The Irish Times view on Sinn Féin vs the Normans: a cartoonish version of history
The most famous of them, in the English-speaking world at least, was William, Duke of Normandy, better known as William the Conqueror, the 1,000th anniversary of whose birth falls in 2027. To coincide with the occasion, authorities in modern Normandy have initiated an international event, with participation from France, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Channel Islands, Italy, Norway and Denmark.
The Normans reshaped the political order in Sicily and southern Italy, contributed to the emergence of modern France, ended Anglo-Saxon rule in England and, from the 12th century onward, became a powerful force in Gaelic Ireland.
The State's involvement in the commemoration has aroused the ire of Sinn Féin's spokesman on Gaeilge, Gaeltacht and Arts, Aengus Ó Snodaigh, who deems it 'offensive' due to the connection with William, and by extension with the Norman invasion of Ireland which took place a century after the battle of Hastings.
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This seems hard on William, who never showed any interest in Ireland. But it appears that in the eyes of Sinn Féin he is to be blamed for Strongbow, the Statutes of Kilkenny, Cromwell, the Penal Laws, the Famine and last year's 5-0 thrashing of the Republic of Ireland at Wembley.
Such a historical nonsense would be laughable were it not for the fact that it trades in the same chauvinistic victimology that is driving the rise of the extreme right across Europe.
Sinn Féin is usually keen to present itself as a modern, progressive and tolerant political movement. But occasionally the mask slips to reveal a pinched and narrow ethnonationalism that denies the complexity of the past and clings to a cartoonish version of history. It is time for the party to decide which version of itself it prefers.
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Irish Times
3 hours ago
- Irish Times
Ireland economically closer to ‘Boston than Berlin', driven by its young population, notes Ifac report
Ireland is a relatively low-tax, low-spend country compared to its European peers, making it economically closer to Boston than Berlin , but this is driven not by ideology, but by demographics. That's according to a new report by the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (Ifac). It showed that general Government spending as a share of national income was about 40 per cent in the Republic compared to a European average of 49 per cent and a US average of just 38 per cent. However, Ifac noted that 'if Ireland had similar demographics to other high-income European countries, spending on health and old-age social protection would be higher'. READ MORE Ireland has a relatively young population, with fewer people aged 65 and over, which means the Government here spends less on pensions and healthcare than it otherwise would. 'As Ireland's population ages, spending in these areas is expected to rise. This demographic shift will gradually bring Ireland's Government spending more in line with levels seen in other European countries,' it said. The State was also found to have one of the lowest levels of Government tax revenue as a percentage of national income in Europe. The Government here, on average, collects €2,600 less in tax per person than the European average, it said. When excess corporation tax is excluded, this gap increases to €4,700 per person. Did the EU have its hands tied before striking a trade deal with the US? Listen | 23:32 This again aligns the State with other low-tax jurisdictions while making it something of an outlier in Europe. 'At first glance, Ireland appears to be a low-tax, low-spend country relative to other high-income European countries,' Ifac's report said. 'However, this is largely driven by Ireland's relatively young population and strong economic growth. One area where Ireland is already a relatively high spender is healthcare. 'As the population ages, this is likely to rise further, making Ireland even more of an outlier compared to other countries. Education is another area of interest. Ireland spends less than the European average but delivers above-average results. This suggests strong efficiency in education spending,' it said. Ifac noted that the recently introduced savings funds – the Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund – were a step in the right direction and could help 'offset some of these future costs'. 'However, these funds alone will not be able to cover all future spending pressure,' it warned. Central Bank of Ireland governor Gabriel Makhlouf recently warned that Government spending would need to increase by about €265 billion over the next 25 years to pay for an ageing population, more housing and cutting emissions. Separately, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has warned that weaker levels of business investment in advanced countries is now a big threat to global growth. OECD statistics showed that Ireland was one of a host of countries where investment is still, as of 2024, below the trend seen in the pre-financial crisis and pre-pandemic periods. The figures showed the State recorded the steepest drop-off in investment following the pandemic of any OECD country. If corporate spending on new projects and facilities does not pick up, countries will 'not be able to sustain growth', Álvaro Pereira, outgoing chief economist at the Paris-based organisation, told the Financial Times.
