2010 February | David McWilliams

February 28th, 2010
It took Europe to rein in Nama

Have you heard of Neelie Kroes? Last November, this column said that the European Commission would save us from the crazy excesses of our politicians – and it delivered last Friday.
February 24th, 2010
It’s time to shout ’stop’ – NAMA is grand larceny

The land has reverted to the price you’d get from a farmer for putting a donkey out to graze on it
February 21st, 2010
Let’s get logical on the euro

Business in Ireland is on its knees. Ask anyone involved in the retail trade, the advertising world or, more tellingly, anyone looking for a job, and they will tell you the same thing.
February 17th, 2010
A legacy of debt is not the best start for our children

Driving past Holles Street Hospital yesterday reminded me that, despite all the economic and political travails, life goes on.
February 14th, 2010
Dangers of the domino effect

In a nutshell, the Greek bailout means that, in good times, countries like Greece, Ireland and Spain borrow German money to buy German-made BMWs, which is obviously excellent news for Germany. However, in times of crisis, we send Germany the bill, which is the payback (a) for us absorbing all the savings the Germans don’t want to spend and (b) for buying their cars and washing machines with their money recycled by our banks.
February 10th, 2010
Office politics snuffed out Fine Gael’s brightest star

Like you, I’ve been listening to many opinions on the George Lee episode. The one thing that has stood out in all the conversations is just how out of touch the political insiders seem to be with the rest of the population. The political insiders — the politicians themselves, party members and canvassers as well as the political pundits and correspondents who live inside the world of the Dail — speak of George’s betrayal, his petulance and something called procedure. Of his many crimes, the idea of not knowing your place appears to be a significant offence.
February 7th, 2010
Ireland has the chance to create an economic Narnia

Growing up in Belfast, my wife was urged by teachers – with limited success, it must be said – to read CS Lewis for the essential Christian message in his writings. Lewis, the brilliant creator of The Chronicles of Narnia, is often described as an English writer. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. This is the man who wrote of his first visit to England that ‘‘the strange English accents with which I was surrounded seemed like the voices of demons.
February 3rd, 2010
We’re all fools if we think recovery plan is patriotic

It’s been nearly 18 months since the Government announced its bank guarantee. Anglo Irish Bank was nationalised over a year ago and it is coming up to a year since the Government first mooted the NAMA plan. Yet nothing has actually been done since then. Not a single loan has been transferred to NAMA. There has been lots of talk, lots of bluster and point scoring, but still credit in the economy contracts, house prices continue their slow strangling decline and, most significantly, the rest of the world has moved on.