If we want to end the partition between the Republic and Northern Ireland, then we need to embrace some realistic solutions for the economic future, writes David McCann.
Domestic violence affects women, men, children and our elderly. Victims and their families should have the right to learn about the background of an abusive partner before it’s too late, writes Rita Harling.
A confidential report on a meeting with Neville Chamberlain in 1940 shows the British Prime minister wanted to pass on advice to the then Taoiseach, Eamon de Valera about the threat of Germany.
Having worked in the financial sector, I know arrogant attitudes are commonplace in finance – which is why the Anglo tapes don’t surprise me one bit, writes Carol Redmond.
Increasing numbers of people are reaching for chocolate and crisps in response to stress, sadness or boredom – but what is making us become emotional eaters? asks Roisin Finnegan.
Every year, 25,000 women die in childbirth in Ethiopia, writes Donnacha Maguire, who says money alone will not stop women from dying, only people working together will do that.
Controversy over the United States’ use of drones has grown along with the body count, writes Scott Fitzsimmons and Karina Sangha – who say while drone operators are at minimal risk of suffering physical harm, they risk psychological damage.
After living in Afghanistan, I got to see first-hand what the people of that country go through, writes Noel Scanlon, who says he wishes he could be more optimistic about the country’s future.
With Snowden, Prism and national security secrets in the news, it’s clear that technology has made privacy harder to ensure. Renaat Verbruggen gives a run down of how cryptography can protect your private information.
Even as Education Minister Ruairi Quinn “was doing the right thing on resource hours, he refused to back down on Special Needs Assistants”, writes the FF leader.
George Bush, Margaret Thatcher and Princess Diana are just some of the famous people to be immortalised on film, but is it ever possible to give a balanced portrayal of a person? Darren Mooney writes about the challenging world of the bioepic.
Could the demonstrations in South America’s largest country spread across the continent just like with the Arab Spring, asks Fergal Browne – who says Argentina and Brazil are not all that different.
Let’s move on from the twentieth century, where older people were thought of as dependents. Older people can – and must — contribute to economic growth, writes Michael Hodin.
Until recent years, miscarriage was not something that was spoken about: it was simply brushed under the carpet. But couples should not be afraid to be open about their grief – talking will help them to heal, writes Deirdre Pierce-McDonnell.
What angers me about these telephone recordings is that they are only the tip of the iceberg, writes Aaron McKenna, who says a banking investigation is needed now.
A forward and outward looking European Union is what we need, writes Dominic Hannigan TD, who says national parliaments should have an enhanced role in shaping the future of the EU.
The decision whether or not to have children is one of the most important decisions of your life, writes relationship counsellor Tony Moore, who says he is amazed at how many couples do not have the discussion.
Speaking directly to the next generation of Northern Ireland, like Obama did, is what we need, says David McCann, who writes that it is the duty of younger people to get ready, take charge and drive the agenda forward.
Putting the abuser back in the picture is what we should strive towards, says Margaret Martin, who says society focuses attention and responsibility on the victims of domestic violence rather than the perpetrators.
Just like the UK, Ireland needs to hold a major investigation into the banking sector, writes Aaron McKenna, who says while we all want to see justice, it is not going to be that easy.
Immigrants have become the new enemy, writes Bobby Gilmore – who says if we are not careful protectionism, extreme nationalism, racism, ethno-centrism and exclusion will prevail in Europe.
Forcing doctors to wait to see a ‘risk to life’ rather than just a ‘risk to health’ to a woman when considering performing an abortion could result in it becoming too late, write Dr Mary Favier and Dr Ciara Flynn.
After the boom-years, people are wondering if there is an alternative system that might work better, writes Órla Ryan, who says worker co-operatives might be just what we’re looking for.
I have a lot of time for the Taoiseach, but his leadership has been autocratic and even authoritarian in a representative democracy and I find this unsettling, writes Larry Donnelly.
We should be thinking about how we are going to solve Ireland’s problem with suicide -and the first step is trying to communicate, writes Dr Gary McDonald.
There is common ground to be found between pro-life and pro-choice people, writes Lisa McInerney, but plastic foetuses and death threats are eroding it.
Ireland has never seemed intolerant to me but recent instances of racism and intolerance in the news has me questioning whether I am right, writes Aileen Donegan.
The Irish agricultural sector supports 300,000 jobs and €9 billon in exports, but the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) proposals will inflict serious damage on thousands of farmers, writes Niall Madigan.
Former inmates are among those gathering to fight capital punishment at a world congress event that begins today, but Kirstin Houle from Texas says theirs is a daily struggle they know they will win.
The introduction of a bill that would ban people convicted of serious offences from being appointed as a special advisor to a minister in Northern Ireland has raised more serious questions: who are the victims of the Troubles – and have we forgotten them?
Instead of uniting against this draconian piece of legislation, the unions are operating under a ‘me fein’ attitude that will help no one, writes Kieran Allen.
One in three Irish people watched the Royal Wedding in 2011 and now the world is waiting with bated breath to see if the heir to the British throne will be a boy or a girl, but why do we care, asks Aoife O’Connor.
Using the summit as an opportunity to vent frustrations with protests could be damaging and will only distract the international media from the many positives of Ireland’s recovery, writes Samuel Brazys.
“Mary” has been living in Ireland since 2004 and says she can’t imagine her life anywhere else. Here, she explains what it’s like to live under the constant fear of deportation.
Having your child diagnosed with a developmental or learning disability is a life-changing decision for parents. Carol Coffey discusses some things concerned parents should consider ahead of an assessment.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS faced mounting criticism over its messaging around Covid-19 restrictions, particularly in the last few days.
Our political correspondent Christina Finn writes that the confusion about how the government plans to handle the next phase of the pandemic was not just about mixed messages, but also about plain old bad communication.
She breaks down the numerous bumps for government communications in recent days here.
Government themselves are not as convinced. Taoiseach Micheál Martin told reporters last night that he didn’t think the government had a problem with communicating a clear plan, while Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said this morning that if there have been any failures “we have to accept responsibility for that”.
Today we’re asking: Do you think government communication around Covid-19 restrictions has been clear in recent weeks?