THE so-called Independent Monitoring Commission is to be shut down after six years. Sinn Féin Assembly member John O’Dowd said that the decision to do away with the unnecessary and expensive quango was long overdue.

The IMC should never have been formed in the first place. It was an expensive and unnecessary safety blanket for unionism and a tool of the British security services... Free article

WE have an awful lot of talk from our media stars – be that Messrs  Marian Finucane, Pat Kenny, Ryan Tubrity or Joe Duffy – on how we might get the country out of the mess it is in. They are all paid from the public purse. Is it right that they are paid the massive sums of money they receive?

Imagine if they were to lead the way in the public sector and say they will only take... Free article

SPEAKING today after the High Court ruled in favour of his challenge against the Government’s delay in holding the Donegal South-West by-election, Sinn Féin Senator Pearse Doherty said the game is now up for the Government and that the Taoiseach should call a general election.

Senator Doherty said today’s judgement is a victory for the people of Donegal South-West who have... Free article

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHmz0BlOyUc

RTÉ reports on Saturday:-

10,000 protestors are attending a rally in Co Meath as part of a campaign to oppose cuts in services at Our Lady's Hospital in Navan.

The thousands of people from Navan and across County Meath who marched through the town today say the recent cuts will reduce the role of Our Lady's Hospital in Navan to that of a community hospital and day care... Free article

DUBLIN Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh has criticised Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore for championing IBEC’s call for a three-year pay freeze for workers.

Speaking today, Deputy Ó Snodaigh said such calls are irresponsible and would further depress the economy.

Deputy Ó Snodaigh said:

Along with championing IBEC’s call for a three-year pay freeze, Eamon Gilmore also called... Free article

Tuesday 26th October

ON OUR final day in Santa Clara we had the privilege of visiting the mausoleum which marks the final resting place of Che Guevara and the rebels who were slain with him in Bolivia.

On the surface the mausoleum is a towering tribute to Che with a huge statue of him with his rifle and in army fatigues. Part of the monument states Che's belief in the ... Free article

THE restoration of the Christmas bonus social welfare payment is one of the measures called for by Sinn Féin in its pre-Budget submission to be launched in Dublin tomorrow [Monday].

Social Protection spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD said Sinn Féin’s pre-Budget submission will set out revenue-raising proposals to fund all current social welfare rates and to reintroduce the... Free article

CELEBRATED economist and columnist Paul Krugman, a professor of Economics and International Affairs at Princeton University, blogs this over at The New York Times and makes special mention of Ireland.

Sex and drugs and markets’ role

Kevin O’Rourke has a post, What do markets want, raising the same issues I’ve been discussing about debt, austerity, etc.

But never mind all... Free article

COUNCILLOR CHRIS O'LEARY was last night selected as Sinn Féin’s Dáil general election candidate to become a TD for Cork South Central.

Councillor O’Leary was selected unanimously after being proposed by Councillor Henry Cremin and seconded by Councillor Fiona Kerins. Afterwards, Chris told the well-attended convention:

I am proud and honoured to be chosen to represent Sinn... Free article