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# explainer - Monday 21 May, 2012

Explainer

Censored: The 274 books and magazines still banned in Ireland today

Mon, 7:00 AM 10,749 Views 32 Comments

How To Drive Your Man Wild in Bed is still banned in Ireland. Here’s why.

# explainer - Sunday 20 May, 2012

Local Governent This post contains a poll

Explainer: Does Dublin need a directly-elected mayor and how likely is it?

Sun, 8:00 AM 1,999 Views 19 Comments

It has been suggested for years, it even came close to happening two years ago but what chance a Boris Johnson or a Micheal Bloomberg for Dublin and Ireland’s other cities. TheJournal.ie investigates…

# explainer - Sunday 13 May, 2012

Explainer

Explainer: How election posters work – and which party has the best

13/05/12 3,684 Views 46 Comments

What messages are the posters trying to send? And what’s the point of them anyway? TheJournal.ie answers all your questions.

# explainer - Saturday 12 May, 2012

From Business ETC Banking

Explainer: How can JP Morgan lose $2bn in less than six weeks?

12/05/12 4,595 Views 20 Comments

There has been some alarm and many questions as to how America’s biggest bank lost so much money.

Explainer

Ireland is becoming a hub for Islamic finance – but what exactly is it?

12/05/12 5,805 Views 58 Comments

Ireland has seen a massive growth in Islamic finance in recent years – but Irish banks still don’t offer Islamic banking to Ireland’s Muslims.

# explainer - Monday 7 May, 2012

Explainer

Want to own a piece of Facebook? Here’s how to do it

07/05/12 7,454 Views 27 Comments

Sometime this month, 337 million shares will be up for grabs when the world’s biggest social network floats on the stock market. But be warned: it may be hard to get a hold of them.

# explainer - Sunday 6 May, 2012

Explainer This post contains videos

Roe v Wade, Obamacare and Super PACs: US election terms explained

06/05/12 1,847 Views 3 Comments

Blue State or Red State, No Child Left Behind and Grover Norquist. What do these terms mean and who are these people? TheJournal.ie explains…

# explainer - Saturday 28 April, 2012

Behind The News

Ireland and abortion: the facts

28/04/12 6,165 Views 64 Comments

TheJournal.ie takes a look at the current laws, constitutional rights, past legal challenges and the situation in other jurisdictions.

# explainer - Sunday 22 April, 2012

Opinion

Column: I knew my company had to get online – here’s how I did it

22/04/12 9,172 Views 19 Comments

It can be tough for small businesses to figure out how to set up a web presence, writes Peter Faulkner – especially if you’re not convinced by just Facebook and Twitter.

France

L’explainer: The candidates and issues in the French presidential election

22/04/12 1,792 Views 13 Comments

France goes to the polls today in the first round of voting for the country’s next president. Can Nicolas Sarkozy secure a second term or will he be replaced in the Élysée? TheJournal.ie looks at the candidates and the issues…

# explainer - Tuesday 17 April, 2012

From Business ETC Who Are Ya

Six things to know about the new president of the World Bank

17/04/12 3,545 Views 9 Comments

He was a quarterback in school, has a medical degree from Harvard – and what’s his link to Arcade Fire?

Behind The News

Explainer: how the Norwegian courts operate

17/04/12 3,242 Views 10 Comments

Why do officials shake hands with the accused? What is a lay judge?

# explainer - Saturday 14 April, 2012

Titanic100

Who owns the Titanic, and who can dive at the wreck?

14/04/12 6,314 Views 9 Comments

TheJournal.ie has been looking into issues surrounding the Titanic disaster 100 years after the ship struck an iceberg and sank on its maiden voyage.

# explainer - Friday 6 April, 2012

From Business ETC Explainer This post contains audio

After the global financial crisis, why are rating agencies still trusted?

06/04/12 2,653 Views 14 Comments

Credit rating agencies were widely criticised in the aftermath of the financial crisis in 2008 but they continue to hold huge sway when it comes to sovereign ratings. Now the EU is looking to curb that influence. TheJournal.ie investigates…

# explainer - Saturday 31 March, 2012

Household Charge

Planning NOT to pay the household charge today? Here’s what to do

31/03/12 14,194 Views 126 Comments

So you’re liable for the household charge but you’ve decided you’re not going to pay? Here’s a few things you might want to do instead.

