Brendan K O'Rourke
@brendankorourke.bsky.social
Critical business academic into discourse analysis, economics, enterprise, strategy, progress & equality
Reposted by Brendan K O'Rourke
Wild idea: what if the Commission listened to civil society and independent scientists instead of the usual corporate suspects? 🙃
While industry lobbies tighten their grip, progress on climate, pollution and digital rights is being chipped away.
That's not competitiveness. That's capture.
While industry lobbies tighten their grip, progress on climate, pollution and digital rights is being chipped away.
That's not competitiveness. That's capture.
September 16, 2026 at 9:39 AM
Wild idea: what if the Commission listened to civil society and independent scientists instead of the usual corporate suspects? 🙃
While industry lobbies tighten their grip, progress on climate, pollution and digital rights is being chipped away.
That's not competitiveness. That's capture.
While industry lobbies tighten their grip, progress on climate, pollution and digital rights is being chipped away.
That's not competitiveness. That's capture.
It is very hard to support Irish farmers when their representative organization seeks to maintain system that destroy our natural resources.
European farmers have been promised flexibility but no new money to help cope with the effects of record-breaking droughts and heatwaves this summer
Farmers promised flexibility but no new money at meeting
European farmers have been promised flexibility but no new money to help cope with the effects of record-breaking droughts and heatwaves this summer.
www.rte.ie
September 8, 2026 at 5:19 PM
It is very hard to support Irish farmers when their representative organization seeks to maintain system that destroy our natural resources.
I won't be holding my breath for the rightwing media's investigation of the possible ideological bias in Cambridge University given Dr. James Orr's work for Reform channel4news.substack.com/p/exclusive-...
Exclusive: Nigel Farage filmed undercover celebrating secret new foreign donations
Undercover footage verified by Channel 4 News reveals a secret plot by senior Reform UK figures to break the law on party donations. A leading legal expert is now calling for a criminal investigation.
channel4news.substack.com
September 3, 2026 at 8:38 PM
I won't be holding my breath for the rightwing media's investigation of the possible ideological bias in Cambridge University given Dr. James Orr's work for Reform channel4news.substack.com/p/exclusive-...
This waste of public money on supporting 'private' market solutions is stupid if totally in line with FFFG and neoliberal policy refusal to get the state involved in building housing, Calling it socialism is confused & confusing. www.davidmcwilliams.ie/post/sociali...
Socialism is happening in Ireland under a so-called centre-right Coalition
The Irish banking system is not functioning because there is not enough lending
www.davidmcwilliams.ie
August 25, 2026 at 5:59 PM
This waste of public money on supporting 'private' market solutions is stupid if totally in line with FFFG and neoliberal policy refusal to get the state involved in building housing, Calling it socialism is confused & confusing. www.davidmcwilliams.ie/post/sociali...
We pays way too much attention to godlike 'top economists' but it interesting that it seems mostly to be when their views are inconvienent for the wealthy that are subject to media criticism.
EJMR is dead; here is The Economist: “Why the economics profession doesn’t trust Acemoglu.” Trivia: they cite our expert review of Acemoglu et al. (2001). www.economist.com/finance-and-...
The world’s most influential economist is oddly unconvincing
Daron Acemoglu is revered. Why?
www.economist.com
August 19, 2026 at 11:43 AM
We pays way too much attention to godlike 'top economists' but it interesting that it seems mostly to be when their views are inconvienent for the wealthy that are subject to media criticism.
Reposted by Brendan K O'Rourke
Look at this graph.
The share of national income going to the richest 10 percent was lowest (and share to lower 90 percent highest) when union membership was at its highest. As unions have weakened, inequality has widened.
This is why we must build back union power.
The share of national income going to the richest 10 percent was lowest (and share to lower 90 percent highest) when union membership was at its highest. As unions have weakened, inequality has widened.
This is why we must build back union power.
August 9, 2026 at 2:00 AM
Look at this graph.
The share of national income going to the richest 10 percent was lowest (and share to lower 90 percent highest) when union membership was at its highest. As unions have weakened, inequality has widened.
This is why we must build back union power.
The share of national income going to the richest 10 percent was lowest (and share to lower 90 percent highest) when union membership was at its highest. As unions have weakened, inequality has widened.
This is why we must build back union power.
€1.5 bn on tax reductions in #Budget2027 disappears in inflation. Spending it on #preschoolireland transforms costs for families, those in the sector & allow many to go back into the labour force & so reduce inflation. Win win win! @simonharrisireland.bsky.social @jackchambers.bsky.social
August 6, 2026 at 12:03 PM
€1.5 bn on tax reductions in #Budget2027 disappears in inflation. Spending it on #preschoolireland transforms costs for families, those in the sector & allow many to go back into the labour force & so reduce inflation. Win win win! @simonharrisireland.bsky.social @jackchambers.bsky.social
Reposted by Brendan K O'Rourke
This Thursday, SpaceX insiders will be released from their first post-IPO stock lockup and can cash out early.
