Irish living standards are now closer to the bottom of the EU-15 countries than to the top; they are closer to Greece than to Germany or Belgium or the UK…

Previously, I discussed the assertions that rising housing costs were caused by over-paid construction workers.  It wasn’t true but that never stops some commentators from trying to find blame –…

The affluent are blessed in their champions.  They have a myriad of commentators fighting their corner.  In the Sunday Independent Colm McCarthy, discussing the benefits or otherwise of a third…

What are we to make of the two headlines this morning?  First, from the Irish Times: ‘Work pays better than welfare for most unemployed, ESRI finds’ And then there’s this…

Do we spend too much on healthcare?  The EU Commission seems to think so.  In their country-specific recommendations for Ireland they state: ‘Even though Ireland has a relatively young population,…

Basic Income is being discussed more and more.  It will be discussed at this weekend’s Basic Income Ireland seminar.  Basic Income is a weekly payment from the state to every…

Remember back to the renegotiation of the debt repayments on the Anglo-Irish promissory note last year?  Amidst the sound of champagne corks popping we were told we would get a…