Explainer

Planning to pay the household charge today? Here’s what to do

31/03/12 9,023 Views 31 Comments

Today is the deadline for paying the household charge. Decided you want to pay but not sure what to do? Here are your options.

Civil Partnerships

Transgender woman becomes first to enter Irish same-sex partnership

31/03/12 4,629 Views 27 Comments

Transgender people can currently only enter same-sex civil partnerships if their new gender was registered in another country.

# explainer - Monday 19 March, 2012

Translated

Translated: The Fiscal Compact rewritten in layman’s terms Exclusive

19/03/12 11,605 Views 49 Comments

We’ve translated the treaty, sentence by sentence, to try and make the document easier to read for the general public.

# explainer - Sunday 18 March, 2012

Explainer

Why has the world not intervened in Syria?

18/03/12 3,317 Views 28 Comments

A number of Middle East experts tell TheJournal.ie why Syria is not Libya.

# explainer - Saturday 3 March, 2012

Explainer

How much have fuel prices risen in Ireland recently – and why?

03/03/12 8,112 Views 44 Comments

The cost of petrol has risen to a record high of more than €1.60 per litre- and tensions between Iran and the EU mean there’s little chance of a slowdown any time soon.

# explainer - Saturday 25 February, 2012

Gender

Explainer: Gender Identity issues

25/02/12 3,014 Views 52 Comments

This week, a controversial advert was pulled from many Irish television stations after complaints it was “deeply transphobic”. Here, we take a closure look at the issue of gender identity.

# explainer - Monday 6 February, 2012

Irish Law This post contains images

Twenty years on: a timeline of the X case

06/02/12 7,402 Views 78 Comments

On its 20th anniversary, TheJournal.ie takes a look back at one of the most controversial and closely-followed legal battles in Irish history.

# explainer - Sunday 29 January, 2012

Explainer

Explainer: How can ministers sign laws without Dáil approval?

29/01/12 4,325 Views 50 Comments

How come some laws – like the ‘Irish SOPA’ – can be signed into law without being passed through the Oireachtas? We explain.

# explainer - Wednesday 25 January, 2012

Solar Storm This post contains videos

Explainer: Can a solar storm cause any damage?

25/01/12 3,243 Views 5 Comments

A large solar flare earlier this week has caused the largest solar radiation storms to hit Earth since 2003. But what does that mean?

# explainer - Sunday 22 January, 2012

Behind The News

Explainer: Why are Tibetan monks setting themselves on fire?

22/01/12 4,138 Views 19 Comments

In the past year, sixteen former Tibetan monks or nuns have died by suicide after setting themselves on fire. But why?

# explainer - Thursday 19 January, 2012

Explainer

How could the Costa Concordia be salvaged?

19/01/12 8,294 Views 7 Comments

The ship’s size, danger of leaking fuel and damage to the hull are all factors to consider when working out how to move the Costa Concordia.

# explainer - Tuesday 17 January, 2012

Take 5

The 5 at 5: Tuesday

17/01/12 4,483 Views No Comments

5 minutes, 5 stories, 5 o’clock…

From The Score FAQ

Explained: The GAA’s move to tackle ‘illegal’ manager payments

17/01/12 410 Views 3 Comments

Senior county officials will meet on Saturday to discuss ways to solve the manager payment controversy. Here’s our Q&A guide to what it’s all about.

From The Daily Edge Explainer This post contains videos

Get it right: the guide to Britain and Ireland

17/01/12 19,264 Views 121 Comments

Simply brilliant.

# explainer - Monday 16 January, 2012

Explainer

The story behind the giant banner on St Stephen’s Green

16/01/12 13,552 Views 14 Comments

You may have seen the picture of Abdulhadi Al Khawaja – but do you know why a three-storey-high banner of him is hanging from a building in the centre of Dublin?

Explainer

Reddit, Boing Boing plan website blackout over SOPA – but what is it?