As I've been saying, this has all the hallmarks of a Ponzi scheme.
As I've been saying, this has all the hallmarks of a Ponzi scheme.
August 5, 2026 at 12:11 AM
This Thursday, SpaceX insiders will be released from their first post-IPO stock lockup and can cash out early.
As I've been saying, this has all the hallmarks of a Ponzi scheme.
As I've been saying, this has all the hallmarks of a Ponzi scheme.
Reposted by Brendan K O'Rourke
#NewBrunswick #Canada #Science
This is a huge discovery.
Moncton-based company Breathe BioMedical has developed a test that can detect signs of breast cancer by analyzing breath samples in women of all breast density types.
globalnews.ca/news/1200880...
This is a huge discovery.
Moncton-based company Breathe BioMedical has developed a test that can detect signs of breast cancer by analyzing breath samples in women of all breast density types.
globalnews.ca/news/1200880...
N.B. company’s new breath test could change how breast cancers are detected | Globalnews.ca
A new breath test could change the way breast cancers are detected, specifically in women with dense breasts, thanks to Moncton-based company Breathe BioMedical.
globalnews.ca
August 5, 2026 at 3:51 PM
#NewBrunswick #Canada #Science
This is a huge discovery.
Moncton-based company Breathe BioMedical has developed a test that can detect signs of breast cancer by analyzing breath samples in women of all breast density types.
globalnews.ca/news/1200880...
This is a huge discovery.
Moncton-based company Breathe BioMedical has developed a test that can detect signs of breast cancer by analyzing breath samples in women of all breast density types.
globalnews.ca/news/1200880...
Reposted by Brendan K O'Rourke
The Government has stalled its long-promised plans to roll out shared mobility hubs, which would include bike and electric car-sharing facilities, across the country because they included e-scooters.
jrnl.ie/7118501t
jrnl.ie/7118501t
E-scooter ban puts promised bike and electric car rental hubs on ice
The Green Party has criticised the government’s decision to stall the pilot scheme as ‘totally spurious’.
jrnl.ie
July 31, 2026 at 11:30 PM
The Government has stalled its long-promised plans to roll out shared mobility hubs, which would include bike and electric car-sharing facilities, across the country because they included e-scooters.
jrnl.ie/7118501t
jrnl.ie/7118501t
Reposted by Brendan K O'Rourke
🇪🇺Yesterday I addressed Minister for Social Protection @daracalleary alongside my Employment and Social Affairs Committee Members as we kick off the Irish Presidency
🏡 As always ‼️Housing‼️ is top of my agenda
🇮🇪Ní neart go cur le chéile
🏡 As always ‼️Housing‼️ is top of my agenda
🇮🇪Ní neart go cur le chéile
July 17, 2026 at 4:55 PM
🇪🇺Yesterday I addressed Minister for Social Protection @daracalleary alongside my Employment and Social Affairs Committee Members as we kick off the Irish Presidency
🏡 As always ‼️Housing‼️ is top of my agenda
🇮🇪Ní neart go cur le chéile
🏡 As always ‼️Housing‼️ is top of my agenda
🇮🇪Ní neart go cur le chéile
We need elected local councillors to actually have power - good piece by @mariesherlock.bsky.social on Dublin situation
www.thejournal.ie/prev/7101383...
www.thejournal.ie/prev/7101383...
The bother with bins: Too much waste and too little control over how rubbish is collected
Households are facing higher costs and fewer choices because local authorities have little control over this vital service that affects everyone.
www.thejournal.ie
July 15, 2026 at 6:53 PM
We need elected local councillors to actually have power - good piece by @mariesherlock.bsky.social on Dublin situation
www.thejournal.ie/prev/7101383...
www.thejournal.ie/prev/7101383...
Why is the FFFG government further delaying this?
secure.labour.ie/page/193962/...
secure.labour.ie/page/193962/...
Petition: Survivors Have Waited Long Enough
Please sign our petition to support survivors of institutional child sexual abuse in getting the redress they are owed by religious orders.
Your support sends a message: survivors deserve justice and...
secure.labour.ie
July 9, 2026 at 7:55 PM
Why is the FFFG government further delaying this?
secure.labour.ie/page/193962/...
secure.labour.ie/page/193962/...
Ireland’s early 20th century independence struggle produced an election slogan ‘Put him in, to get him out’ to free imprisoned leaders. Is this Farage’s ‘Let me out, to get away with it?’ or others’ ‘Put him back in, to catch him up’?
