We can significantly increase current spending and still remain within the Government’s fiscal parameters. Just increase, not cut, tax revenue. This money could be redirected into significant reductions in cost-of-living, childcare fees and child-poverty. tinyurl.com/2s4er22m

What is the Point of the Summer Economic Statement

The only point of the Summer Economic Statement is to provide four numbers: 1. The total fiscal package for 2027 will be €8.5 billion 2. Current (day-to-day) spending will rise by €5.9 billion 3. C…

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We can significantly increase current spending and still remain within the Government’s fiscal parameters. Just increase, not cut, tax revenue. This money could be redirected into significant reductions in cost-of-living, childcare fees and child-poverty: tinyurl.com/2s4er22m

What is the Point of the Summer Economic Statement

The only point of the Summer Economic Statement is to provide four numbers: 1. The total fiscal package for 2027 will be €8.5 billion 2. Current (day-to-day) spending will rise by €5.9 billion 3. C…

tinyurl.com

CEO pay increased by nearly 10% last year. Should be no complaints if workers put in similar pay claims. CEO pay in Ireland in 2025: One executive earned $237m www.irishtimes.com/business/202...

CEO pay in Ireland in 2025: One executive earned $237m

Bank bosses all received pay hikes while Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary recently extended his contract with a big package of share options

irishtimes.com

Last call for Tressell Tickets Saturday in the RDS, Ireland’s premier political and union festival is happening. Tickets here: www.eventbrite.ie/e/robert-tre...

Despite claims to the contrary, Irish personal tax rates for middle-income earners are not high. In fact, they are at the lower end of the EU. We need an evidence-based debate. If the middle is being squeezed, it is not tax that is doing the squeezing: tinyurl.com/mtjh6mzc

Setting the Record Straight on Personal Taxation

You know we’re getting closer to budget day.  Misinformation and ill-informed commentary about tax rates proliferate.  In particular, the claims that middle-income earners are highly-taxed, more th…

tinyurl.com

Despite claims to the contrary, Irish personal tax rates for middle-income earners are not high. In fact, they are at the lower end of the EU. We need an evidence-based debate. If the middle is being squeezed, it is not tax that is doing the squeezing. tinyurl.com/mtjh6mzc

Setting the Record Straight on Personal Taxation

You know we’re getting closer to budget day.  Misinformation and ill-informed commentary about tax rates proliferate.  In particular, the claims that middle-income earners are highly-taxed, more th…

tinyurl.com

The Irish haulage sector is a low-productivity, low-investment, and ultra-low waged sector compared to our EU peer group. Instead of reforming it, the Government is subsidising poor performance. We need to negotiate and plan a productive haulage sector: tinyurl.com/53rwvpn9

Subsidising Inefficiency

The economy benefits from productive companies:  investment, wages, pricing and environmental sustainability.  In times of crisis they are more resilient with fiscal buffers, reliable sources of ca…

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The Irish haulage sector is a low-productivity, low-investment, and ultra-low waged sector compared to our EU peer group. Instead of reforming it, the Government is subsidising poor performance. We need to negotiate and plan a productive haulage sector. tinyurl.com/53rwvpn9

How do you spend €500 million on an energy support package to so little effect? You have to really, really try.

The Taoiseach wants to cut capital gains tax. This is yet another example of ‘doing-something-so-that-you’re-seen-to-be-doing-something’. It will have little impact on the productive economy but it will be expensive, wasteful, unnecessary, and regressive. tinyurl.com/mrx8kc2e

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, Taoiseach Micheal…

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The only thing keeping a weakened US economy afloat is AI capital spending (mostly data centres). What happens if the AI bubble bursts? To the US economy? And the Irish economy?

Progressives should oppose regressive cuts in VAT and Excise as part of a household energy support package. A combination of a new electricity credit and social protection measures would be far more progressive. We need evidence-based policy making. tinyurl.com/y3exyxt3

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 to help househo…

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Progressives should oppose regressive cuts in VAT and Excise as part of a household energy support package. A combination of a new electricity credit and social protection measures would be far more progressive. We need evidence-based policy making: tinyurl.com/y3exyxt3

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 to help househo…

tinyurl.com

We can’t control global prices. But we can introduce energy price accountability with new powers to allow the Regulator to end price-gouging and opportunistic pricing. A little bit of democracy could help a whole lot. tinyurl.com/5e9ytbub

We can’t control global prices. But we can introduce energy price accountability with new powers to allow the Regulator to end price-gouging and opportunistic pricing. A little bit of democracy could help a whole lot. tinyurl.com/5e9ytbub

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 any num…

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New substack: politics is not about cosy debates or soundbites on silly TV shows. It’s about conflicts of interest. chrisdillow.substack.com/p/economic-g...

