Dan O’Brien | Business Post

Dan O'Brien

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Dan O’Brien: We could find ourselves put over a barrel by Britain in a gas crisis

Ireland depends on Britain for the bulk of our gas supply and we must not assume that in a crunch, Boris Johnson would not hesitate to put Britain first and cut the supply to Ireland

Dan O’Brien: Census confirms that reports of the death of rural Ireland are greatly exaggerated

While the populations of other European countries are declining, Ireland is bucking the trend with every one of the 26 counties recording growth far in excess of the EU average

Dan O’Brien: What if we asked multinationals to add to the national housing stock?

The multinational sector, which is high-wage and high-value added, is another source of accommodation demand so asking multinationals who seek permits to add to the housing stock is not an unreasonable request

Dan O’Brien: Export earnings don’t tell full story of Ireland Inc’s reliance on tech and pharma

Ireland now earns more from exports than Italy, a G7 economy – but multinationals are massive earners for us, which may leave us vulnerable

Dan O’Brien: Germany caught between Russia, China and a hard place

It is no exaggeration to say that Germany’s reputation as a reliable partner has been damaged as badly as Britain’s has been by Brexit

Dan O’Brien: What’s causing the inflation crisis if profiteering isn’t the culprit?

Core inflation in the US, where government intervention was excessive, has been rising at twice the rate of the eurozone

Dan O’Brien: Can the European Central Bank hold its nerve against the economic headwinds?

Northern Ireland

Dan O’Brien: It’s considered heresy to say this, but the Good Friday Agreement has never lived up to expectations

If the outcome of the Northern Ireland elections is considered a success for reconciliation then one has to wonder what failure would look like

Dan O’Brien’s quarterly economic outlook: Some cause for optimism even as war adds to inflation shock

High inflation, consumer fears, demands for public service pay increases and concerns over energy shortages next winter all make for an uncomfortable outlook

Dan O’Brien: The main reason to join Nato is the most obvious one – safety

Finland and Sweden, two peaceful Ireland-sized nations, are making moves to join Nato – and there are few good reasons why we shouldn’t join too

Dan O’Brien: It’s make or break for France to now become the first among equals in Europe

With Britain damaged by Brexit and Germany undermined by missteps on Russia, France has a golden opportunity to lead Europe. But will it take it?

Dan O’Brien: What has led to the explosive rise in support for Sinn Féin?

The answer could lie in the algorithms of social media platforms which have become generators and amplifiers of anger, driving followers to blame anything and everything on the politicians in power

Dan O’Brien: Suddenly, we are living in a world where risk is everywhere

International conflicts earlier this century hardly registered at all with the Irish economy. But with energy prices driving inflation and food prices rising even before the outbreak of war in Ukraine, it’s different this time

Dan O’Brien: The world faces a dangerous stand-off between democracy and autocracy

Greater European insecurity, changes to energy policy and a radical increase in political risk for businesses are among the long-term consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, regardless of when and how the conflict ends

Dan O’Brien: We can no longer ‘gamble on peace’ or free-ride on the security efforts of others

Ireland should move to maximise the security and defence of its citizens, which is the first duty of the state, in a world that has suddenly become more dangerous

Dan O’Brien: End of acute Covid period finds Ireland’s economy in encouragingly rude health

Despite the geopolitical uncertainty, the challenges of inflation and energy, as well as the ongoing impact of the pandemic, the forecast for the economy is upbeat

Dan O’Brien: Thirty years on from The End of History, the world appears to be facing a democratic recession

Francis Fukuyama’s influential 1992 work The End of History proposed that liberal democracy had triumphed over the ‘isms’ of the 20th century. But today liberal democracy faces three challengers: the authoritarian right, the illiberal left and non-democratic regimes imposing themselves on others

Dan O’Brien: When it comes to the inflation crisis, I’m on ‘team transitory’

With the worst of the European winter mostly behind us, demand for energy should fall back in the usual seasonal pattern. Provided war in eastern Europe does not disrupt energy imports, energy prices should move back towards longer run averages in the months to come

Dan O’Brien: Protocol is the last piece of the Brexit puzzle for the next British leader

A new prime minister taking office without Europe as a major issue could result in British politics settling down quickly — and the focus turning to Northern Ireland

Dan O’Brien: A number of ifs and buts could yet cloud Central Bank’s rosy forecast

The outlook for a return to normal appears comparatively good, but Omicron’s impact has the potential to squeeze global economic activity throughout 2022