Irish Times
3 hours ago
- Irish Times
Letters to the Editor, August 6th: On monitoring public spending, housing solutions and landlords' rent roll
Sir, – Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe, and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Jack Chambers, have announced funding worth billions for Uisce Éireann and the electricity infrastructure, to facilitate housing projects in areas where water and electricity supplies are way behind what is needed. The environment, of course, should be prioritised in all of these ventures. Because of the vast amounts involved, I suggest an independent body be established to scrutinise every cent that is used by Uisce Éireann, the electricity upgrades, the developers and builders and what type of housing is to be built. These accounts should be made public as the projects proceed so that there is no waste of public money – there has been so much waste in the past. We have a right to know how money is spent in all aspects of work promised by the Government. We need accountability and an independent body with real teeth and powers of disclosure would prevent the profiteering that happens all too often in major projects. READ MORE The Government owes it to the people of Ireland that they will not be hoodwinked again by terms like 'Housing For All' – that is obviously a joke in the current emergency. – Yours, etc, KEVIN BYRNE, Bantry, Co Cork. Tackling the housing market Sir, – In his always interesting articles , David McWilliams addresses the housing crisis for the second week in a row (' An answer to Ireland's housing crisis is right behind us ,' August 2nd). He repeats the generally accepted explanation for the crisis, that of an ever-increasing demand outstripping a supply apparently incapable of catching up. He recommends that immigration numbers need to be capped on the demand side and barriers to supply need to be reduced. Few media economists mention the negative effect of corporations and individuals using the housing market to get a better return on investment. Because of the crisis, these investment funds and a significant number of private individuals buy houses because the high rents and rising house prices are a far better option than bank deposits or shares. Until the crisis is over – and currently there is no sign that this is anywhere in sight – we should call on our politicians to pass legislation to the effect that no one could buy a house in which they were not going to live. The removal of the investors and speculators from the demand side of the market would leave more room for people who need to buy homes. The right to private property enshrined in the Constitution is, according to the same Article 43, 'regulated by the principles of social justice'. To paraphrase Mr McWilliams, it is worth greenlighting such a proposal in a crisis. – Yours, etc, LEE HEALY, Ballincollig, Co Cork. Sir, – David McWilliams's column, presents a provocative and timely solution to the housing crisis by promoting 'YIMBYism' – the construction of small homes in back gardens. While I fully understand and share the urgency of the need to increase housing supply, I must caution against uncritically embracing this idea without examining its longer-term environmental and social consequences, especially for cities like Dublin. Garden development may seem like a no-brainer in a crisis, but we must recognise that public urgency should never override sustainability. Dublin already faces significant challenges due to climate change, including increasing flood risks, rising seasonal temperatures, and infrastructure stretched beyond capacity. Gardens are one of the few permeable surface areas left in our urban landscape and replacing them with impermeable housing will worsen surface runoff, overwhelm drainage systems, and heighten flood dangers. This runs counter to the sustainable drainage and climate resilience strategies our city so desperately needs. Gardens are not just vacant land; they are the backbone of the city's green infrastructure. With Dublin's urban tree canopy already among the lowest in Europe, averaging around 10 per cent, and lower still in many built-up areas, garden spaces support urban biodiversity, regulate heat, and offer mental and physical health benefits for residents. Paving over this resource may offer momentary relief, but it will leave our city more vulnerable and less liveable in the decades to come. If garden homes are to be considered, they must be subject to rigorous environmental criteria: prioritising permeable surfaces, retaining trees, incorporating quality design standards, and ensuring that these homes add to, rather than subtract from, the social and environmental fabric of our communities. We must be careful that short term improvisations don't undermine the very ground beneath our feet. Let's solve our housing crisis boldly, but also wisely – with a mind toward resilience, sustainability, and long-term urban health. – Yours, etc, LOUISA MOSS, Cabra, Dublin 7. Landlords and their earnings Sir, – The most surprising thing about Lorcan Sirr's recent article, ' How much do landlords really earn? You might be surprised, ' (August 4th) is that, in the case of small landlords, it doesn't answer the question. Sirr confusingly conflates the idea that all small landlords are struggling in an overall sense with the reality that many are struggling with their property investment, in a market that is as dysfunctional for them as it is for the renter. As an actuary who has worked with statistics for decades, it always surprises me to see experts quote statistics and then imply tangential conclusions. The 85 per cent higher gross household income of those with