Economic growth as social change

Raising economic growth requires the government to defeat some vested interests.

chrisdillow.substack.com

If employment is a good indicator of economic health, we might be getting a bit under the weather. The private sector generated no new net jobs in the last year and overall job growth is falling towards zero. We need to debate how to maintain job growth: tinyurl.com/6dap783e

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 of looking in the rear-view mirr…

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If employment is a good indicator of economic health, we might be getting a bit under the weather. The private sector generated no new net jobs in the last year and overall job growth is falling towards zero. We need to debate how to maintain job growth. tinyurl.com/6dap783e

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 of looking in the rear-view mirr…

tinyurl.com

Solidarity to the people of Minnesota and the fantastic turnout in opposition to ICE. #ICEOUT

A most insightful piece here from @ingridrobeyns.bsky.social Recommended reading @ciarannugent.bsky.social @michael-taft.bsky.social

Jane A.@jane-in-progress.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Every goddamn word of this ⬇️ "Economic inequality is at the heart of all humanity’s major problems, but the wealthiest refuse to confront a system that benefits them." www.theguardian.com/global/2026/...

Progressive parties and civil society groups should jointly campaign to force the Government to abandon any visit to the White House on St. Patrick’s Day. This would highlight Ireland’s support for the international rule of law: tinyurl.com/2fy9hfvz

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 gain fro…

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Progressive parties and civil society groups should jointly campaign to force the Government to abandon any visit to the White House on St. Patrick’s Day. This would highlight Ireland’s support for the international rule of law. tinyurl.com/2fy9hfvz

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 gain fro…

tinyurl.com

This shows the function of "independent" regulation. It is not to improve the working of an industry, but to allow the government to avoid responsibility.

Adam Bienkov@adambienkov.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Keir Starmer's spokesman tells me that X and Grok's creation of sexual deepfakes of children is "completely unacceptable" but again won't commit to taking direct action against them, or to stop posting there. Says "all options are on the table" but suggests it's a matter for Ofcom, not Government

Amazing. Not only did the Irish Government fail to condemn the US attack on Venezuela, it didn’t even mention the US in a statement released by the Minister for Foreign Affairs. tinyurl.com/ytjw82vy

Electricity credits? VAT cuts? Means-tested payments? The best way to reduce electricity costs for low/average income groups way is to provide every household with a minimum amount of free electricity. Don’t tinker with price markets. Reshape them: tinyurl.com/4v4x5zbv

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 intervention [el…

tinyurl.com

Electricity credits? VAT cuts? Means-tested payments? The best way to reduce electricity costs for low/average income groups way is to provide every household with a minimum amount of free electricity. Don’t tinker with price markets. Reshape them. tinyurl.com/4v4x5zbv

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 intervention [el…

tinyurl.com

The perverse logic of Government’s immigration policy: it points to the benefits that immigrants bring to the economy. Then it says there are too many immigrants. And if you point out this contradiction, you're accused of wanting to close down the debate! tinyurl.com/r3s9myka

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 …

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The perverse logic of Government’s immigration policy: it points to the benefits that immigrants bring to the economy. Then it says there are too many immigrants. And if you point out this contradiction, you're accused of wanting to close down the debate! tinyurl.com/r3s9myka

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 …

tinyurl.com

🚨 One in every 22 homes in Ireland is either vacant or derelict. GeoDirectory Residential Buildings Report Q2 2025: 🏚️80,328* VACANT homes 🏚️19,821* DERELICT dwellings #DerelictIreland #HousingCrisis In my visualisation, red blocks represent some of the Derelict and Vacant Sites in Dublin City.

Interesting critical take on new housing strategy in today’s @independent.ie by john mccartney‬⁩