Colin Murphy: In law, we are closer to house arrest than a 5km limit
Covid-19 restrictions say you should not leave home at all ‘without reasonable excuse’ – a rule that‘s broader than it need be, is widely misunderstood and of dubious effectiveness
Susan O’Keeffe: Gardaí and teachers are on the frontline and deserve early vaccines
Both groups put themselves at risk every day to keep society functioning, but they have received little by way of appreciation
Analysis: Lockdown fatigue grows but majority do not want to ease restrictions
Some 85 per cent of the public say current response to Covid-19 is either appropriate or does not go far enough
Comment: How the FAI could have avoided the lasting damage of Videogate
In any potential crisis, speed, sincerity, and ownership of the facts are all key, yet another important element is ensuring the tone of the response is proportionate
Latest lockdown news is deflating for everyone, but there is an end in sight
People are frustrated by the continuing level 5 restrictions and fear of another lost summer, but the vaccine rollout is gathering pace
O’Brien, the reluctant media tycoon, is finally free to focus on his telecoms business
After selling the last of his media assets, Denis O’Brien can now turn his attention to Digicel, the telecoms network he created, and its heavy debt load
Deirdre Heenan: DUP is digging itself deeper with challenge to protocol
A disingenuous and ill-advised legal wrangle will only highlight the fact that Northern Ireland is a place apart
We cannot trade with China without challenging abuse of human rights
Political differences must not stop the international community from standing up to the Chinese Communist Party and its undemocratic and dangerous actions
Concept of free trade and fair trade will stand or fall with new WTO boss
Nigerian economist Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has her work cut out to tackle the current backlash against the principles for which the World Trade Organisation stands
Transparency law will shine a light on Ireland’s role in the global tax games
A new EU law will force large multinationals to reveal where they make their profits and pay taxes. It was a strategic blunder for Ireland to align itself with the other three nations who opposed the legislation
Emer McLysaght: That time my friend phoned me from George Clooney’s loo, and other stories
Irish people are very good at being two degrees of separation from almost every famous person on planet Earth
Nadine O’Regan: Mr Potato Head bows to change to make everyone feel welcome
The toy controversy shows that we’re getting better at making our language inclusive, but old attitudes still remain
Fine Gael may be benefiting from a lack of ‘acceptable’ alternatives
Fine Gael is maintaining its support, despite growing anger over the handling of the lockdown, while Fianna Fáil and the Greens are bearing the brunt of voter frustration
Brian Keegan: When it comes to the regulation of big tech, local may trump global after all
The ‘go it alone’ approach by Australia in the row with Facebook challenges the OECD line that ‘together is better’ when it comes to taxation
Bauer’s purchase of O’Brien’s radio empire is shake-up time
The German publishing and broadcasting company Bauer Media which has bought the Communicorp stable of radio stations is likely to energise a moribund Irish radio industry that has, nevertheless, managed to hold onto its listeners
Matt Cooper: Making lockdown decisions based solely on public health is the wrong treatment plan
The criteria on which we reopen our economy cannot exist in isolation from economic issues. We have already had the longest lockdown of any EU, or western, nation by far
Comment: Innovative approach needed to tackle housing crisis
Policymakers must remove barriers for first-time buyers, increase housing supply and invest in the rental market
