Notes on the Front

Commentary on Irish Political Economy by Michael Taft, researcher for SIPTU

Category: Political Economy

  • Doing Something so that you’re Seen to be Doing Something

    Taoiseach Micheal Martin wants to ‘slash’ capital gains tax. On the front page of the Business Post: ‘Capital gains tax should be slashed to encourage more Irish people to invest,…


  • Searching the Evidence

    Demands for cutting taxes on energy are growing. And the Government appears to be listening. ‘The Taoiseach has strongly hinted that cuts to excise duty on fuel are being considered…


  • Democratic Accountability in the Energy Market

    It’s not as if the Government didn’t have time.  With Covid and subsequent supply-chain interruptions, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the 12-day bombing of Iran last year – there are…


  • Falling Towards Zero

    Minister Peter Bourke was out recently lauding the record of job creation.  However, the Irish Times took a more nuanced approach: ‘ . . . there is a risk here…


  • Abandon Paddy’s Day

    Progressive parties and civil society groups should jointly campaign to force the Government to drop the annual St. Patrick Day’s visit to the White House.  There is almost nothing to…


  • Electricity, Prices and Millionaires

    The Taoiseach recently criticised the demand for new electricity credits.  Addressing Sinn Fein in the Dail: “You want to add another €2 billion to it in terms of a short-term…


  • The Perverse Logic of the Government’s Immigration Policy

    The Government’s narrative is that asylum seekers are a cost that must be reduced – by making Ireland an unattractive place for those seeking international protection.  This ignores that fact…


  • The Affordability Deficit

    We have an affordability deficit.  Even with low unemployment, solid job creation, relatively low inflation and reasonable economic growth, nearly half of households are finding it difficult making ends meet.…


  • Profits and Threats in the Irish Housing Market

    While the VAT cut on food services was farcical, the tax cuts for property developers was insidious. It was framed as necessary measures to increase apartment construction viability.  But the…


  • Some Facts to Help You Survive the Budget

    There is always a lot of noise and numbers in the run-up to the budget.  Here are a few facts that might help you wade through this forest of assertions,…


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Commentary on Irish Political Economy by Michael Taft, researcher for SIPTU