Ireland: The people paying for the mistakes....

Ireland is a country in deep economic trouble with the people of the Emerald Isle having to pay for the mistakes of an incompetent Fianna Fail government and the criminal negligence of bank bosses.

The sheer size of the debt, which has meant a bailout of billions from the EU and the IMF, has placed the Irish people in an economic wilderness for years to come, with jobs and homes being lost in the process. For the first time in a generation, more Irish people are leaving their homeland than returning.

This week voters kicked out the ruling party Fianna Fail and it is Fine Gael, with the Labour Party in coalition, which will lead the country through the next few years of gloom. The next Taoiseach (prime minister) Enda Kenny, leader of Fine Gael, has pledged to renegotiate the terms of the bailout, which are so steep that it is feared the Irish economy will be strangled, along with its people.

In an article in Monday's The Independent, the paper draws attention to the bailout deal and declares: "The Irish people seem resigned to a long period of economic austerity. But they are not, rightly, resigned to endless bondage."

It is hoped that Mr Kenny, as Taoiseach, has the guts to return to the table and seek a deal that allows Ireland some respite from the mistakes of its past masters and their greedy bankers. Let's also hope that he has the cojones to pursue those who have abused their positions to amass large fortunes at the expense of the Irish people.

The Oscars 2011: The King's Speech takes the honours...

When it comes to moments of the most excruciating self-abasing kind, the Oscars can always nominate itself as the cream of the crop. Those winning speeches by recipients of the gold statuette, are often so sickly sweet that one is tempted to sell grandmother, just to counter-balance the saccharine overload.

So, I generally avoid the "live" coverage and watch the recorded highlights, with the remote on fast forward. The reviews for hosts James Franco and Anne Hathaway have been mixed, but their appearance failed to revive a tired format and efforts to appeal to the youth market was never really going to work. The kids of America and the wider world have no real interest in seeing a bunch of over-fed backroom fat men troop on stage in tuxedos to wax lyrically about whatever it is that got them there.

The "Oscars" is an industry event, held to promote movies across the globe, but the coverage is overblown and strangely old-fashioned. For the stars a win can add millions of dollars to their next pay-check and it is the screen talent the public only want to see.

Colin Firth's win for "The King's Speech" was well-deserved and his acceptance speech was thankfully almost cringe-free. For a speech of divine nonsense it is worth checking out the one the then Sir Laurence Olivier made in 1979 on receiving an Honorary Oscar.

However, only Hollywood could assemble, in one place, such a vast array of talented individuals, recognised and feted across the globe and even the richest amongst them would consider selling their souls to the devil for a statuette.

The Royal Wedding: Didn't Catherine do well?

It is touching to see the UK media fall into line and declare Miss Catherine Middleton's first two outings as consort to her future husband a great success. About to marry Prince William, eldest son of the adored Princess Diana, Catherine will now spend the rest of her life in a goldfish bowl, married into a dysfunctional family that appear to just about tolerate each other and where strangers are welcomed if only as breeders for the next irrelevant generation.

Catherine Middleton hails from a self-made family of "commoners" and in recent years has had to put up with the snobbishness of Prince William's own friends who used the whispered phase "door to manual" whenever she appeared - a snooty reference to her mother's former occupation as an air-hostess. But she is intelligent and bided her time, waiting for her Prince to propose. No doubt after the wedding those same people who disparaged her family will be the first to curtsy before her....and revenge is sweet.

The wedding, to take place on April 29th, will attract a huge worldwide audience and in the UK there has been much discussion about those who have been invited like David and Victoria Beckham and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, who hasn't. The Duchess is her own worst enemy, but she has known William all his life and her daughters will be in attendance alongside her ex-husband.

Her omission does appear to be another act of spite from the Royals who detest her. One wonders why her ex-husband and her daughters allow her to be treated in such a manner. Couldn't they stay away in protest at her treatment? We normal people would, but within the Royal family another set of standards persist.

The majority of guests for the wedding come from the highest echelons of society and Prince William's own friends are mostly trust-fund gentry. You are unlikely to be amongst his inner-circle if you have had to buy your own antique furniture, instead of inheriting it.

Miss Middleton has emerged victorious in her quest to marry the balding Prince. Let's hope she has a better time of it than his mother when she married into "The Firm".

