Tony O’Brien: The government is emerging at last from its quarantine denial
Mass travel, from the influx of Italian fans after a cancelled rugby match, to Cheltenham, to holiday makers returning from Spain and the ‘meaningful Christmas’ shows a leadership that has been unwilling to learn from cruel experience
Tony O’Brien: It’s time for other ministers to step up and help Donnelly
Even in a normal year, the Department of Health would be under strain – and this is the polar opposite of a normal year
Tony O’Brien: We need a face and a voice to lead the vaccine rollout
Vaccinating the population is a huge and tricky task: giving someone full authority over the enterprise would be a good start
Tony O’Brien: Watt is just what the doctor ordered for Dept of Health
The top civil servant is likely to be a game-changer in the role
Tony O’Brien: Time to tighten borders and rules before it’s too late
An all-island strategy to contain the virus is desperately needed, but parochial political concerns are dictating otherwise
Tony O’Brien: Donnelly has a golden chance to alter our approach to new medicines
The public don’t trust the pharma sector, but this could change when the Covid-19 vaccine rolls out
Tony O’Brien: We need real originality and invention in this time of crisis
A mere €1m in funding for public sector innovation isn’t going to cut it: the government has to step up to the plate
Sláintecare was a vision, never a plan, and it’s way off schedule
Stephen Donnelly needs to act on a meaningful, updated plan for implementing the healthcare reform envisioned in the report
We need a national emergency team for business recovery
The government must be cured of the idea that it understands business sectors better than those who run them
We cannot allow North to drag entire island into a virus vortex
Analysis: Without an all-island agreed coronavirus strategy, it is stupid and unforgivably negligent to leave the border uncontrolled
Analysis: We're on the wrong path to dealing with the virus
Our approach to Covid-19 is characterised by indecision to no one’s benefit
Tony O'Brien: Government has squandered a great chance to get message across
Last week's fiasco was emblematic of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael's failure to communicate a flawed but comprehensive pandemic strategy
Tony O’Brien: Coalition’s success hinges on health, and on budget support for Donnelly
The politics of the budget and the 2021 funding allocation for health will make or break Stephen Donnelly’s tenure as Minister for Health
Coalition has lost dressing room with Covid-19 mixed messaging
Most of us remain willing to do whatever is necessary to protect ourselves and others, but the public’s patience should not be tested
The year in review: The Department of Education is our weakest link
As every other player in society swiftly rose to the challenge of beating Covid-19, those leading the schools system dithered dangerously – and are still dithering
Sex workers marginalised and excluded by culture of censure
Sex trafficking is an affront to human rights, but a group representing sex workers say they were excluded from all discussions on an Irish law enacted in 2017 aimed at tackling the problem but which they say will make it worse
Tony O’Brien: Quarantine rules are hardly worth the paper they’re written on
No government can be expected to get everything right on Covid-19, but the authorities have no margin for error on this one
Selective use of data won’t help healthcare workers – or anyone
The dramatic claims and counterclaims with regard to the rate of Covid-19 infection among our healthcare staff are not helpful. What we need is openness and a willingness to learn
We need clear and deliverable actions on healthcare
The next programme for government must tackle both healthcare reform and ongoing health service operations
Tony O’Brien: Dáil’s Covid response panel makes a mockery of health guidance
Meeting in the historic chamber to practise social distancing still risks the spread of infection