a second property is most likely to be largely explained by higher salaries/income that have enabled them to buy a second property in the first place rather than income from this property. Interestingly, Sirr doesn't elaborate on the sharp drop off in the income difference when comparing gross to net (85 per cent dropping to 56 per cent). This is likely to be disproportionately impacted by how rental income is taxed, a topic that bizarrely is largely ignored in the media. With income tax of 40 per cent, USC of 8 per cent and PRSI of 4 per cent all applying, the small landlord is left with 48 per cent of the rent after Revenue takes the majority. Deduct an annual management fee, some repairs, time lost to constantly changing regulatory requirements, and the psychological burden of being consistently vilified in the media, and you are more likely to get a real insight into 'How much do small landlords really earn' and why they are exiting the market. – Yours, etc, EMMETT McCRANN, Kilmainham, Dublin 8. Sir, – I was intrigued by the headline to Lorcan Sirr's Opinion piece. And almost immediately disappointed that the article moved on from the very salient issue of landlord incomes within a few column inches. It was interesting to learn that, according to CSO data, the gross household income of small landlords was 85 per cent higher than that of non-landlords, with net income 56 per cent higher. What I would have liked more clarity and analysis on, however, was if that 'net' figure is simply net of tax or net of tax and other costs, such as mortgage principal payments, maintenance and compliance? This I think would give the reader a fuller view of the matter on which to base an informed opinion. The rest of the article about the power of lobbyists was all very interesting, but it is not what was promised by the headline. – Yours, etc, MARIEL DEEGAN, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16. A long wait Sir, – Once again Frank McNally has taken me back more than 70 years. He knows I like to live in the past, because it's cheaper (Irishman's Diary, August 1st). His reference to remission of sins, purgatory etc, reminded me that thanks to a good grounding in Christian doctrine I knew all about mortal sin about 10 years before I got a chance to commit one. – Yours, etc, MATTIE LENNON, Blessington, Co Wicklow. Where are the dog wardens? Sir, – Are there any actual dog wardens or are signs at the entrance to beaches just there to be ignored? I spent some time with my family on a Wexford beach on bank holiday Sunday. There were very many dogs running around despite the sign saying all dogs should be on a lead and kept in restricted places. One such animal took a fancy to my granddaughter's sandcastle and lifted his leg on top of it to relieve himself. It was quite disgusting. I spoke to the lifeguard who said it was outside her remit. She also told me she phoned the number given to contact a warden but the telephone was never answered. Dogs should not be allowed on beaches between, at least, 9am and 6pm. – Yours, etc, LAURA O'MARA, Stillorgan, Co Dublin. A dangerous country Sir, – Carolanne Henry says that a recent spate of high-profile crimes against women should prompt us to 'acknowledge the fact that Ireland is not a safe place to be female' and that women should be 'howling from the rafters' for a legislative response (Letters, August 4th). Ms Henry ignores the fact that in 2024, 74 per cent of murder victims were men, and 62 per cent of assault victims were men. Eighty per cent of suicides and 78 per cent of those killed on our roads were male. At least two-thirds of people sleeping rough on our streets are men. If we can say that Ireland isn't a safe place for women, then the simple facts show that it is a far more dangerous place for men. There should be no hierarchy of victims based on gender, race, age or any other consideration, and it cheapens us all to suggest that crimes against women – which are in the distinct minority – ought to deserve some sort of special focus. – Yours, etc, SARAH-ANNE CLEARY Strokestown, Co Roscommon. Sir, – Ireland is a strange country where women and children have to die before they can be considered safe from a violent husband/partner/men ('The only comfort we have is that Vanessa, James and Sara are together and finally safe,' August 4th). They are not safe, they are dead. This crime must be fully investigated to identify any red flags that will be obvious in hindsight. Men don't kill their wives/partners and children out of the blue. There are always signs. Unfortunately, we and society are very good at ignoring or minimising them. – Yours, etc, Dr JACKY JONES, Galway. Sir, – Carolanne Henry's claim that 'Ireland is not a safe place to be a woman' resonates. As always, I am struck by the absence of a male outcry against abhorrent male violence. Decades ago, Germaine Greer stated in her book the Female Eunuch: 'Women have very little idea of how much men hate them.' Come on men – prove her wrong. If you can. – Yours, etc, PAMELA McDONALD, Blackrock Village, Cork. Supermarkets and food recalls Sir, – A bag of Tesco mild spinach was already half-eaten in my fridge when, mid-doomscroll on Instagram, I stumbled across news of its recall due to listeria. Now, instead of feeling virtuous, I'm overthinking every bowel movement and throwing out what was meant to be my week's attempt at healthy eating. It made me wonder how many others missed this news that could have spared them the worry-or the infection. During major weather events, we get push alerts straight to our phones. If meteorologists can issue nationwide alerts for incoming storms, shouldn't the Food Safety Authority of Ireland have