We only have to look at the way the great institutions of the United States have been shredded by Donald Trump in a little over a year. Closer to home, the experience of the UK over the past 10 years shows how a wrong turn such as Brexit can lead to political chaos and economic decline. By contrast Ireland has, for the present, remained a bastion of political common sense and continuing economic stability with continuing budget surpluses. Of course, Opposition politicians and the media have a duty to highlight the problems facing society. This involved short-term pain for many but, as the Central Bank pointed out recently, household wealth has doubled since the crisis.

Source: The Irish Times December 26, 2025 06:22 UTC