Gerard Howlin
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Gerard Howlin
@gerardhowlin.bsky.social
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Public affairs consultant, political commentator and former senior government adviser.
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Gerard Howlin @gerardhowlin.bsky.social · Oct 27
If Micheál Martin survives this, his achievement will almost rival Catherine Connolly’s

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Gerard Howlin: If Micheál Martin survives this, his achievement will almost rival Catherine Connolly’s
Taoiseach’s position is weakened among parliamentary party members after presidential election debacle
www.irishtimes.com
Reposted by Gerard Howlin
irishtimes.com
Gerard Howlin: If Micheál Martin survives this, his achievement will almost rival Catherine Connolly’s
Gerard Howlin: If Micheál Martin survives this, his achievement will almost rival Catherine Connolly’s
Taoiseach’s position is weakened among parliamentary party members after presidential election debacle
www.irishtimes.com
October 27, 2025 at 1:45 PM
gerardhowlin.bsky.social
If Micheál Martin survives this, his achievement will almost rival Catherine Connolly’s

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Gerard Howlin: If Micheál Martin survives this, his achievement will almost rival Catherine Connolly’s
Taoiseach’s position is weakened among parliamentary party members after presidential election debacle
www.irishtimes.com
October 27, 2025 at 8:32 AM
gerardhowlin.bsky.social
In a low-energy presidential debate, only one candidate lit a spark

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Gerard Howlin: In a low-energy presidential debate, only one candidate lit a spark
Jim Gavin sounded like he was reading from a PowerPoint, Heather Humphreys was lacklustre and Catherine Connolly had one big advantage
www.irishtimes.com
September 30, 2025 at 7:25 AM
gerardhowlin.bsky.social
Sinn Féin has placed a foot in every camp. No wonder it’s wobbling

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Gerard Howlin: Sinn Féin has placed a foot in every camp. No wonder it’s wobbling
A party that doesn’t want local property tax for anyone but wants free third-level fees for all isn’t a left party
www.irishtimes.com
August 29, 2025 at 5:21 AM
gerardhowlin.bsky.social
Racism in this State is an old story, but vile discourse online is new and most of it comes from abroad

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
We cannot police the streets if online material is not regulated
Racism in this State goes back a bit, but vile discourse online is new and most of it comes from abroad – principally the US and UK
www.irishtimes.com
August 15, 2025 at 8:29 AM
gerardhowlin.bsky.social
Gerard Howlin: The EU status quo Ireland prospered in for 50 years is over.

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Gerard Howlin: The EU status quo Ireland prospered in for 50 years is over
Being at the centre in Brussels requires new credentials we have yet to acquire.
www.irishtimes.com
August 1, 2025 at 7:38 AM
gerardhowlin.bsky.social
Government promise to oppose Mercosur trade deal was an error of judgment.

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Gerard Howlin: Ireland needs to stop holding out against Mercosur
Trade deal is a big win for Ireland, but beef farmers feel challenged
www.irishtimes.com
July 18, 2025 at 6:29 AM
gerardhowlin.bsky.social
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Keeping student fees down and reducing VAT would cost €3 billion we don’t have
Just days away from the next turn in the Donald Trump tariff saga, we are being egged on to slash a dangerously narrow tax base further
www.irishtimes.com
July 4, 2025 at 8:10 AM
gerardhowlin.bsky.social
Sunny evening on Capel Street, street is paved, people dining outdoors and full on melee as entertainment. Kicking, boxing and then a bottle broken by one over the other. @garda.ie now with bloodied victim.
June 30, 2025 at 5:33 PM
gerardhowlin.bsky.social
Micheál Martin and Paschal Donohoe are responsible for this Government’s lethargy

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Gerard Howlin: Micheál Martin and Paschal Donohoe are responsible for this Government’s lethargy
They have power, but seem unwilling to introduce cultural change and fiscal discipline
www.irishtimes.com
June 20, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Reposted by Gerard Howlin
irishtimes.com
Gerard Howlin: There’s never been a better time for a left alliance. Shame they can’t get on
Gerard Howlin: There’s never been a better time for a left alliance. Shame they can’t get on
Housing, Trump and fading traditional political loyalties mean anything is possible come the next election
www.irishtimes.com
June 6, 2025 at 5:40 AM
Reposted by Gerard Howlin
irishtimes.com
Gerard Howlin: Renters forking out €2,000 per month are paying the price for water charges debacle
Gerard Howlin: Renters forking out €2,000 per month are paying the price for water charges debacle
As the housing shortage cuts into economic competitiveness and social solidarity, the consequences of bad decisions are more apparent
www.irishtimes.com
May 23, 2025 at 5:37 AM
gerardhowlin.bsky.social
The status quo is in charge of Irish housing policy