July 7, 2026 at 8:35 PM
Ireland’s early 20th century independence struggle produced an election slogan ‘Put him in, to get him out’ to free imprisoned leaders. Is this Farage’s ‘Let me out, to get away with it?’ or others’ ‘Put him back in, to catch him up’?
Hope this is true.
Scientists built a solar reactor that eats plastic bottles and burps out clean hydrogen at scale
Cambridge Uni made the device with simple materials using a paint sprayer—offering a possible dual fix for plastic pollution and dirty hydrogen production
www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2026/07/scie...
Cambridge Uni made the device with simple materials using a paint sprayer—offering a possible dual fix for plastic pollution and dirty hydrogen production
www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2026/07/scie...
Scientists built a solar reactor that eats plastic bottles and burps out clean hydrogen . . .at scale.
A Cambridge University team made the device with simple materials using a paint sprayer—offering a possible dual fix for plastic pollution and dirty hydrogen production
www.anthropocenemagazine.org
July 6, 2026 at 8:24 AM
Hope this is true.
Reposted by Brendan K O'Rourke
We are excited to announce our Congress, this time augmented with 500 years anniversary of the University Marburg
Discursive Imaginaries of Change - Heterotopias, PowerKnowledge, and the "Great Transformation"
19–21.7.27 Marburg, Germany
Save the date and apply soon!
discourseanalysis.net/DNC2027
Discursive Imaginaries of Change - Heterotopias, PowerKnowledge, and the "Great Transformation"
19–21.7.27 Marburg, Germany
Save the date and apply soon!
discourseanalysis.net/DNC2027
DiscourseNet
The community portal for Discourse Studies
discourseanalysis.net
June 25, 2026 at 10:56 PM
We are excited to announce our Congress, this time augmented with 500 years anniversary of the University Marburg
Discursive Imaginaries of Change - Heterotopias, PowerKnowledge, and the "Great Transformation"
19–21.7.27 Marburg, Germany
Save the date and apply soon!
discourseanalysis.net/DNC2027
Discursive Imaginaries of Change - Heterotopias, PowerKnowledge, and the "Great Transformation"
19–21.7.27 Marburg, Germany
Save the date and apply soon!
discourseanalysis.net/DNC2027
Reposted by Brendan K O'Rourke
Soils managed with regenerative practices held between 8 & 15% more water than conventionally tilled soils, and produced biomass yields 15 to 20% higher for same volume of water.
Regenerative farming restores soil health & helps biodiversity and captures carbon.
www.euronews.com/2026/06/04/r...
Regenerative farming restores soil health & helps biodiversity and captures carbon.
www.euronews.com/2026/06/04/r...
How soil health could be Europe’s best drought defence
Regenerative farming could save enough wheat during drought to produce 130 million baguettes, according to a new French study.
www.euronews.com
June 26, 2026 at 9:29 AM
Soils managed with regenerative practices held between 8 & 15% more water than conventionally tilled soils, and produced biomass yields 15 to 20% higher for same volume of water.
Regenerative farming restores soil health & helps biodiversity and captures carbon.
www.euronews.com/2026/06/04/r...
Regenerative farming restores soil health & helps biodiversity and captures carbon.
www.euronews.com/2026/06/04/r...
Reposted by Brendan K O'Rourke
According to Irish Water, as of 2021, data centres across Ireland drank about 810 megalitres of water from the public mains a year.
But that same year, Meta reported that it withdrew 928 megalitres of water for its data centres in Clonee alone.
How is this possible?
But that same year, Meta reported that it withdrew 928 megalitres of water for its data centres in Clonee alone.
How is this possible?
Does Irish Water even know how much water data centres are using? Much of the debate around data centres has focused on electricity, but the gap in figures for their water use has started to draw more attention – and breed mistrust.
Does Irish Water even know how much water data centres are using?
Much of the debate around data centres has focused on electricity, but the gap in figures for their water use has started to draw more attention – and breed mistrust.
www.dublininquirer.com
June 26, 2026 at 7:11 AM
According to Irish Water, as of 2021, data centres across Ireland drank about 810 megalitres of water from the public mains a year.
But that same year, Meta reported that it withdrew 928 megalitres of water for its data centres in Clonee alone.
How is this possible?
But that same year, Meta reported that it withdrew 928 megalitres of water for its data centres in Clonee alone.
How is this possible?
Reposted by Brendan K O'Rourke
Over 1,000 hospitals and other medical providers are now at risk of cuts or closures, thanks to Trump and Republicans’ big, ugly bill.
All to pay for tax cuts for the super-rich.
Never forget who they really govern for.