Libya: Colonel Gaddafi mad, bad and dangerous...

Colonel Gaddafi of Libya is mad, bad and dangerous and doing what he has always done, orchestrating the killing of his own people. Alas, he is now doing so openly, in a last ditch attempt to retain power for himself and his family, embarrassing those world leaders who, in recent years, have embraced him and made efforts to shroud him in near-respectability as just another tyrant they were happy to do business with.

The current crisis engulfing the Middle East and sweeping across North Africa has exposed the hypocrisy of Western powers, prepared to surrender morals for business deals and questionable friendships and happy to supply the ruling despots with the ammunition to cower and kill their own people into submission. And the rest of the world, including the UK and the US, has been happy to play along, expressing, when forced, only half-hearted concerns about the trampling of human rights as part of the price to pay for "stability".

One gets the feeling that the revolution against the oppressors is not necessarily going to end in triumph for the people of the countries involved, or for those Western powers who so enthusiastically supported fleeing rulers during their years of tyranny. When the ordinary people of these countries discover how much the West bolstered the survival of their corrupt leaders, one wonders how they will react? Who will the newly-reincarnated countries turn to for economic support and who amongst them will emerge as leaders?

It is a dangerous time, with oil prices soaring and countries across the world worried about their economic futures. The USA's authority as a super-power has been diluted in recent years and one wonders who else is out there ready to carry the mantle of the oppressed? And will they be any better than those tyrants they replace?

The Coalition Government: Those in charge like headless chickens...

It started to go wrong when the Foreign Secretary William Hague announced that Gaddafi had left Libya "for Venezuela", which only drew attention to the shortcomings of Britain's intelligence community. Then we had the fiasco over stranded Britons at Tripoli airport, when the first plane being sent to rescue them developed "technical problems" before it could even take off from the UK.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister, sensing an opportunity, was touring the Middle East with several arms dealers in his party, drumming up business for military equipment in an area of the world ready to ignite into flames of retribution. But what the hell, at least any killing would be done with weapons supplied by the United Kingdom. Mr Cameron must have blushed with embarrassment as he whored his wares on behalf of a grateful nation's trade balance.

The Prime Minister had to interrupt his travels to appear on television and apologise for the dismal effort to rescue those stranded in Libya and also backtrack on a gaffe by his Deputy PM.

Mr Clegg, it seems, was unsure as to who was in charge while the Prime Minister was away and thought maybe it was himself, although it didn't stop him leaving the country for a skiing holiday. However, Mr Cameron said he was still in charge, whilst Mr Clegg re-joined William Hague as one of the sad men of British politics.

Poor Mr Hague's recent appearances seem to show a man out of his depth as Foreign Secretary, with little real enthusiasm for the job and when a reshuffle of the cabinet is announced, it is possible that his name will not be there.

In recent weeks the Coalition government has had more U-turns than Mr Clegg has had lovers and its apology quota is erring on the side of the farcical. In a week when it was found that the economy ended last year even worse than first thought, it is worrying that those in charge are seen to behave like headless chickens.

Barclays: A bank with the morals of the Mafia....

Whenever I see the name Barclays I can't help but conjure up images of a bank that steadfastly supported white supremacy in South Africa when the rest of the world was finding its conscience and marching against apartheid.

And then more recently the bank was accused of bankrolling the regime in Zimbabwe, supplying billions in loans for questionable enterprises, perhaps not exactly helping Mugabe to stay in power, but certainly not hindering his reign of terror either.

One gets the impression of a bank with the morals of the Mafia, unburdened by social responsibility and allowing nothing whatsoever to get in the way of profits. Barclays boss, Bob Diamond, recently appeared in front of a panel of MPs and declared, without a blush, that in 2009 the bank paid over £2billion in taxes.

However, it has now emerged that this figure included the payroll tax paid by employees and the bank's actual payment in corporation tax was £113million, on profits of £11.6billion. The bank engaged in a distortion of the truth, as easily and as smoothly as a Mafia boss on trial.

The bank's behaviour is an absolute disgrace, the unacceptable face of capitalism, even if its actions are within the law. It is just not right that one section of the community, the ordinary people of Great Britain, has to bear the pain of higher taxes and spending cuts, while the rich in their ivory towers carry on regardless.