16/01/12 5,576 Views 12 Comments

A number of high-profile sites are ‘going dark’ this Wednesday over proposed anti-piracy legislation.

# explainer - Sunday 15 January, 2012

Behind The News

Explainer: What is/Who are the Taliban?

15/01/12 3,149 Views 27 Comments

The Taliban – terrorist group or political entity?

# explainer - Thursday 22 December, 2011

Explainer

So why did the air raid siren just go off around Dublin’s southside?

22/12/11 7,823 Views 13 Comments

Are you near Dublin’s city centre? Did you hear it? We found out what it was.

# explainer - Tuesday 13 December, 2011

Explainer This post contains videos

Explainer: So what’s this Higgs boson thing all about?

13/12/11 4,896 Views 7 Comments

Confused by all this talk about the ‘god particle’? Us too. So we’ve put together the best explainer videos IN THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE to try and er, explain it all…

# explainer - Friday 16 September, 2011

From Business ETC Explainer

Explainer: If Greece goes bust, who gets crushed?

16/09/11 2,156 Views 8 Comments

Take a look at who is the most exposed when it comes to the possibility of a Greek default…

# explainer - Thursday 11 August, 2011

Extradition

Extradition process in Europe made easier

11/08/11 159 Views 1 Comment

The justice minister has published a bill which makes it easier to extradite suspected criminals to Norway and Iceland. Includes an explainer about Ireland and extradition, and look at some recent high profile cases…

# explainer - Friday 5 August, 2011

From Business ETC Explainer

Explainer: Why are the markets in chaos, and should you be worried?

05/08/11 2,618 Views 10 Comments

Here’s everything you need to know about today’s worldwide fall on stock exchanges.

# explainer - Tuesday 5 July, 2011

What The Frack?

Everything you ever needed to know about fracking

05/07/11 3,215 Views 23 Comments

‘Fracking’ could soon begin in Ireland after sparking angry protests all over the world. So what’s all the fuss about – and what is it?

# explainer - Thursday 2 June, 2011

Mobile Phones This post contains a poll

Eight ways to reduce the health risks from mobile phone radiation

02/06/11 3,862 Views 5 Comments

The World Heath Organisation has officially classified mobiles as “possibly carcinogenic” after a new international study. Here are some simple steps to cut your exposure to the radiation that may be a danger.

# explainer - Thursday 3 March, 2011

From The Score Tick-tock This post contains videos

Ask not for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for the NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement.

03/03/11 213 Views No Comments

As the deadline looms on the NFL’s crunch money talks tonight Steven O’Rourke slowly explains what it’s all about.

referendum

fiscal compact

NTMA: No access to ESM would mean no access to markets either

Patricia McKenna and Thomas Pringle are both seeking a referendum on the ESM treaty.
Referendum
Large majority of voters in favour of referendum on ESM treaty
Opinion
Vote No: The Treaty will bring the EU together – in economic stagnation
The credit union: an Irish institution
Opinion
Vote Yes: EU funds are like our credit union. Let’s not go to the loan sharks.
your questions
What do YOU want to know about the referendum?

Your say

View more polls
Poll: Are you satisfied with your quality of life?

Poll: Are you satisfied with your quality of life?

A NEW REPORT from the OECD has suggested people living in Ireland have some of the best lives in the world, with Ireland among the top countries in its Better Life Index.

The index finds that life expectancy, low pollution, positive experiences and a healthy work-life balance are among the factors that contribute to happy lives in Ireland.

It did note, however, that the gap between the rich and poor is wider in Ireland than elsewhere, while the gender gap in educational performance is also larger than average.

Today we’re simply wondering whether (assuming you live in Ireland) you’re satisfied with your quality of life.


Poll Results:





Read: How good is life in Ireland?


35
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Read Me

Selected opinions from around the web
David Hall
Column: The mortgage crisis is stoked by mistrust. Here’s how we might fix it.
By David Hall - @davidhall75

Aggressive banks are making mortgage resolution impossible, writes David Hall of New Beginning – and suggests a way to restore trust between lenders and borrowers.

