One April morning 102 years ago a countess, a grocer’s daughter, a carpenter and and a former British soldier picked up guns and marched onto the streets of Dublin to rebel against the British Empire and declare an Irish republic. We introduce these characters and what they were fighting to achieve in the new episode of The Irish Passport podcast: ‘1916 and the Invention of Ireland‘. The episode traces the cultural upheaval that led to the rebellion and questions whether, 102 … Read more

Stakes are being raised in the Brexit poker game  as “ deadlines” of June or is it October? approach.  I continue to believe that a solution will be found without harming the single UK market, in a customs relationship involving trusted trader schemes and an increase in  regulatory checks at our ports and airports. Next week, the issues will be tested in a Commons debate with a non-binding vote on a Lords motion approving continued membership of the customs union. … Read more

Newton Emerson has written a thoughtful piece on that neglected topic, now  blindingly exposed by the RHI inquiry,  of how Northern Ireland is administered. He had already decided that the region is too small to sustain a comprehensive health service. The inquiry’s verdict on specific blame could be years away. In the meantime, the first overarching theme to emerge has been something of a surprise – namely, that Northern Ireland is too small to have a separate administrative existence. A key motivation … Read more