Donal O'Donovan
@donalodonovan.bsky.social
Business Editor Irish Independent & Sunday Independent
The big positive for Govt of Irish cabinets being capped at 15 members is the max of 30 feet that ministers can shoot themselves in.
Semi-state chiefs in line for huge pay top-ups after controversy over €430,000 for Housing Tsar
www.independent.ie/irish-news/p...
Semi-state chiefs in line for huge pay top-ups after controversy over €430,000 for Housing Tsar
www.independent.ie/irish-news/p...
Now 30 semi-state chiefs in line for huge pay top-ups after controversy over €430,000 for Housing Tsar
The heads of 30 semi-state bodies are now potentially in line for massive pay increases, hard on the heels of a reported €430,000 for the Housing Tsar.
www.independent.ie
April 30, 2025 at 1:41 PM
The big positive for Govt of Irish cabinets being capped at 15 members is the max of 30 feet that ministers can shoot themselves in.
Semi-state chiefs in line for huge pay top-ups after controversy over €430,000 for Housing Tsar
www.independent.ie/irish-news/p...
Semi-state chiefs in line for huge pay top-ups after controversy over €430,000 for Housing Tsar
www.independent.ie/irish-news/p...
Sad to see this. 'The Feast of the Goat' in particular is the most terrifying exploration of the inner working of the court of a dictatorship.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Mario Vargas Llosa: Giant of Latin American literature
The Peruvian was called a "divinely gifted story-teller" when he won the Nobel in 2010.
www.bbc.com
April 14, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Sad to see this. 'The Feast of the Goat' in particular is the most terrifying exploration of the inner working of the court of a dictatorship.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Donal O'Donovan
I’m glad people are out there asking the important questions about emerging technologies.
Such as “why DO so many AI company logos look like bum holes?”
velvetshark.com/ai-company-l...
Such as “why DO so many AI company logos look like bum holes?”
velvetshark.com/ai-company-l...
Why do AI company logos look like buttholes?
A humorous exploration of the uncanny resemblance between AI company logos and human anatomy. Discover why circular, gradient-based designs dominate the AI industry, and what this design convergence t...
velvetshark.com
April 12, 2025 at 8:48 AM
I’m glad people are out there asking the important questions about emerging technologies.
Such as “why DO so many AI company logos look like bum holes?”
velvetshark.com/ai-company-l...
Such as “why DO so many AI company logos look like bum holes?”
velvetshark.com/ai-company-l...
In markets jargon what we are now seeing in equities is classed as an 'absolute shit show'.
April 7, 2025 at 10:11 AM
In markets jargon what we are now seeing in equities is classed as an 'absolute shit show'.
Not too far from where the Ardagh chalice turned up.
‘Remarkable find’: Eighth-century brooch pin discovered during excavation work on Adare bypass
‘Remarkable find’: Eighth-century brooch pin discovered during excavation work on Adare bypass
Medieval brooch is one of more than 100 objects to go on display at National Museum in May
www.irishtimes.com
April 4, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Not too far from where the Ardagh chalice turned up.
This is huge. By way of comparison Angela Merkel was just about convinced, eventually, to do just barely enough to prevent a collapse of the euro after years of the debt crisis spiral.
CDU/CSU &SPD have just proposed a sea change in German fiscal policy:
- defence spending above 1% of GDP exempt from debt brake
- 10-year €500bn special fund for infrastructure
- looser debt rules for states
- further debt-brake reform in new Bundestag
- defence spending above 1% of GDP exempt from debt brake
- 10-year €500bn special fund for infrastructure
- looser debt rules for states
- further debt-brake reform in new Bundestag
March 4, 2025 at 8:22 PM
This is huge. By way of comparison Angela Merkel was just about convinced, eventually, to do just barely enough to prevent a collapse of the euro after years of the debt crisis spiral.
My take on project cabin - and why it really means operation shanty
www.independent.ie/opinion/comm...
www.independent.ie/opinion/comm...
Donal O’Donovan: ‘Chic chalets’ will rapidly degenerate into backyard hovels and make a dire housing situation worse
Desperate times call for desperate measures, but blanket licensing to allow subdivision of housing plots and a proliferation of back yard cabins is beyond desperate – it is idiotic.
www.independent.ie
February 19, 2025 at 2:48 PM
My take on project cabin - and why it really means operation shanty
www.independent.ie/opinion/comm...
www.independent.ie/opinion/comm...
Excellent. A childish motion that won't build a single shed. Take that housing crisis.