Jim Clarken
Column: ‘Women are digging up anthills for the tiny grains inside’
By Jim Clarken

Children mine for gold in home-made pits, while parents risk their lives for food – Jim Clarken describes the harrowing scenes as a crisis unfolds in west Africa.

Michael Taft
Vote No: The Treaty will bring the EU together – in economic stagnation
By Michael Taft - @notesonthefront

Confidence and stability will be the last things to emerge from this dangerous experiment, writes Michael Taft.

Naoise Nunn
Vote Yes: EU funds are like our credit union. Let’s not go to the loan sharks.
By Naoise Nunn - @naoisen

A Yes to the Stability Treaty will give Ireland access to the ESM, writes Naoise Nunn – and keep us out of a potentially lethal game of chicken.

Seamus Breslin
Column: Parents bringing their children to be kneecapped. Yes, this is Ireland.
By Seamus Breslin

Self-styled republican vigilantes are terrorising a city, writes Seamus Breslin – and perceived neglect by authorities is fuelling the fire.

Mike Morris
Column: Another Priory Hall is coming down the tracks. Here’s why.
By Mike Morris - @nyderoleary

Phil Hogan is planning to introduce new regulations which are meant to make for better buildings. He’s making a major mistake, writes Mike Morris.

Jane Suiter
Column: Who are the winners and losers in the referendum campaign right now?
By Jane Suiter - @JaneSuit

With nine days to go before referendum day, Dr Jane Suiter of UCC analyses the parties and the latest polls to see how the campaign is playing out.

Micheál Martin
Column: Job creation is too important for party politics. Let’s work together.
By Micheál Martin

Writing for TheJournal.ie, Micheál Martin explains why Fianna Fáil’s new plan to tackle youth unemployment should be seriously considered.

Lisa McInerney
Column: National pride or bald-faced bigotry? Maybe neither, or both.
By Lisa McInerney - @SwearyLady

Being proud to be Irish is sometime looked on as a social gaffe, writes Lisa McInerney, but that’s not always fair… and it’s not always the best way to figure out who really is racist…

Lynn McDonald Byrne
Column: Some talk about the ‘magic’ of childbirth. To me, it was horrific.
By Lynn McDonald Byrne

For new mothers, the pressure can be so overwhelming it makes you ill. Lynn McDonald Byrne describes her experience of postnatal depression.

From BusinessEtc

HP Ireland: job losses will impact ‘every business and region’ HP Ireland

HP Ireland: job losses will impact ‘every business and region’

Shareholders file lawsuit over Facebook flotation
Facebook
Shareholders file lawsuit over Facebook flotation
Applause in auction room as woman buys back brother’s repossessed home
Irish auction
Applause in auction room as woman buys back brother’s repossessed home

From The Daily Edge

Caption competition: What are Enda Kenny and David Cameron talking about? Buds

Caption competition: What are Enda Kenny and David Cameron talking about?

Weatherwatch: temperatures over 20°C, sunshine staying for the weekend
Weather
Weatherwatch: temperatures over 20°C, sunshine staying for the weekend
VIDEO: Phew, that was a close one…
Lucky Escape
VIDEO: Phew, that was a close one…
Download the TheJournal.ie Android App

From The Score

I’ll play it cool at the Euros, Mario Balotelli warns Ireland Euro 2012

I’ll play it cool at the Euros, Mario Balotelli warns Ireland

Rushe: Dubs don’t have discipline problem
Capital Account
Rushe: Dubs don’t have discipline problem
Luke Donald craves maiden Major title
Golf
Luke Donald craves maiden Major title

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News in Photos

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  • In pictures: Fun in the sun… and it’s like this all week
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  • Seven dead, thousands homeless, after Italy earthquake (Pics)
  • In pictures: Ireland squad’s first full training session

News in Video

  • Mental health services inadequate, prisons below standards – Amnesty
  • Referendum roundup: 8 days to go
  • The Daily Fix: Wednesday
  • VIDEO: Is this what you imagined when you read The Great Gatsby?
  • VIDEO: DJ Prince Charles hits the decks, spins some tunes
  • Referendum roundup: 9 days to go
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