It is a sick travesty, which the Coalition government has to address before the silent passive majority in the UK stop seething with rage and take direct action. The protests in Egypt may not only have inspired the ordinary citizens of the Middle East.

The Coalition Government: Can't see the wood for the trees.....too many U-turns

The Coalition government can't see the wood for the trees in its rush to announce new projects and money-saving ideas, followed by a series of U-turns that are starting to look suspiciously like downright incompetence.

David Cameron's decision to axe the forest sell-off is undoubtedly the right one, but surely commonsense should prevail before such vital decisions are announced? It seems that in an effort to attain glory, individual ministers are rushing out ill-thought out policies, only to have them overturned by public proclamation, followed by Mr Cameron's disassociation with the plan as if it had nothing at all to do with the government he leads.

This is all very well if you are just talking about changing the colour scheme of your dining-room, but when it involves the sale of the country's asset, then we should really expect a little more diligence and thought. Otherwise, one of these days we will find that the Tower of London really has been mistakenly sold!

It is also quite alarming how quickly and easily this Coalition government is prepared to drop its principles and indulge in U-turn practises at the drop of a hat. It seems the Prime Minister blames it all on the lack of special advisers to ministers, many of them consigned to menial jobs following the election. Their departure was done at the time to display to the public the government's determination to save money. It is now likely that the number of advisers will increase in the coming months...and no doubt at a cost several million pounds more than before.

Mr Cameron appears to be heading in a direction that sounds tough and precise, but without real focus, despite his Big Society. As each day of this government passes, one gets the impression there is a lack of cohesion amongst his mongrel cabinet and it is only a matter of time before we see real splits develop.

Television: Big Fat Gypsy Weddings.....

For Americans with nervous dispositions, my advice is look away if the UK television reality show Big Fat Gypsy Weddings comes your way. Or better still, lock your doors and watch in horror and fascination as the cameras record how "gypsies" enact courtship and marriage, with its gypsy brides competing to wear the most outrageous and gaudy dresses as they stumble down the aisle.

The programmes have been a sensation here in the UK, causing offence to Romany gypsies everywhere who do not want to be associated with the Irish travellers portrayed in the series. What has really upset them is the so-called tradition of "grabbing", which allows young gypsy men to grab, kiss and basically physically abuse girls as a form of courtship. The young girl who fails to resist becomes their bride.

Irish travellers, known mainly as "tinkers" in Ireland, are seen as a cut below the genuine Romany gypsies, but the television series has built a massive audience here in the UK.

Egypt: So long, Farewell, Auf Wiedershen.....Mubarak goes!

So they are finally rid of Hosni Mubarak. While the people of Egypt celebrates his departure, the rest of the world must hope that the future will not bring it into conflict with their aspirations.

Because, while Mr Mubarak kept his people poor and oppressed, he also kept Egypt relatively stable and pro-West, especially pro-United States of America, which in return gave billions in dollar aid for him and his regime to use as they wished. Those dollars also helped buy peace with Israel, which must be a worried place tonight.

Other countries too must be concerned, with leaders in neighbouring countries no doubt keeping a packed bag handy, ready to flee should the need arise.

Tonight, the military is in control of the country, but then in reality it always has been and it will be its reaction to the democratic process that will decide Egypt's future in the world order.

Banks & Bankers: George Osborne acts......£800 million extra taxes

George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, upset bank chiefs with the announcement that he was taxing them for another £800 million this year. You could hear the wails of anger from boardrooms across the land as the surprise tax was announced by a man who they probably had seen as a friend.

There are cynics who would say that it was a pre-arranged announcement, making George look tough and the banks contrite, but that has been denied by one and all. It certainly gave the Chancellor an air of confidence as he faced Ed Balls in the Commons, the first time they have clashed since Ed Miliband was forced into appointing Mr Balls to the position of Shadow Chancellor. Hate and contempt seeped from one to the other and further performances from both should prove Oscar-worthy.

In banking terms the £800 million is chicken feed and it will be interesting to see what else is in store when Mr Osborne announces the result of current discussions with the bankers over future pay and bonuses within the banking sector. There was talk that bank chiefs would withdraw from the talks with the government in protest over the latest tax, but good sense prevailed and no doubt these Masters of the Universe will find ways and means to reward themselves sufficiently in the future.