the same power to warn the public about potentially contaminated food with a confirmed related death? Food for thought. – Yours, etc, ZOE CHARLETON SMITH, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin. Israel and guilt presumption Sir, – Una Mullally, in her otherwise admirable column in favour of the Occupied Territories Bill (August 4th), writes that 'everyone who called out war crimes and genocide for what they are from the get-go was right' and laments that this truth was not obvious to many of us sooner. It was the aggressive presumption of guilt, the lack of empathy and the overtly sectarian nature of the voices raised against Israel that made this reader too cautious to see its crimes for what they were for so long. – Yours, etc, PAUL GLYNN, Arbuthnot Road , London. Sir, – John Mulqueen's timely reminder of Irish Jews who fought fascism was kind enough to mention my father and uncle, Maurice and Max Levitas (Irishman's Diary, August 4th). I would add that, given their lifelong commitment to social justice, I have no doubt that they would support the Occupied Territories Bill as a useful contribution to international pressure on the Israeli government to stop the genocide in Gaza. – Yours, etc, Dr BEN LEVITAS, Grove Avenue, London. Distasteful reading Sir, – I read with distaste the latest report on the values of estates left by various recently deceased people the majority of whom do not appear to be public figures. The fact that the values of these estates are matters of public record does not make them of public interest. What purpose is served by publishing this, aside from identifying bereaved family members who may have benefitted from these estates? – Yours, etc, BRENDAN McCARTHY, Islington, London. Brought to book Sir, – Maureen Dowd is enthused by men who read novels (' Books are sexy and men who enjoy reading are attractive ', August 4th). Seemingly a 'man staring into a phone is not sexy. But a man with a book has become so rare . . .' I wonder does a Kindle e-book qualify ? – Yours, etc, MIKE MORAN, Clontarf, Dublin 3. Sir, – In relation to the article by Maureen Dowd, would she please confirm it also applies to old guys who read The Irish Times! – Yours, etc, JOE WALSH, Dublin 13.
Irish Times
9 hours ago
- Irish Times
Donohoe delayed approving sale of State's final shares in AIB
Minister for Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe asked for a three-week postponement on the final sale of the State's stake in AIB so he could consult government about the bank's exit from 'crisis relationships'. Senior officials had sought permission to carry out a 'clean-up share disposal' on May 23rd to finally end state ownership in the bank after the financial crash. However, the Minister looked for extra time as officials said the sale would 'inevitably refocus the discussion around the topic of remuneration' and the salary cap for bankers. In a note on the submission, Mr Donohoe wrote: 'I am absolutely committed to the return of AIB to private ownership. However, I want to exit from crisis relationships with [the] bank at same time. READ MORE 'I will need to engage with government on this and will not have this complete by end of this week. Ask department to consider execution of same plan but in second half of June.' [ How AIB went from boom to bust and back again Opens in new window ] In mid-June, officials submitted a second submission on the sale saying it would 'trigger an opportunity re: salary cap.' It said the State was looking to offload nearly 44 million shares and hoped to bring in around €310 million through the sale. The submission said: 'The implication of this trade is that it will trigger an expectation to begin unwinding the crisis-era remuneration restrictions that remain in place (in particular the removal of the salary cap).' Officials wrote that AIB was one of the best performing banks in Europe and that strong momentum had continued since the last time the State sold some of its shareholding. It said the final sale would represent a 'natural point' to normalise the relationship between AIB and the State. The submission also cautioned that if pay restrictions from AIB were removed, it should also apply to PTSB . 'Absent of that happening, it would put PTSB at a severe disadvantage,' said the document. 'Such a scenario is not in taxpayers' interests.' In a note, Mr Donohoe wrote: 'I agreed to this process via phone yesterday. This is to indicate that approval was given and to conclude official documentation.' A separate presentation on the State's post-crash investment in banks said the taxpayer had invested €29.4 billion in AIB, Bank of Ireland, and PTSB. From that, around €28.7 billion had been recovered although this was over an extended period of a decade and a half. The presentation said as well as implications for the salary cap, other restrictions on how AIB operates would change. One slide said: 'These restrictions include monthly meetings with senior management, access to board papers, [and] various reporting/consent/consultation requirements. 'Since the State's exit from BOI ( Bank of Ireland ), that bank is no longer subject to these conditions. We recommend putting AIB on an equal footing with BOI in this context.' On pay caps, another slide said all restrictions were eliminated for Bank of Ireland apart from bonus payments exceeding €20,000 per year. 'While restrictions around variable pay up to €20,000 and fringe benefits were also removed for AIB and PTSB, both banks continue to abide by the total compensation cap of €500,000 per annum that is currently in place,' it said. This additional restriction relative to Bank of Ireland was 'anti-competitive and unsustainable'.
