For much of the past 18 months, Ireland’s coalition government has been at the forefront of European efforts to show support for Palestinians. Although this stance was made real by international diplomacy, the results of the Irish election just gone by demonstrate that it was good politics for the country’s pop parties as well.
Foreign Minister Micheal Martin will lead Fianna Fail into the new parliament as the biggest party. The Fine Gael party of Taoiseach, or Prime Minister, Simon Harris came second in the popular vote. This left both the radical republicans of Sinn Fein and a hotly tipped wave of independents as underperformers who suffered a disappointing campaign.
Under the Irish electoral system, winning votes are painstakingly assembled through lowest-ranked candidate eliminations that then recycle preferences back to remaining contenders. All winners then triumph in the aggregate, which means it is probably unwise to embrace antagonistic and divisive campaign strategies, although there are sometimes exceptions.
That is why the approach of the main parties to Gaza, and Palestine more generally, was so important. They took an issue where there was strong popular opinion at home and kept a spirit of unity behind their policies. That means there has been no backlash against their candidates. To have knowingly risked a boycott of a mainstream party would, in terms of the electoral system, be self-defeating.
Contrast that with the Labour Party in the UK, which risked a negative vote in the run-up to the July general election there. The handful of seats won by candidates on a pro-Gaza platform sent some shudders through the Labour leadership but not enough to materially affect its stance or indeed its overwhelming majority for the next five years.
The same was not true in Ireland’s very different political landscape. The work the country has done with Spain to advance recognition of a Palestinian state stood Ireland’s main governing parties in good stead when it came to the election. The future agenda item of reviewing trade with Israel, especially targeting economic activity coming out of the occupied West Bank, will be a top priority for the new government when it is formed.
The campaign over the past month was an example to the world that the events in Gaza, Palestine more broadly and Lebanon do not have to cleave an enormous division in western politics. All it takes is political leadership that seeks to stay in tune with the electorate and a willingness to show empathy, not just among the population that is motivated to donate to charity appeals in the corridors of power at national and EU level.
The future agenda item of reviewing trade with Israel, especially targeting economic activity coming out of the occupied West Bank, will be a top priority for the new government when it is formed
To the outside world, Ireland’s centre-right parties of government held off insurgent challenges and renewed their mandate for power. The reality is these labels are not quite right. What detractors on social media call “FFG” (Fianna Fail/Fine Gael) are not very much informed by conservative politics, even though they represent much of the middle class and wealthy.
They both offer to run and cautiously expand a welfarist state. I say “cautiously” because the stability shocks of running up high debts have seen Ireland regularly find itself in trouble, most recently after the 2008 global financial crash. Only in foreign investment, on which Ireland is critically dependent, does the country offer a light-touch, deregulated economy.
Nonetheless, the image of being parties of the right has done the big two very well over the years; it has meant there has not been space for the development of an outwardly conservative party.
The last big example of an effort to break the mould of Irish politics from a smaller-state and lighter-taxes direction was the Progressive Democrats, a one-time coalition junior party that disappeared two decades ago. This contrasts with a lingering leftist element outside of Sinn Fein that includes the Social Democrats as well as the Labour Party, which has trade union roots. These two parties did quite well at the weekend and could replace the Greens as the third leg of the new government.
The absence of the far-right in the Irish parliament is marked because the headlines in recent years have suggested a grassroots spread of harder sympathies. The arrival in the country of more than 100,000 Ukrainians alongside a surge in a similar type of illegal immigration that has toxified British politics was predicted to show up in the Irish election.
This election race even included an alleged gangster who promised change that would challenge the government. Even though Gerry Hutch conducted himself with big-man swagger, he failed to get the support of his local streets at the ballot box. Nor did the more overtly anti-immigrant tickets make any breakthroughs. Punditry predicting that Ireland would fall for the type of politics seen on the march across Europe was wrong.
For Mr Martin, who will again become Taoiseach after holding a rotating turn at the job in the last parliament, the task is to maintain his careful balancing act. Not least because Ireland could find its economy very challenged by the tariff policies and political outlook of US president-elect Donald Trump, who will return to the White House in January.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
ICC Awards for 2021
MEN
Cricketer of the Year – Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Babar Azam (Pakistan)
Test Cricketer of the Year – Joe Root (England)
WOMEN
Cricketer of the Year – Smriti Mandhana (India)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Lizelle Lee (South Africa)
T20 Cricketer of the Year – Tammy Beaumont (England)
RACE CARD
5pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Purebred Arabian Cup Conditions (PA); Dh 200,000 (Turf) 1,600m
5.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup Conditions (PA); Dh 200,000 (T) 1,600m
6pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Cup Listed (TB); Dh 380,000 (T) 1,600m
6.30pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Group 3 (PA); Dh 500,000 (T) 1,600m
7pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Jewel Crown Group 1 (PA); Dh 5,000,000 (T) 2,200m
7.30pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Handicap (PA); Dh 150,000 (T) 1,400m
8pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 100,000 (T); 1,400m
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
Roll of honour
Who has won what so far in the West Asia Premiership season?
Western Clubs Champions League - Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners up: Bahrain
Dubai Rugby Sevens - Winners: Dubai Exiles; Runners up: Jebel Ali Dragons
West Asia Premiership - Winners: Jebel Ali Dragons; Runners up: Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Premiership Cup - Winners: Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners up: Dubai Exiles
West Asia Cup - Winners: Bahrain; Runners up: Dubai Exiles
West Asia Trophy - Winners: Dubai Hurricanes; Runners up: DSC Eagles
Final West Asia Premiership standings - 1. Jebel Ali Dragons; 2. Abu Dhabi Harlequins; 3. Bahrain; 4. Dubai Exiles; 5. Dubai Hurricanes; 6. DSC Eagles; 7. Abu Dhabi Saracens
Fixture (UAE Premiership final) - Friday, April 13, Al Ain – Dubai Exiles v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
Analysis
Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.
The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement.
We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment.
Brolliology: A History of the Umbrella in Life and Literature
By Marion Rankine
Melville House
Abu Dhabi traffic facts
Drivers in Abu Dhabi spend 10 per cent longer in congested conditions than they would on a free-flowing road
The highest volume of traffic on the roads is found between 7am and 8am on a Sunday.
Travelling before 7am on a Sunday could save up to four hours per year on a 30-minute commute.
The day was the least congestion in Abu Dhabi in 2019 was Tuesday, August 13.
The highest levels of traffic were found on Sunday, November 10.
Drivers in Abu Dhabi lost 41 hours spent in traffic jams in rush hour during 2019
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Mica
Director: Ismael Ferroukhi
Stars: Zakaria Inan, Sabrina Ouazani
3 stars
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
How much of your income do you need to save?
The more you save, the sooner you can retire. Tuan Phan, a board member of SimplyFI.com, says if you save just 5 per cent of your salary, you can expect to work for another 66 years before you are able to retire without too large a drop in income.
In other words, you will not save enough to retire comfortably. If you save 15 per cent, you can forward to another 43 working years. Up that to 40 per cent of your income, and your remaining working life drops to just 22 years. (see table)
Obviously, this is only a rough guide. How much you save will depend on variables, not least your salary and how much you already have in your pension pot. But it shows what you need to do to achieve financial independence.
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
