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Government collusion in Treaty blackmail clause exposed. Blackmail clause in ESM Treaty is currently inoperable, requires Dáil ratification. Government must use its power to have clause removed. Taoiseach must make immediate statement.

Over the course of February, a statement has been circulating widely on Facebook and other social media sites claiming people can avoid paying the Household Tax and remain within the law “if they do not consent” to the tax.

The opening salvos of the debate about the Fiscal Treaty from the right-wing political parties and the establishment media have attempted to ridicule the argument that this is an Austerity Treaty. Leo Varadkar called on the Socialist Party not to "lie about the treaty and what it's about" (quite a serious charge, especially considering it's over a week since I wrote to him seeking a public debate and have received no reply!).

Government spokesperson admits connivance in insertion of 'blackmail clause' into ESM Treaty

Government's big stick for referendum 'seriously undermined'

• Instead of pushing ahead with Mater site, full public review needed

• Secondary children’s hospitals must be maintained

Since the privatisation of the household bin collection system within the functional area of Dublin City Council kicked in last month, it has been one shambolic controversy after another. The threat this week by Greyhound Waste, which was handed the service by Dublin City Council, that it would not collect the bins of up to 18,000 householders who had not paid a fee in full and upfront is but the latest issue to emerge.

The 2011 League of Ireland season saw unprecedented success but yet more financial woe and hardship.

The government’s newest job creation gimmick revealed in the Finance Bill just published, really does point up its policy bankruptcy in dealing with the crisis of mass unemployment in the State. The huge tax break offered to senior executives earning up to half a million Euro per annum, who work for transnational corporations and would be prepared to move here for one year, is supposed to attract some of the ‘brightest and best’ to come and do something to create jobs in this economy.

The Olympics will be staged in London this summer. The Con-Dems and their big business friends expect that the Games and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in June will bring tourists, consumer spending and profits. But perhaps most importantly, they hope they will deflect the attention of London’s working and middle class from the severe austerity and economic meltdown that will actually be the main features of London in 2012. They are hoping to emulate the policy of the Ancient Roman emperors to keep the masses in check.

Richard McGregor previously worked as the China correspondent for the Australian. His book, "The Party: The secret world of China’s Communist rulers", is a summary of his observations of how the role of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has evolved over the last decade.