This is the first in a three-part series on Self-Determination by Sinead O Sullivan following an invitation from the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) to help us reflect on the many complexities of our rapidly changing world.
Budget Day was initially disappointing, with red tape keeping tax measures intended to support start-ups accessible only to large corporations. But amendments to the Finance Bill show the mood music is changing.
Thursday marked the end of Irish exceptionalism. An end to the belief that we were different from other nations and that we were immune from the rise of the extreme right and from the appeal of the strong man/weak man narrative.
Fine Gael began its run as a major player in coalition governments just ten months after the Tories became the lead players in Downing Street. Is mental fatigue a factor in Dáil Eireann as well as in Westminster? In both jurisdictions, the business season is approaching.
Ben Dunne was a multi-millionaire from the family business at Dunnes Stores, friend and corrupter of politicians and at the centre of a call girl and cocaine scandal. He was also revered by many.
Overnight violence is sadly reminiscent of my previous home city. When it comes to policing unashamed bigotry, there are good and bad things we can learn from the French capital’s riotous history.
In an era of disruption, we also need to disrupt the way that the government does business. That means we need to move away from thinking only in electoral cycles, and create generational strategies.
The burning platform analogy is useful because it forces you to consider previously unthinkable choices. For example, what would happen if corporation tax fell by €2 billion a year every year until 2035?
Investing billions in a new city quarter is always going to be hard. Just getting the government lined up it is a big job in itself.
Sam Altman and much of the OpenAI team are decamping to Microsoft, where they'll pursue their goal of Artificial General Intelligence. Should we be worried?
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