Aaron McKenna: How we all missed the week’s biggest story
Roisin Shortall’s resignation dominated the news this week – which may be a relief for some in Government.
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Aaron McKenna: Political ideology is preventing Ireland’s economic salvation
WE’RE NOW LESS than a year off the local and European elections, the traditional practice lap before a general election when local candidates in particular jockey for their position on a ticket come the big day. You shouldn’t be surprised, then, to start seeing the Declan Ganleys and Michael McDowells of this world starting to tentatively and brazenly dip their toes in the water of national politics.
Aaron McKenna: Enda is the darling of Time – but there’s trouble in Fine Gael
A proxy war is under way against the Taoiseach from within his own party, writes Aaron McKenna.
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Aaron McKenna: Whatever will we do about all those job-taking immigrants?
THERE ARE SOME 50,000 people in-country illegally, working for cash under the table whilst driving taxis with rented plates, waiting tables in restaurants and serving pints from behind bars; or working in factories and construction. They don’t pay any income or social insurance taxes, nor do their employers; but they make use of publicly provided services just like everyone else, from public parks and clean streets to emergency medical care and the protection of the police. They cost the state about €21,500 per year per household, or €430,000,000 in lost taxes and unpaid for social benefits
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Aaron McKenna: It’s time for a conversation about how local government spends our money
AS IS THE fashion in government administration, there exists a quango to help oversee the bureaucracy of local government through the clever creation of further bureaucracy. The Local Government Management Agency seems to spend a great deal of its time acting as a sort of PR agency for local authorities, talking up their achievements and contributions to the national good. One of their reports points out that between 2008 and 2012, local government managed to achieve cumulative savings of €830 million
