How can we get the measure of an Irish economy that defies conventional metrics?
It would be helpful if CSO explained underlying reasons for surprising GDP numbers on publication
State must hold firm on carbon tax, which helps protect the most vulnerable
Policy has effectively been dictated by small group of protesters with little concern for wider impacts on society
Quality public childcare and dependable dads key to boosting fertility rates
Changing position of women in society seen to be closely connected with falling birth rates globally
Temporary excise tax cuts undermine the greening of Ireland’s transport
Fossil fuel price rises on the back of Iran war have delivered surge in EV sales, so why blunt the message?
John FitzGerald: My wife was sceptical, but retrofitting our 1970s semi with a heat pump was a smart move
Not only have we saved on heating bills, but we have dramatically reduced our carbon emissions
The Irish emigrant journey now: Graduate from college, spend 10 years abroad, move home
Last census showed 9% of Irish-born population had come back from living abroad, suggesting a high return rate
Government sums leave little scope for tax cuts in Budget 2027
Vital public investment has too often been sacrificed to protect current services and minimise tax bills
Little evidence that Andy Burnham’s plan to devolve power to the regions will work
While devolution has worked in Manchester, there have been mixed results in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland’s education system fails children from disadvantaged backgrounds
Professor Vani Borooah of the University of Ulster, who died this month, provided vital evidence for policymakers on tackling poverty
State must ensure an adequate return on assets
Whether it is data centres tapping the energy grid of social housing tenants’ rent, the Government needs to manage its balance sheet
Targeted supports more critical amid a gradual economic slowdown
Marginal reduction in IT employment is probably one of the first manifestations of AI influencing the economy
We should halt data centre growth in Ireland unless they use 100% green energy
The optimum location for data centres is where there’s an always-on source of abundant carbon-free energy
Public sector pay must keep pace with private sector trends as population grows and ages
Public sector pay premium has fallen from Celtic Tiger high of 50% to 40% post-crash in 2014, and to 30% by 2021
EU agricultural policy needs to make clear link between subsidies and emissions reductions
There’s been a virtual standstill on tackling greenhouse gas emissions from farming - despite progress generally across society
Speaking English has been central to success of Ireland and its emigrants
On the downside for Ireland, speaking a global language has made us complacent on the need for better language skills