Author Archives: admin

New Contract for Teachers

A NEW CONTRACT FOR TEACHERS

Edward Walsh

The McCarthy report comes in two volumes.  Volume 1 provides the broad brush strokes,
Volume 2 the details as to how €5.3bn of flab can be cut from the Irish public
sector in … Continue reading

Bord Snip Nua

Saving Ireland from economic bankruptcy is the crisis mission.  It has two phases. The first has commenced. It involves raising taxes to bridge a yawning gap between revenue and expenditure.  It is the crude desperation measure that governments grasp in … Continue reading

Ireland 2009: post budget analysis April 16, 2009

Only one word matters in rescuing Ireland from its downward spiral: competitiveness. This was the focus of Government policy in the 90s. It created the environment for investment, jobs and spectacular growth. It made Ireland the 4th most competitive country

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Making Ireland Competitive Again

January 18, 2009

Making Ireland Competitive Again

The economic crisis of 2008 is now drifting towards becoming a national calamity of unprecedented proportions with the prospect of bringing Ireland to its knees again. Unless a survival plan is produced during … Continue reading

Reform and National Recovery

Addressing the unprecedented crises in which Ireland finds itself calls for swift and radical action. The Government must focus on the two most crucial issues

  • cut public expenditure
  • improve international competitiveness

Annual public expenditure has more than doubled since 2001 … Continue reading

Export Education

International education: addressing Ireland’s shortcomings

Ireland’s reputation as a quality location for international study leaves much to be desired: as a result it is failing to take advantage of quite a special opportunity.  Why special?  Because international students are increasingly … Continue reading

Characteristics of the World’s Best School Systems

Characteristics of the world’s best school systems

Edward Walsh                                                                                   31 October 2008

Competition in the knowledge economy is a race for talent and governments worldwide have been boosting educational expenditure to improve facilities, increase teachers’ salaries and reduce class size. … Continue reading

University Fees

University fees are going to be reintroduced.  The only question is how and when.

The answer to the first question is found in places like Australia and New Zealand. There, all students who go on to third-level pay fees, but … Continue reading

Transforming Limerick

Two initiatives that would transform Limerick and its region

In the knowledge economy strong vibrant cities of scale with coherent vision and governance are the key economic drivers of whole regions.

Limerick and its region have great potential but in … Continue reading

Ireland’s Energy Policy 2008

Getting Ireland’s Energy Policy Right

Mr Gladstone, when accused of changing his mind responded ‘When the facts change I change my mind; what do you do sir?’

The facts, economic, geopolitical, environmental and technological have been changing rapidly in the … Continue reading