There is more to Sinn Féin’s climate policy than its opposition to the carbon tax or its non-commital stance on the emission cuts needed in agriculture, an in-depth discussion with Lynn Boylan and Darren O’Rourke reveals.
The bizarre use of “Brits out”-type arguments in the debate about foreign investment in forestry ignores the influence of multinationals on Ireland’s tax sovereignty – or the need for the assets funded by overseas capital.
The sectors under the Minister for Transport and Environment Eamon Ryan’s watch are most affected by volatile energy markets. Should it lead to an economic slowdown, he pledges to make up for job losses with employment in retrofitting.
The response to the Commission on Taxation highlights yet again that this government, like the one before it, is not that interested in the sometimes difficult opinions of experts. This is a pity.
The European Parliament’s tax group is visiting Ireland to tackle the use of this country as a base to locate profits “at the expense of taxpayers in Europe,” according to its chair. Sinn Féin’s position in support of current tax policy is part of the equation.
For decades, Government policy has been to outsource social housing to private landlords while telling them that they needn’t bother with common public supply transparency obligations. This is coming back to bite one of their own.
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe could be re-elected unopposed to the highly prized European role. But his candidacy could be jeopardised by a cabinet reshuffle. Given the influence the post brings, the Government must come up with a solution – and fast.
Of the two remaining Oxford-educated candidates for UK Prime Minister, Liz Truss is in the lead. Her reliance on the Conservative party’s hard right will mean a tough line on the Northern Ireland Protocol - though not out of conviction.
The nativist storytellers are increasingly dominant. Stories are powerful. The tribal story especially so. We know this. But like many elsewhere and before us, are we also powerless to resist its dangerous allure?
Like the NASA officials who learned from the Challenger space shuttle disaster, the leaders who set climate targets must deal in a world of reality. Listening to the current debate in Ireland, it seems they are not.
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