Animal Cruelty: Waitrose ducking out of its responsibility...

Film of ducks being cruelly treated on a Norfolk farm that supplies the supermarket chain Waitrose, has shocked its upmarket customers who paid premium prices for the end product, presumably confident that the welfare of the animals during their brief lives was not an issue.

It is always shocking to hear of one person's wanton acts of cruelty, but the fact that several workers at Home Farm in Hingham routinely took part in activity that caused pain to the animals, is a sad reflection on our society. Sadly, it has been established that such behaviour takes place on farms like Home Farm and in abattoirs up and down the country on a daily basis.

Waitrose said it was "appalled" by the cruelty and has withdrawn its contract from the farm. But is that good enough? Surely it should have been routine for the supermarket chain to inspect the farm with surprise visits and routinely check CCTV footage of activity taking place on its behalf?

It is simply not good enough for the chain to shrug and walk away without taking some responsibility for the welfare of animals raised and killed on its behalf. It is time supermarkets took serious measures to guarantee animal welfare on premises used by them to feed the nation.

Frank Wisner: No wonder President Mubarak hasn't gone...

No wonder President Mubarak hasn't gone. The messages from President Obama and Mrs Clinton that he should step down have been rather coded and vague and then the man sent by America to speak with him had his own message of support for the Egyptian President.

Frank Wisner, Obama's special ambassador, went to see Mr Mubarak and emerged to say: "The President must stay in office to steer those changes. I believe President Mubarak's continued leadership is crucial - it's his chance to write his own legacy."

Now duplicity in politics is the norm, but for such a statement to be made by an American representative, at a time when the people of Egypt are banging on the President's door demanding his departure, is rather foolish and perhaps not a good move for future relations between both countries.

The statement that Mr Wisner, who it has emerged works for a law firm that acts on behalf of the Egyptian hierarchy, was talking in a "personal capacity" is not acceptable and casts doubt on the integrity of President Obama and his Secretary of State. For the people of Egypt, who are aware that Mr Mubarak's three decades in power have been mainly financed by massive aid from the US, it is an act of betrayal. When Mr Mubarak finally departs, it is possible that the United States will also be a loser.

The revolution in Egypt has caused problems for America, who saw Mubarak's leadership as a barrier to Islamic extremism and now worry what the future holds for that country and those just beyond its borders. It does seem that we in the West are prepared to be blind to dictatorial excess, so long as our interests are best served. Unfortunately, around the world American servicemen and women have died defending dubious causes, as in Iraq and Afghanistan where, despite efforts and gloss, the brutal and corrupt remain in power.

Prior to his election, Mr Obama won great praise for his oratory skills, winning him the Presidency, but since being elected he has disappointed in his ability to communicate. Perhaps when you reach the highest office in the land you have to sacrifice truth and fluency for one's country's self-interest and expediency.

However, America and Great Britain, for too long have sided with those who have not served their people well and in today's changing world it does appear that the movement for change may leave both countries on the outside looking in.

English Football: Treating fans with contempt.....

It has always puzzled me how and why English football fans continue to remain loyal to clubs that see them as money-machines and behave towards them with levels of contempt unheard of in other sports.

While fans treat it with reverence, those who control football see it purely as a cash cow, their cynicism and greed seeping like a virus down through the game, from club owners to agents and ultimately pampered players, with no genuine allegiance to a club, other than for financial gain.

The massive amounts of money now earned by star-players allows them to indulge in lifestyles and depravities Roman Emperors would envy. Many of these footballers have resorted to the courts of late to seek injunctions against the media publishing stories of sordid affairs and acts of debauchery, while fans scrimp and save to add to the coffers of this spoilt elite.

Of course, not all players are shagging someone else's missus, but loyalty to club and fans appears to be forgotten in the modern game. Think Rooney and Everton, Torres and Liverpool, although in defense of the latter, he was always just a hired pair of expensive legs. Poor Fernando must have wondered what curse descended upon him in his opening game for Chelsea, but the millions he has banked will undoubtedly ease the anguish and pain.

At the end of the day, football is a commericial business run by hard-headed businessmen (mainly men!) with an eye on the balance sheet. So why shouldn't the hired hands, the footballers, get their slice of the proceeds?

Piers Morgan: Where have all the viewers gone?

