The EU’s Stability and Growth Pact must go – or we face a future of austerity and pain

By Emma Clancy. A decade of austerity imposed by the European Union institutions and EU member state governments has caused significant deterioration in healthcare services across the EU. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the EU’s healthcare and public sectors to be ill-equipped to respond to the outbreak in accordance with […]

Government protects banks and landlords instead of jobs and small businesses

By Conor McCabe. This article is the third in a four-part series adapted from the Unite union’s policy document, Hope or Austerity: A Road Map for a Better, Fairer Ireland After the Pandemic, written by Conor McCabe. In its response to the Covid-19 economic challenges faced by businesses – particularly micro and […]

Do Not Resuscitate Capitalism: Science in a time of pandemic

By Helena Sheehan. Of the many dimensions of the present pandemic that is swamping our lives and suspending our normal reality, one of the most central has been the role of science. Every report on our all-virus-all-the-time news references science. The new media stars are epidemiologists, virologists, mathematicians, physicians and […]

Government’s Covid-19 response falls short on rent, mortgages, debt and bills

By Conor McCabe. This article is the second in a four-part series adapted from the Unite union’s policy document, Hope or Austerity: A Road Map for a Better, Fairer Ireland After the Pandemic, written by Conor McCabe. The effective shutdown of large sections of the Irish economy has led to the introduction […]

Solidarity is the cure: Radically reimagining post-pandemic Europe

By Manon Aubry and Martin Schirdewan Covid-19 has brought the world to a standstill, claiming thousands of lives and bringing economic hardship to millions.  As EU governments now take steps towards reopening, the need to avoid the mistakes of the past and reimagine the European project is greater than ever.  […]

Pandemic hits Ireland’s social infrastructure, already at breaking point

By Conor McCabe. This article is the first in a four-part series adapted from the Unite union’s policy document, Hope or Austerity: A Road Map for a Better, Fairer Ireland After the Pandemic, written by Conor McCabe. The Irish government’s initial response to the outbreak of COVID-19 was somewhat slow […]

Eurogroup condemns EU to perpetual austerity

By Emma Clancy. After the Eurogroup meeting concluded last night, Eurogroup President and Portuguese Finance Minister Mário Centeno tweeted: “The Eurogroup answered the call from our citizens for a Europe that protects. We agreed to 3 safety nets (for workers, businesses & public finances) adding up to half trillion euro, and […]