Bruce Arnold

Critic of Public Affairs, writing about art, theatre, music and politics

Lenihan motivated by one thing only: the next election

The firm, even-tempered delivery of the Budget by Brian Lenihan was impressive. In style, it represented the fine performance of a potential leader. The man has his father's ability to make a hopeless and desperate set of circumstances look defensible. He did even better than his old man, and in an area of responsibility that Lenihan Senior never enjoyed. Read More...

Why it's a good thing those crazy pay talks broke down

I welcome the breakdown in the public sector pay talks. They had reached near-farcical proportions and are now inescapably replaced by the initiative being back with the Government, where it should always have been.

I have been consistently opposed, as readers will know, and over many years, to the partnership agreements between the Government, the unions and the employers. Read More...
Welcome