The Cabinet is expected to sign-off on a Government motion on housing which specifies the need for the State to diversify sources of investment when it comes to housing delivery.
Cabinet expected to approve Govt motion on housing
The Cabinet is expected to sign-off on a Government motion on housing which specifies the need for the State to diversify sources of investment when it comes to housing delivery.
www.rte.ie
February 11, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Excellent. A childish motion that won't build a single shed. Take that housing crisis.
Reposted by Donal O'Donovan
Why would you report as fact a claim that even the person making it admits is entirely made up? www.thetimes.com/business-mon...
February 11, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Why would you report as fact a claim that even the person making it admits is entirely made up? www.thetimes.com/business-mon...
Did we change things so a Tanaiste can appoint senators now or is that we've all just abandoned the idea of having a Constitution?
Broadcaster Evanne Ní Chuilinn has resigned from her role in RTÉ and has been named as a Fine Gael senator by Tánaiste Simon Harris
Evanne Ní Chuilinn named as Fine Gael senator by Tánaiste
Broadcaster Evanne Ní Chuilinn has resigned from her role in RTÉ and has been named as a Fine Gael senator by Tánaiste Simon Harris.
www.rte.ie
February 7, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Did we change things so a Tanaiste can appoint senators now or is that we've all just abandoned the idea of having a Constitution?
Le vieux chief de la route difficile, as we say in English.
www.ft.com/content/d18a...
www.ft.com/content/d18a...
French budget approved after François Bayrou survives censure vote
Prime minister fends off his first no-confidence ballot and pushes through spending plans
www.ft.com
February 6, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Le vieux chief de la route difficile, as we say in English.
www.ft.com/content/d18a...
www.ft.com/content/d18a...
Wait, if they sack all the spooks where does that leave Palintir?
www.wsj.com/politics/nat...
www.wsj.com/politics/nat...
CIA Offers Buyout to Entire Workforce as Part of Trump Makeover
The agency offered buyouts to its entire workforce in what officials said is a bid to bring it in line with Trump’s priorities, including targeting drug cartels.
www.wsj.com
February 5, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Wait, if they sack all the spooks where does that leave Palintir?
www.wsj.com/politics/nat...
www.wsj.com/politics/nat...
Reposted by Donal O'Donovan
this is modern journalism. @wired.com "built software to systematically check the status of 1,374 government domains. The tool runs periodic scans, tracking whether sites remain accessible, how their servers respond, and if the domain names still resolve."
February 2, 2025 at 7:11 PM
this is modern journalism. @wired.com "built software to systematically check the status of 1,374 government domains. The tool runs periodic scans, tracking whether sites remain accessible, how their servers respond, and if the domain names still resolve."
Reposted by Donal O'Donovan
Russian billionaire #oligarch Suleyman Kerimov held a stake in SpaceX while he was sanctioned - good scoop from Bloomberg
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Russian Oligarch Held Stake in Musk’s SpaceX Through Trust While He Was Sanctioned
Citigroup administered Heritage Trust and decided it didn’t need to block the trust’s assets after Suleyman Kerimov was sanctioned in 2018, according to people with knowledge of the matter
www.bloomberg.com
January 29, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Russian billionaire #oligarch Suleyman Kerimov held a stake in SpaceX while he was sanctioned - good scoop from Bloomberg
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
A smart assessment, though I'd caution that Ireland is certainly not immune from anti-Semitism either.
January 29, 2025 at 7:26 PM
A smart assessment, though I'd caution that Ireland is certainly not immune from anti-Semitism either.
You'd need a heart of stone not to laugh etc
OpenAI says it has evidence China’s DeepSeek used its model to train competitor - giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... via @FT
OpenAI says it has evidence China’s DeepSeek used its model to train competitor - giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... via @FT
OpenAI says it has evidence China’s DeepSeek used its model to train competitor
White House AI tsar David Sacks raises possibility of alleged intellectual property theft
giftarticle.ft.com
January 29, 2025 at 2:07 PM
You'd need a heart of stone not to laugh etc
OpenAI says it has evidence China’s DeepSeek used its model to train competitor - giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... via @FT
OpenAI says it has evidence China’s DeepSeek used its model to train competitor - giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... via @FT
Reposted by Donal O'Donovan
So it doesn’t matter if you're a company in the US, China, or elsewhere. DeepSeek should be a cue to pivot HARD toward investing in far more efficient methods of AI development. Even if you care nothing about community & climate impacts, it’s just better business. 19/
January 27, 2025 at 2:12 PM
So it doesn’t matter if you're a company in the US, China, or elsewhere. DeepSeek should be a cue to pivot HARD toward investing in far more efficient methods of AI development. Even if you care nothing about community & climate impacts, it’s just better business. 19/
Reposted by Donal O'Donovan
On Thursday night I was at a dinner in Davos, where the example of US primacy given was that Nvidia’s market cap is bigger than the entire German stock market. Someone remarked that Europe’s only hope is that the Davos consensus (this time about US primacy) is always wrong. And lo…
January 27, 2025 at 5:16 PM
On Thursday night I was at a dinner in Davos, where the example of US primacy given was that Nvidia’s market cap is bigger than the entire German stock market. Someone remarked that Europe’s only hope is that the Davos consensus (this time about US primacy) is always wrong. And lo…
Reposted by Donal O'Donovan
This is why you don't design curricula around "jobs of the future".