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
James Browne has little power to fix the housing crisis. The status quo is in charge
Housing gets enormous amounts of money and endless new initiatives. But it has never had an alignment of power and responsibility
www.irishtimes.com
May 9, 2025 at 7:14 AM
gerardhowlin.bsky.social
Micheál Martin would be a more credible leader of Fine Gael than Simon Harris and that’s a problem

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Gerard Howlin: Micheál Martin would be a more credible leader of Fine Gael than Simon Harris and that's a problem
It’s a sign of Fine Gael’s watered-down identity that it’s easy to imagine Harris in Labour or the Social Democrats
www.irishtimes.com
April 25, 2025 at 6:08 AM
gerardhowlin.bsky.social
The general election campaign was a raucous wake for an era that was already over

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
The general election campaign was a raucous wake for an era that was already over
We stand on the brink of a tariffs war weighed down by the cost of our inefficiency and self-indulgence
www.irishtimes.com
March 28, 2025 at 7:28 AM
gerardhowlin.bsky.social
Ireland is not anti-Semitic but it’s not a good time to be Jewish in this country

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Gerard Howlin: Ireland is not anti-Semitic but it’s no wonder Jewish people here feel uncomfortable
There is no space left here for either a broader perspective or nuance. There is an increasingly automatic overlapping of Jewish people with Israel
www.irishtimes.com
March 14, 2025 at 6:22 AM
gerardhowlin.bsky.social
EU is about to become bigger and more powerful and there will be consequences for Ireland

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Gerard Howlin: EU is about to become bigger and more powerful. There will be consequences for Ireland
The coming period will see the working out of ad-hoc compromises to provide money and means at speed, and a view that things can be finessed afterwards
www.irishtimes.com
February 28, 2025 at 6:39 AM
gerardhowlin.bsky.social
Micheál Martin has real power at last. The big question is what he’ll do with it

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Gerard Howlin: Micheál Martin has real power at last. The big question is what he’ll do with it
Martin reshaped politics after the economic crash by building the widest possible base committed to some version of the status quo
www.irishtimes.com
February 14, 2025 at 6:09 AM
gerardhowlin.bsky.social
A good foreign policy is one that no one notices. Unfortunately that’s not Simon Harris’s style

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Gerard Howlin: A good foreign policy is one that no-one notices. Unfortunately that’s not Simon Harris’s style
Harris’s success or failure in his new role will mean success or failure for all of us
www.irishtimes.com
January 31, 2025 at 7:39 AM
gerardhowlin.bsky.social
If only the band plays on, we have politics made for jiving to.

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Gerard Howlin: Programme for government is notable not just for a lack of ideology, but a lack of passion
Gathering almost every TD with a stake in the status quo in one government will prove to be a mistake
www.irishtimes.com
January 17, 2025 at 7:51 AM
gerardhowlin.bsky.social
Divorce between managing the economy and managing public spending is harming the country

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Divorce between managing the economy and managing public spending is harming the country
Where there is neither control of spending nor effective delivery, it is the worst of all worlds
www.irishtimes.com
January 3, 2025 at 9:22 AM
gerardhowlin.bsky.social
Fine Gael’s reinvention as a digital cartoon of Fianna Fáil is a stunning mistake.

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2024...
Gerard Howlin: Verona Murphy getting the Ceann Comhairle job was a sign of Michael Lowry’s political savvy
With no third party to disproportionately set the agenda or take the blame, the prospect of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael parting as good friends at the end of the next Government will be more challenging
www.irishtimes.com
December 20, 2024 at 9:01 AM
gerardhowlin.bsky.social
With Labour divided and the Social Democrats sceptical, the focus – and the balance of power – is on a handful of Independents.

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2024...
Gerard Howlin: It’s a measure of the importance of Independents that a lot hinges on Verona Murphy’s next move
With Labour divided and the Social Democrats sceptical, the focus – and the balance of power – is on a handful of Independents
www.irishtimes.com
December 6, 2024 at 9:27 AM
Reposted by Gerard Howlin
tonygroves.bsky.social
The #GE2024 #EchoChamberPod with Gerard Howlin is out now. Political Polar Opposites? Yes. But a very engaging conversation. We even laughed once or twice.

Listen: www.patreon.com/posts/patron...
November 26, 2024 at 8:55 PM
gerardhowlin.bsky.social
👇 Tallaght Strategy II 🥴. Bring back the PDs.

Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil should stop squabbling and concentrate on their messages

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2024...
Alan Dukes: Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil should stop squabbling and concentrate on their messages
Sniping between the two parties is counterproductive and risks turning off voters
www.irishtimes.com
November 25, 2024 at 8:22 AM