What we would do differently

A constant demand is the need for politics to change to deal with the circumstances that the country is now in. An essential part of this is developing what Fine Gael would do differently to lead our country and economy to better days. This is laid out very clearly by Enda Kenny in today’s Irish […]

Order of Business

Excellent order of business today. This is where Senators bring up any matter of topical interest. It is always the best attended and most interesting part of the day. Several Senators made excellent contributions.

10 Lessons

Just came across a remarkable document. It is called ’10 Lessons About Budget Consolidation’ by Jens Henriksson. It is published by the Brugel Institute and is available here. It is written by one of the chief economic architects responsible for Sweden emerging from a financial disaster in the 1990s to the sound successful economy of […]

Donohoe welcomes bus strike call-off but danger of strike remains

Fine Gael Seanad Transport Spokesman Senator Paschal Donohoe has welcomed the decision by the NBRU and SIPTU to call off their industrial action but said the underlying problems must urgently be addressed by the Government.

Asking the Big Question

I raised on the order of business today the dark question of the solvency of our nation. I did my best to chose my words carefully but feel that I have a responsibility to raise this issue in the Oireachtas. The status and rating of our government debt is an issue that I have raised […]

For Rational Government, Not National Government.

Demands for a national government are now regularly heard. This is where all the main political parties come together to form a single government. In the face of the greatest economic crisis the country has ever faced, it is not difficult to understand why people feel this way.

Policing Plan 2009

I spent the morning with the senior Gardai in our constituency reviewing the Policing Plan for this year. This was an excellent initiative where local representatives and community leaders were briefed on the key policing issues in the area and the Garda plan to address them.

NTL Work in Phibsborough

A number of residents have contacted me about the cable work by Chorus NTL in our area and their plan to do this work on the front of local homes.

Helping Irish High Tech Start Ups

Anybody starting a business now deserves as much help as possible. I organised a dinner with high tech start up entrepeneurs in Leinster House a couple of weeks ago. I got to know this group through an old colleague of mine from Procter & Gamble. Jonathan Ruane was one of the most impressive people I ever met during my […]

Don’t agree with him but……..

Below letter was in the Irish Times yesterday. Don’t agree with it (obviously!). But it did bring a smile. I have always believed in a highly rational model of voting behaviour. People vote according to an expanded model of self interest. Voters decide what is best for themselves and their families and vote accordingly. In […]