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When farming changed forever: the MacSharry reforms and why they still matter 2021-05-29

Phil Lynott sadly passed away 35 years ago this week. The occasion is being marked by the release of a touching documentary on the iconic rocker’s life and a gentle charity remix of his iconic Dublin solo classic Old Town. Inspired, no doubt, by Thin Lizzy’s The Boys Are Back in Town, the Fianna Fáil dynasty boys were dreaming about returning to command. It seems it’s time to take back control in Fianna Fáil. Micheál Martin is a bit too fuddy-duddy for the lads, who want a new lead singer for the band. Barry Cowen wants a new leader in place for the next general election, preferably...

The first week of 2021 and the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) didn’t waste any time getting in early with a sizeable bond issue. The Irish state was one of the first out of the traps in Europe (along with Slovenia) to hoover up around €5.5bn of free money. Yes, that’s right. Not just cheap money to plug deficits in the state coffers this year, but at a negative interest rate. Ultimately, the bond buying programmes from the ECB running across the Eurozone have underpinned the bond market and allowed Ireland to borrow at unbelievably low interest rates. It is a case of better ...

I find it amusing when I read or hear the media reporting Brexit updates from what are described as Irish negotiators. Let’s clear that misconception up first. The word negotiators is when two or more parties are in discussion with each other. This is not the case with these negotiations. Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney and his team are in the wings waiting with baited breath for the crumbs Ursula von der Leyen and Michel Barnier decide to throw them when they have concluded the talks. I have no doubt a deal will be done but it will not be good news for us.

The patrician businessman Hugh Coveney was appalled to learn in 1994 that the reason the EU talks would continue all night was because they did not start until 5.30pm. It was December and the Cork chartered surveyor turned politician had been appointed defence and marine minister in John Bruton's rainbow coalition just days earlier. Hugh Coveney, the late father of Simon Coveney who is now very familiar with Brussels' unique ways, was about to learn how EU fishery talks were conducted, with an all-nighter absolutely mandatory to garnish the inevitable dawn announcement: "Well, we got the very...