I like Piers Morgan. His self-confidence and self-believe amuse me and any success he has is like a knife straight to the hearts of those in the media who hate his cocky ways. The anti-Piers list is very, very long.

His new job, as Larry King's replacement, sent some of his enemies into a spiral of depression, but they have quickly recovered with the news that Piers and his CNN bosses are left wondering where have all the viewers gone? It seems they have switched off in their thousands.

Great disappointment has been expressed that in place of the "hard" interviewer they expected, Mr Morgan has turned into a star-groupie, using his tongue, not to lash his guests with penetrating questions, but to lick his way into their good books.

It would shatter his ego if it was all to end badly, so it is hoped that ratings will recover enough to prolong his American stay, keeping him out of the UK. Now that would please an awful lot of people.

David Cameron & Nick Clegg: Will the Coalition survive without electoral reform?

David Cameron's heart may not be into the electoral reforms as demanded by the Liberal Democrats, but he and Nick Clegg must be worried that should the proposals not go forward, then the Coalition will falter and end in recriminations.

Watching Mr Cameron on PMQs today, one couldn't help but admire his delivery and stance as if to the Premiership born and he really does appear to be enjoying his moment. On the other hand, Nick Clegg sitting beside him, looks haunted and unwell, with the world on his shoulders and accusations of turncoat whirling around him.

It is reported that Tory backbenchers are fearful that the Prime Minister's allies would be happy for a "Yes" vote to take place, boasting Nick Clegg's position and stalling any attempts by Liberal Democrats to put pressure on their leader to withdraw from the Coalition.

The pressures on the Coalition are beginning to mount as spending cuts start to bite and headlines of job cuts emerge daily. There must be those in government and trade unions who are watching the protests in the Arab world and wonder if such extreme action could happen here? Could it? The protests over tuition fees shocked many, but let's face it many in the population believe that pampered students should pay for their own education.

However, there are many ordinary people in the UK worried sick about jobs, homes, petrol prices and cuts in benefit, who might find people-power appealing and take to the streets of Liverpool, Birmingham...London. Should mass protests take place, how long would the government hold firm?

As a matter of interest, if the Army was called out to control disturbances here in the UK would HM The Queen have to give her consent? Just a thought.

Jordon: Her trashy life in the movies....

My fascination with Jordon, that lady of class and distinction continues! She is one ruthless woman, as can be seen by her treatment of latest husband Alex Reid, the cagefighter who no longer amuses her. One does get the impression that Jordon really does not like men and sees them mainly as disposable appendages for publicity purposes and to use and abuse when the batteries run out.

Between arranging for poor Alex to leave the marital home, she has been planning a trip to Hollywood to hawk her trashy life around with a proposal it be turned into a movie. Of course, it is unlikely ever to happen, unless on a webcam, but it feeds her passion for tabloid headlines!

However, you have to admire her work ethic, with an announcement that she will feature in a new Sky Living reality show, launch a new fashion range and no doubt look around for some other male victim to have on standby should she need them.

Egypt Crisis: Hired thugs in Tahrir Sq

As the Egypt crisis escalates, President Mubarak has ordained he will depart in September and will not contest the next presidential election, seemingly oblivious to the wishes of protesters and the International community that he should go now.

Meanwhile, pro-Mubarak protesters moved into Tahrir Square today to confront those who want the President out. It is reported that hired thugs and members of the feared riot police in civilian clothes are amongst the pro-Mubarak element, intent on creating instability and perhaps forcing the army to clear the square of all protesters.

There have been some shocking scenes of violence and revenge, resulting in the death of at least one man and over 600 people injured. Tonight, Egyptian state television warned people to evacuate Tahrir Square amid fears that either the riot police or army will move in to clear the area, which could lead to wholesale bloodshed.

The International community is being diplomatic in its messages that Mubarak must go immediately, anxious not to be seen to be influencing events in a foreign country. But there is some criticism that President Obama is being over-cautious in his statements. But the United States has to be careful in its dealings with Egypt, especially as most of that country's population and the rest of the Arab world see Mubarak as a puppet of America.

Whatever happens in the coming days, one wonders what kind of country Egypt will become and what will its relationship be with the West and, in particular, Israel?
However, the immediate concern is that the Army will feel under an obligation to assert its authority and move on the protesters in Tahrir Square.