David McWilliams: Corporation tax sleight of hand will turn us into world pariahs

Ireland’s very favourable corporate tax rate will be up for discussion sooner rather than later. David McWilliams argues rightly that the world has changed since the financial crisis struck. Funds are tide everywhere. A public strangled by austerity and cut-backs demands that the burden is shared more evenly. This includes explicitly also giant multinationals. The pressure on governments that facilitate tax avoidance practices, such as the Irish, will mount.

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Ireland – Comment: Enda Kenny in Washington

English: Taoiseach Enda Kenny with US President Barack Obama in the Oval Office, in the White House on St. Patrick’s Day 2011. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Enda Kenny met with Barack Obama at the White House during the St.Patrick‘s Celebrations. After performing friendly exchanges Obama confirmed his intent to visit Ireland in May this year. What an eventful month this is going to be since the English Queen Elizabeth II will also come to town. The former will receive an enthusiastic and warm welcoming from the local crowd, the latter less so. He will be loved, she will be respected.

Ireland – Results and Opinions: General Elections 2011

Enda Kenny making a speech in the Burlington Hotel in Dublin on the day of the count of the 2011 General Election, when Fine Gael topped the poll assuring that they will lead the incoming government. Kenny became Taoiseach on the 9 March 2011. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The dust has settled. The Irish electorate voted for change. Fine Gael (FG) and Labour (LAB) have formed a coalition government. Fianna Fáil (FF) and the Greens got a hammering. That are the facts. But what are the implications?

Ireland – General Elections 2011

This blog now deserves its first proper article. It coincides with the upcoming general election in Ireland on the 25/02/2011. The campaign has just entered its final week. The most likely outcome is a coalition government comprised of Fine Gael (FG) and the Labour Party (LAB). There is also a growing possibility that FG might me able to achieve an overall majority in the next Dáil Éireann (first chamber of the Irish parliament). The once mighty party Fianna Fáil (FF) will fight with Sinn Féin for third place. This would be a landslide in Irish politics.