David W Higgins: A fuel cap costing billions would be like downing a bottle of painkillers rather than seeking a cure Economists disagree on what comes next in the fuel crisis. But we do agree that higher fuel prices will ricochet through the economy, pushing up the cost of almost everything, food especially.

It's time we talked about Ireland's fake conservatives, lacking the most basic sense of fiscal conservatism.

www.independent.ie/opinion/comm...

Ireland is the second most affordable in the EU for the price of diesel vs local net earnings. Despite a drop in affordability, we haven't yet fallen below the EU average from one year ago. Spain, often compared to Ireland is much less affordable because of lower wages.

Now we know what a "vandalised" Ireland looks like

Every county in Ireland (bar Roscommon, 49%) is now above 50% new car sales for hybrid and electric models (Q1 2026)

Another fuel subsidy is a painkiller. It's not the cure.

A greater share of new hybrids / EVs were sold in Connaught / Ulster in Q1 2026 than were sold in Dublin in Q1 2024.

Helping rural Ireland can't only be another fuel subsidy.

Even Trump appointees went 2-1 against tariffs.

Majority (6)
🔴 Roberts (W Bush)
🔵 Sotomayor (Obama)
🔵 Kagan (Obama)
🔵 Jackson (Biden)
🟠 Gorsuch (Trump)
🟠 Barrett (Trump)

Dissent (3)
🔴 Thomas (HW Bush)
🔴 Alito (W Bush)
🟠 Kavanaugh (Trump)

David W Higgins: ‘Middle powers’ have more heft than US and China, but we face a tightrope walk TV show The Traitors is back on our screens. After the first Irish series ran last year, it left many of us yearning for more to consume. Enter the UK version, which has just wrapped up its fourth season....

Today's column is about Mark Carney's rallying of the "middle powers". Where might it be needed for such countries to stock together? I consider capital wars, the next escalation after trade / tariff wars.

www.independent.ie/opinion/comm...

Two big TACOs this month

Galway on CNN

Davos LIVE: Canadian PM Mark Carney speaks at World Economic Forum Watch live as Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivers a special address at the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos. Follow live updates: https://bit.ly/4r2zTbJ

I went back to watch (Mayo man) Mark Carney's speech to Davos in full. So good it got a standing ovation.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dE98...

Yes, I'm with that perspective being the more likely one. I just can't fully dismiss an "art of the deal" play being before us. And thanks for being my first reply on this platform. Trying it out.

One US perspective on their new foreign policy was that it did Europe a favour. Create fear of US security guarantees, to push defence spending up. And up it's gone, with more to come.

So why Greenland? Unless it's to squeeze out even more, such as covering all US military costs in Greenland?

All you're seeing unfold in geopolitics and financial markets this week. Remember, the backdrop. Government debt as a % of GDP:

Euro Area = 88.2%
USA = 125.0%
Japan = 229.6%

Gold smashing $4,570 isn’t just a market rally, it’s a global vote of no confidence in paper money. 📉🪙

With the Trump administration taking aim at the Fed’s independence, the era of fiat stability is cracking. Read my latest 👇

www.independent.ie/opinion/comm...