There’s an intellectual insecurity to the Irish ruling class, its political parties, its media, its blind followers. Driven by despair, it needs little encouragement, enjoys company and this week Catherine Connolly’s defence of self-determination was all it took.

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) didn’t follow proper procedures when it hired Fianna Fáil presidential candidate Jim Gavin as chief operating officer, according to a confidential letter from a whistleblower to then taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

Here’s the type of story you’re supposed to tell back west after working for Chinese state media.

A Basque company last week sent almost half a tonne of vehicle components to Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems – the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) largest weapons supplier.

An Irish airline illegally transported munitions to Israel – despite just months before taking part in a Microsoft Teams call with Department of Transport officials after reports of its munitions flights to Israel.