breaking agreement: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the House of Commons, London, yesterday. Photo: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/Handout via REUTERS

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Brexit Briefing: Dublin and Brussels strongly critical of Boris Johnson’s move to break Withdrawal Agreement

EU and Irish leaders are watching carefully to see Boris Johnson’s next move. If he persists with plans to break an international treaty guaranteeing the North’s special EU-UK status after Brexit, a no-deal calamity will become unavoidable.

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John Downing Opinion UK is playing such a dangerous game that Ireland must let world know what's at stake

Ere the ink wherewith 'twas writ could dry. Like my classmates, all of us barely 10 years old, I committed that strange phrase to memory without much understanding of its meaning. Many decades later it stays lodged in the back of the head along with chunks of the Memorare, the words of Tantum Ergo, and strange mathematical formulae as Gaeilge.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Taoiseach Micheal Martin are seen at Hillsborough Castle
Brian Lawless/Pool via Reuters

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Brexit Briefing: Amid UK moves to unravel the Withdrawal Agreement, are we going backwards towards calamity?

After months in the Covid-19 shadows Brexit is moving again – but it’s going backwards. Here’s an update on all you need to know.

Mairead McGuinness at home in Co Meath. Photo: David Conachy

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Mairead McGuinness profile: The 'Do It Now' principle, becoming one of Europe's big-hitters and an Irish presidential tilt?

Mairead McGuinness sets a lot of store in what she calls the ‘Dinny’ principle. It’s a playful adaptation of the acronym for “Do It Now”, and it has driven much of her career in journalism and politics.

Simon Coveney. Photo: Gareth Chaney/Collins

Brexit talks on the brink as UK breaks EU deal

The UK government will today unveil a new draft Brexit law which it has openly admitted will breach an EU agreement aimed at guaranteeing "no border" in Ireland.

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Mairead McGuinness profile: The 'Do It Now' principle, becoming one of Europe's big-hitters and an Irish presidential tilt?

Mairead McGuinness sets a lot of store in what she calls the ‘Dinny’ principle. It’s a playful adaptation of the acronym for “Do It Now”, and it has driven much of her career in journalism and politics.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin and UK prime minister Boris Johnson elbow bump in Belfast

Taoiseach urged to tackle Boris Johnson over threat of UK U-turn on Border

Taoiseach Micheál Martin is under pressure to directly tackle UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson over increasing signs London may renege on Brexit arrangements on Northern Ireland that have already been agreed.

Palace of Westminster, London. Stock picture

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Explainer: Four years after UK voted Leave what is happening with Brexit, and will it all be over by Christmas?

It's been four years since the UK voted to leave the EU. As talks resume again today, here is a refresher course to bring you up to speed.

Stinging criticism: Former Taoiseach John Bruton has criticised the Irish Government and the EU for their handling of Phil Hogan. Photo: Tom Burke

John Downing Opinion Bruton is rarely wrong on EU issues, which is why the Taoiseach should be concerned

The Bible tells us "the meek shall inherit the earth - provided that's all right with the rest of you". Well all right, the evangelist Matthew only wrote the first part of that quote.

Former Taoiseach John Bruton. Photo: Tom Burke

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Government overstepped the mark in Phil Hogan case, says John Bruton

John Bruton has criticised both the Government and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for their handling of Phil Hogan's case.

Careful what you wish for: Simon Coveney had been tipped to take on a role with the EU Commission. PHOTO: Frank McGrath

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John Downing Opinion There are real jobs, poor jobs and jobs which are irrelevant

There are nominally 27 EU Commissioners - but the brutal reality is that little more than a dozen of these have 'real jobs' with either a decent budget and/or a real role.

'I will miss Hogan,' says Barnier as he issues tough warning to UK over trade deal

EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has said he "will miss" Phil Hogan - as he delivered a blunt warning to London about the no-deal risk.

The EU and Irish flags flying outside the European Commission in Brussels. Photo: Reuters

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John Downing Opinion In this long-distance chess game between Dublin and Brussels on replacing Phil Hogan there is only one kingmaker

There is a strange long-distance chess game going on between Dublin and Brussels focused on picking a replacement for Phil Hogan. And this chess game has compounded the already messy political wrangling going inside the three-party Coalition.

'I will miss Phil Hogan' - Barnier pays tribute to ex-EU commissioner as he warns UK on Brexit trade deal

There will be no long-term EU-UK trade deal after Brexit happens on December 31 unless London begins real negotiations from next week on, Michel Barnier has warned.

John Downing

The IRA 'deceiver' accused of tipping off authorities about arms shipment

Release all files on IRA leader Seán Mac Stiofáin, urges Fianna Fáil TD Seán Haughey

Brexit Briefing: As Boris Johnson's controversial legislation goes to the next stage, a German government minister warns London to 'stop the games'

John Downing Opinion Lockdown breaches demand action - but carrot would help more than stick

John Downing Opinion Brace yourselves for a 'survive now re-pay later' Budget to manage Covid and Brexit

John Downing Opinion Martin avoided the feared fate of becoming the first Fianna Fáil leader never to have been Taoiseach. Now he is at serious risk of becoming the last ever Fianna Fáil Taoiseach

Brexit Briefing Roundup: From Joe Biden’s intervention to Boris Johnson stepping back from the brink (just a little), what you may have missed on the Brexit front this week

John Downing Opinion Government's clumsy messages have fuelled 'them and us' divide

Brexit Briefing: Johnson gets a ‘Stateside broadside’ as he tries to calm the home front – but Ireland is preparing for the worst

Brussels looks to British Lords to put a stop to Boris Johnson’s treaty-breaking

Brexit Briefing: Pressure mounts on Boris Johnson – but he still has the parliamentary numbers so this law will march on

John Downing Opinion Martin and Co must up their game or FF is on slippery slope to being political history

John Downing Opinion Treaty breaks take us back into our dark days of history

Brexit Briefing: Seven key moments from a crazy week of negotiations

John Downing Opinion This time the risk of a no-deal calamity is far more real as furious Brussels plays hardball

Brexit Briefing: Dublin and Brussels strongly critical of Boris Johnson’s move to break Withdrawal Agreement

John Downing Opinion UK is playing such a dangerous game that Ireland must let world know what's at stake

Brexit Briefing: Amid UK moves to unravel the Withdrawal Agreement, are we going backwards towards calamity?

Mairead McGuinness profile: The 'Do It Now' principle, becoming one of Europe's big-hitters and an Irish presidential tilt?

Brexit talks on the brink as UK breaks EU deal​

Mairead McGuinness profile: The 'Do It Now' principle, becoming one of Europe's big-hitters and an Irish presidential tilt?

Taoiseach urged to tackle Boris Johnson over threat of UK U-turn on Border

Explainer: Four years after UK voted Leave what is happening with Brexit, and will it all be over by Christmas?

John Downing Opinion Bruton is rarely wrong on EU issues, which is why the Taoiseach should be concerned

Government overstepped the mark in Phil Hogan case, says John Bruton

John Downing Opinion There are real jobs, poor jobs and jobs which are irrelevant

'I will miss Hogan,' says Barnier as he issues tough warning to UK over trade deal

John Downing Opinion In this long-distance chess game between Dublin and Brussels on replacing Phil Hogan there is only one kingmaker

'I will miss Phil Hogan' - Barnier pays tribute to ex-EU commissioner as he warns UK on Brexit trade deal

Brexit talks on the brink as UK breaks EU deal