Gerard O'Connor

Former President @OgraFiannaFail • Economist 📈 • Déise in Dublin 🟦⬜️ • All Views My Own

[Liverpool FC @LFC]

Virgil van Dijk has paid tribute to Arne Slot after the head coach’s departure from Liverpool 💬

[Liverpool FC @LFC]

Arne helped us deliver our 20th title and we’ll always be thankful ❤️

[Liverpool FC @LFC]

Always part of our history 👏❤️

[Albert Dolan TD @albertdolan_]

Another step forward for transparency.

Following a PQ I submitted, Minister Jack Chambers confirmed his Department will write to state bodies reminding them of their obligations under the EU Open Data Directive, helping ensure spending data is published in consistent, machine-readable formats.

That progress is already visible. The Public Spend Tracker now covers over €100bn+ in public spending, up from €25bn when the work began and €75bn+ by October 2025.

Because this data is now being actively tracked and analysed, many bodies published their Q4 2025 data much earlier than usual, and we are seeing Q1 2026 data following that trend.

The next step is building the “golden thread” linking procurement, contracts, tenders and payments so public spending can be properly understood and scrutinised. This will enable us to move the conversation to outputs over process.

[Albert Dolan TD @albertdolan_]

I am proud to announce my first bill with the ambition to make public spending fully transparent in Ireland.

Too often, taxpayers can see what is spent, but not what it was spent on. That must change.

My Tender to Payment (Public Spending Transparency) Bill will create a golden thread from procurement to final payment, delivering greater transparency, accountability, and value for money for the public.

https://t.co/TabsYaf1ON
@DanielTMurray

[Gerard O'Connor @GOConnor2000]

A lot of people want to call for a United Ireland but not many want to do the work, the Shared Island Unit will be a positive legacy for Micheál Martin.

[Cormac Moore @cormacmoore]

Today’s Irish News article on how the Shared Island Initiative does more for Irish unity than constant calls for a border poll, https://t.co/YmhTZuOG0y

[Billy Kelleher MEP @BillyKelleherEU]

Pearse Doherty is asking EU to abandon Ukraine.

Opposing 90bl euro loan will seal Ukraine’s fate.

Pearse, @sinnfeinireland has been slow to support sanctions on Russia, even though they are killing Ukrainian people.

New narrative is to blame Ukraine for EU budget challenges

[Micheál Martin @MichealMartinTD]

It was with great sadness that I learned of the passing of Brian Crowley.

Brian was deeply committed to his community and his country. His loss will be felt deeply by his mother Sally, his family, his friends, and all his former colleagues.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam

[Isobel @isobelr__]

I have been elected to @LYMEC as a delegate for 2026 🇪🇺💛

Alongside @GOConnor2000, my friend and former president of Ógra Fianna Fáil.

@RenewEurope @ALDEParty

[Gerard O'Connor @GOConnor2000]

@isobelr__ @LYMEC @RenewEurope @ALDEParty Excited to be working alongside you in Europe Isobel, big things to come!

[David W. Higgins @higginsdavidw]

In a world where trust is being upended in global trade, Canada really is one of those solid partners to any agreement. Makes it all the more ludicrous that so many TDs opposed CETA.

[Anthony Scaramucci @Scaramucci]

Here are five of the worst potential outcomes from a US invasion of Greenland:

1. Fracturing of NATO and the Western Alliance
Denmark is a founding NATO member. An unprovoked attack on Danish sovereign territory would trigger Article 5 considerations in reverse—allies forced to choose between the US and the principle that members don’t attack each other. The alliance that has underpinned American security strategy for 75 years could splinter, with European nations accelerating independent defense arrangements and questioning whether American security guarantees mean anything.

2. Driving Europe Toward China
A US that seizes allied territory by force becomes an unreliable partner. European nations, already hedging on economic ties with Beijing, might accelerate that pivot. Germany, France, and others could conclude that strategic autonomy requires balancing between Washington and Beijing rather than alignment with an unpredictable America. The great power competition we’re supposedly trying to win gets substantially harder.

3. Legitimizing Russian and Chinese Territorial Revisionism
Every argument Putin has made about Crimea, every claim China makes about Taiwan—they all become easier to justify when Washington has abandoned the rules-based order it built. “The Americans took Greenland, so international borders are negotiable by force” becomes the new normal. The precedent cascades in ways that damage American interests for decades.

4. Economic Retaliation and Dollar Vulnerability
The EU represents America’s largest trade relationship. Coordinated sanctions, tariffs, and—critically—accelerated efforts to build alternatives to dollar-denominated trade could follow. The dollar’s reserve currency status rests partly on trust in American institutions and predictability. That trust, once broken, is extraordinarily difficult to rebuild.

5. A Protracted Arctic Insurgency
Greenland’s 57,000 people have spent years building toward independence from Denmark—not absorption into America. An occupation facing persistent local resistance, in some of the world’s most inhospitable terrain, with supply lines stretching thousands of miles, could become a frozen quagmire that drains resources and attention indefinitely.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Hopefully Trump will be impeached and removed from office if he tries this. It is no longer a zero probability.

[Billy Kelleher MEP @BillyKelleherEU]

I wonder will Trump supporters across Europe still slavishly applaud this madness.
#AfD @Nigel_Farage @J_Bardella #PVV
We are now entering the twilight zone of international diplomacy. Will his mouthpieces in Europe explain why @realDonaldTrump is threatening jobs in Europe.

[Senator Mark Kelly @SenMarkKelly]

Troops from European countries are arriving in Greenland to defend the territory from us. Let that sink in. And now Trump is setting tariffs on our allies, making you pay more to try to get territory we don’t need. The damage this President is doing to our reputation and our relationships is growing, making us less safe. If something doesn’t change we will be on our own with adversaries and enemies in every direction. Republicans in Congress need to stand up to Trump.

[ian bremmer @ianbremmer]

nyc subway goes america first

[Gerard O'Connor @GOConnor2000]

Delighted to see Waterford paired with our friends in Denmark! 🔵⚪️🇩🇰

[Thomas Byrne @ThomasByrneTD]

📣 EU Presidency County Pairings Announced!

During our EU Presidency term, each county in the State will be “paired” with a specific EU Member State.

Delighted to confirm those county pairings today.

For more info ➡️ https://t.co/y70EPLIfcn

[Micheál Martin @MichealMartinTD]

I want to express my full support for Denmark and our solidarity with the people of Greenland.

The future of Greenland is a matter to be determined by Denmark and by Greenlandic people in line with well-established democratic principles and international law.

[Barry Andrews MEP @BarryAndrewsMEP]

🚨 Hands off Congressman!

#Greenland is European.

[ian bremmer @ianbremmer]

iran has killed more of its own citizens in the last week than died in the 12 day war with israel and the united states.