We can't predict the future but we do know what general skills and knowledge will be valuable whatever job you do.
We can't predict the future but we do know what general skills and knowledge will be valuable whatever job you do.
‘Learn to code’
Should’ve done a proper degree like sociology or political science
Should’ve done a proper degree like sociology or political science
January 26, 2025 at 10:59 AM
This is why you don't design curricula around "jobs of the future".
We can't predict the future but we do know what general skills and knowledge will be valuable whatever job you do.
We can't predict the future but we do know what general skills and knowledge will be valuable whatever job you do.
Reposted by Donal O'Donovan
‘Learn to code’
Should’ve done a proper degree like sociology or political science
Should’ve done a proper degree like sociology or political science
January 26, 2025 at 9:43 AM
‘Learn to code’
Should’ve done a proper degree like sociology or political science
Should’ve done a proper degree like sociology or political science
If you need a sense of how resistant Irish people are to infrastructure changes just check out reaction to the renaming / rationalising of Dublin bus routes. Yes, its nice you first shifted your now wife/played a walkman/mitched off school on the 46A. No, its not a reason to keep the route.
January 26, 2025 at 12:36 PM
If you need a sense of how resistant Irish people are to infrastructure changes just check out reaction to the renaming / rationalising of Dublin bus routes. Yes, its nice you first shifted your now wife/played a walkman/mitched off school on the 46A. No, its not a reason to keep the route.
Reposted by Donal O'Donovan
“Just what level of exuberant disinhibition led Musk to this moment or why this unmistakable gesture came so naturally to him … well, that’s really not my problem. Everyone knows what they saw here.” talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/elon-...
Elon Goes Full Seig Heil In Clarifying Moment
I was at the gym this afternoon when I saw out of...
talkingpointsmemo.com
January 20, 2025 at 9:26 PM
“Just what level of exuberant disinhibition led Musk to this moment or why this unmistakable gesture came so naturally to him … well, that’s really not my problem. Everyone knows what they saw here.” talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/elon-...
A run down of the new Govt but the failure to restore Defence as a full cabinet role is the most glaring and alarming decision. Ireland is sleepwalking into a potential catastrophe.
www.independent.ie/irish-news/e...
www.independent.ie/irish-news/e...
Fionnán Sheahan: Who gets the poisoned chalice? What line-up of ministers in new cabinet might look like
Now the make-up of the Government is clear with Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Independents, the next item on the agenda is who gets into cabinet. Here is who is in contention and what the Cabinet mig...
www.independent.ie
January 17, 2025 at 9:41 AM
A run down of the new Govt but the failure to restore Defence as a full cabinet role is the most glaring and alarming decision. Ireland is sleepwalking into a potential catastrophe.
www.independent.ie/irish-news/e...
www.independent.ie/irish-news/e...
Wonder which one will get it?
New: The Healy-Raes have secured one junior ministerial post.
January 14, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Wonder which one will get it?
Reposted by Donal O'Donovan
The Edgelord Bro Mind Virus is breaking containment, as evidenced by this brave and yet curiously unnamed truth warrior. Take precautions against brain rot: stay at least 2 metres away from giant morons, read books, and wash your hands.
on.ft.com/3WityvA
on.ft.com/3WityvA
January 14, 2025 at 9:27 AM
The Edgelord Bro Mind Virus is breaking containment, as evidenced by this brave and yet curiously unnamed truth warrior. Take precautions against brain rot: stay at least 2 metres away from giant morons, read books, and wash your hands.
on.ft.com/3WityvA
on.ft.com/3WityvA