The circling of the wagons on Barry Cowen’s driving misdemeanours was to be expected. But the government needs to be able to deal with worse problems if it is to survive

The contest for the party leadership won’t help the Greens to adjust to the pressures of governing in a crisis

A future of hard economic and social choices looms, and voters’ priorities have changed utterly since the general election

Universal Basic Income, a four-day week and other flexible options are among the initiatives the government should consider to help heal the economy

The state can’t possibly meet the demands of every sector hit by the virus – especially when we don’t know what a post-Covid world will look like

Any review of actions taken before and during the pandemic is likely to result in major policy changes, while recovery is likely to be slow and arduous

The risk of information overload and spreading panic in this crisis is real. But telling us the facts, even when things go wrong, will only strengthen public trust in those leading the fight against Covid-19

As negotiations between the parties move at a snail’s pace and the coronavirus crisis escalates rapidly, there is one obvious – if short-term – solution: the formation of a national government

With EU pressure on agriculture, corporation tax and climate action coming to a head and Britain’s commitments on the North under question, delays in government formation could prove costly

The party’s fuzzy promise of change struck a chord but some of its flagship policies are unlikely to survive coalition talks

It’s not just that parties will end up having to negotiate with other parties or political groups, the rise in populism worldwide shows the real dangers inherent in auction politics

Cathal Mac Coille recalls a conversation with the North’s former deputy first minister at a low point in the Troubles

The brouhaha over the proposed event to remember the controversial police force shows the importance of careful, considered planning – and keeping politics out of it

Marian Finucane’s career both symbolises real changes in the status of Irish women and helped to advance them

Voters backed an elected mayor in 2019, but the details surrounding this radical decision – which could significantly alter local government in Ireland – are still unclear

The critical issue of funding public service broadcasting has been kicked down the road with yet another report to be delivered next September, almost certainly after a general election

Jeremy Corbyn is right: Amazon paying more tax would be of greater benefit to society than its boss making donations to the projects of his choice

Unlike many others, the Galway TD Noel Grealish made his misleading statement about Nigerian immigrants in the Dáil, where its inaccuracy could be easily revealed

The burning of Martin Kenny’s car outside his home indicates a worrying British-style disconnect between people and politicians

The small carbon tax hike in last week’s budget looks like little more than virtue signalling, and it feeds public cynicism about the government’s willingness to take real action on climate change