Cybersecurity Lucinda Creighton: Ireland cannot afford to be an outlier on TikTokThe EU, Britain and the US have all moved to protect their government institutions from potential Chinese interference via the social media app, yet Ireland is welcoming TikTok with open arms
Housing Lucinda Creighton: Capitulation to SF leaves government afraid to back sensible housing policyFianna Fáil and Fine Gael should have a basic understanding of the need for landlords in the market; instead, they have tried to regulate them out of existence as they look over their shoulder at the opposition
Brexit Lucinda Creighton: Who’d have thought Rishi Sunak was wily enough to get a Brexit deal done?If the British prime minister continues in this vein, he could surprise everyone when it comes to the next general election
Comment Lucinda Creighton: The government’s cost of living package feels more like a giveaway budgetMinisters may regret not taking the advice of the likes of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, which advocated for measures that were temporary and targeted at the most vulnerable
War in Ukraine Lucinda Creighton: Ukraine’s allies may have to cross a military red line to end the warThe Ukrainian government has appealed to Nato to supply fighter jets to help it defeat Russia, and that is something that may have to be contemplated
TRADE Lucinda Creighton: Joe Biden has embraced the worst of Trump’s economic policiesThe US president has been around long enough to know that shutting off America from the rest of the world will not save American jobs, so why is he doing it?
Politics Lucinda Creighton: Leo Varadkar’s early election plan may turn out to be the right oneThe Taoiseach’s indication that he favours an autumn 2024 poll took some by surprise, but it is not as risky as it first appears
War in Ukraine Lucinda Creighton: On Ukraine, the German government is increasingly morally bankruptGermany, Europe’s largest country, should be leading the fight against Russian aggression – instead, Ukrainians are dying as Berlin drags its feet
Politics Lucinda Creighton: Varadkar and Sunak will need serious diplomacy to get a deal on the protocolThe exclusion of Mary Lou McDonald from a meeting last week handed Sinn Féin a propaganda victory; Dublin and London will have to work hard to avoid any similar incidents in what are sensitive and testing times
Politics Lucinda Creighton: Boorish attacks on politicians debase our democratic systemToday’s abrasive political environment is putting some of the best people off becoming involved, which is our collective loss
International Relations Lucinda Creighton: Perfect storm of global crises must be met with a robust and united US-EU front Inflation, energy costs, trade wars and geopolitical problems are likely to remain issues globally in 2023, so Europe and its allies need to shape up
Economics Lucinda Creighton: Ireland is asleep at the wheel as the EU single market is being undoneThe Irish government is alarmingly silent even though we face being hardest hit by the European Commission move to undo the framework that creates a level playing field by prohibiting subsidies to industry across Europe
Europe Lucinda Creighton: Orbán’s selective EU loyalty is about to cost him dearlyThe Hungarian prime minister is pushing back against new EU regulations which make the receipt of funding conditional on adhering to the bloc’s democratic values – but this tactic may not last for much longer
china Lucinda Creighton: The grand ‘deal’ between China’s leader and its citizens is frayingChina’s citizens tolerate restrictions on freedoms in exchange for a thriving economy and increased personal wealth. But with slowing growth and oppressive Covid rules, people are growing restless and Chinese president Xi Jinping may have to change course to secure his position
British Politics Lucinda Creighton: Tories will rue choosing comfort over England’s version of the American dreamUnder Thatcher, the Conservatives were the party of aspiration – but now they favour older, wealthier voters who do not want their taxes spent on housing and health
Russia Lucinda Creighton: Enough of the naivety – we need to take a stand, starting with Russia’s embassy Russia placing 52 Irish officials and politicians on a banned list gives the lie to the belief that Ireland is somehow exempt from being targeted by malign global actors because of our ‘neutral’ stance
US Politics Lucinda Creighton: Biden confounds his critics while Trump’s comeback plan suffers a blowWith a number of Donald Trump’s picks coming unstuck in the US midterm elections, there are many in the Republican Party who will be hoping that the second coming of Trump has been irreparably damaged
Climate & Environment Lucinda Creighton: Thunberg’s fictional claims must be exposed by those who know the truthThe ‘capitalist system’ attacked by the climate activist has in fact improved the lives of people globally beyond recognition – and the developing world has benefited the most
Comment Lucinda Creighton: US midterm elections could signal a bloody rematch of Biden and Trump Republicans may well win Congress and the Senate, weakening Joe Biden and emboldening Donald Trump to engage in a contest that will be more vicious and rancorous than the last
Ukraine Lucinda Creighton: Refugee policy may make politicians feel good, but it fails those in need Last week’s attempt to uproot 138 Ukrainian refugees from Killarney and move them to Mayo without any warning shows that serious policymaking has been replaced with virtue signalling