All to pay for tax cuts for the super-rich.
Never forget who they really govern for.
June 24, 2026 at 8:31 PM
Over 1,000 hospitals and other medical providers are now at risk of cuts or closures, thanks to Trump and Republicans’ big, ugly bill.
All to pay for tax cuts for the super-rich.
Never forget who they really govern for.
All to pay for tax cuts for the super-rich.
Never forget who they really govern for.
Reposted by Brendan K O'Rourke
excellent to the point 🧵. private funded pensions only add additional transaction costs & risks to what must be a transfer from current workers to retirees - you cannot store up consumption for the future. workers either pay taxes or see profit share rise or buy overvalued assets from retirees.
Die Koalition will einen Rentenfonds nach 🇸🇪 Vorbild, in den 2% des Lohns fließen.
Wie schon bei Lindners Aktienrente (remember him?) greift die progressive Kritik an diesem Element der #rentenreform viel zu kurz.
Internationale Evidenz zeigt: Kapitaldeckung = Finanzialisierungsmaschine. 🧵
Wie schon bei Lindners Aktienrente (remember him?) greift die progressive Kritik an diesem Element der #rentenreform viel zu kurz.
Internationale Evidenz zeigt: Kapitaldeckung = Finanzialisierungsmaschine. 🧵
June 24, 2026 at 11:44 AM
excellent to the point 🧵. private funded pensions only add additional transaction costs & risks to what must be a transfer from current workers to retirees - you cannot store up consumption for the future. workers either pay taxes or see profit share rise or buy overvalued assets from retirees.
Reposted by Brendan K O'Rourke
🌊 🧱In a world where people in small boats are pushed back into dangerous waters and higher walls are built, selling #GoldenVisas raises serious moral concerns.
Our index analysis shows this is also a #FinancialSecrecy issue. #FSI2026
👉Read more: taxjustice.net/2026/06/23/i...
Our index analysis shows this is also a #FinancialSecrecy issue. #FSI2026
👉Read more: taxjustice.net/2026/06/23/i...
June 24, 2026 at 6:00 AM
🌊 🧱In a world where people in small boats are pushed back into dangerous waters and higher walls are built, selling #GoldenVisas raises serious moral concerns.
Our index analysis shows this is also a #FinancialSecrecy issue. #FSI2026
👉Read more: taxjustice.net/2026/06/23/i...
Our index analysis shows this is also a #FinancialSecrecy issue. #FSI2026
👉Read more: taxjustice.net/2026/06/23/i...
Reposted by Brendan K O'Rourke
I’ve been campaigning on this for over ten years.
Govt can no longer ignore the evidence.
Well done to the cross-party committee members.
Govt can no longer ignore the evidence.
Well done to the cross-party committee members.
An Oireachtas committee has recommended the decriminalisation of possession of all drugs for personal use.
Decriminalise personal-use drug possession, cttee says
An Oireachtas committee has recommended the decriminalisation of possession of all drugs for personal use.
www.rte.ie
June 24, 2026 at 6:39 AM
I’ve been campaigning on this for over ten years.
Govt can no longer ignore the evidence.
Well done to the cross-party committee members.
Govt can no longer ignore the evidence.
Well done to the cross-party committee members.
Another reason for faciltating remote working wherever it works and it can work in ways we have not thought of yet.
A new study shows the severe social, economic and wellbeing impacts that congestion is having on the M50's users.
Here's what M50 users have to say about congestion on that road
A new study shows the severe social, economic and wellbeing impacts that congestion is having on the motorway's users
www.rte.ie
June 24, 2026 at 8:39 AM
Another reason for faciltating remote working wherever it works and it can work in ways we have not thought of yet.
Reposted by Brendan K O'Rourke
it was surprising to hear Unite's Sharon Graham
criticize Ed Miliband's record as 'job destroying' climate activism.
We hope she reconsiders, on a day where UK is under extreme heat warnings.
The climate crisis is real, we need a Chancellor who fights it.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
criticize Ed Miliband's record as 'job destroying' climate activism.
We hope she reconsiders, on a day where UK is under extreme heat warnings.
The climate crisis is real, we need a Chancellor who fights it.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Progressive economists reject Unite leader’s criticism of Ed Miliband
Sharon Graham is urged to withdraw her claim that the energy secretary would cost jobs if he became chancellor
www.theguardian.com
June 24, 2026 at 7:11 AM
it was surprising to hear Unite's Sharon Graham
criticize Ed Miliband's record as 'job destroying' climate activism.
We hope she reconsiders, on a day where UK is under extreme heat warnings.
The climate crisis is real, we need a Chancellor who fights it.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
criticize Ed Miliband's record as 'job destroying' climate activism.
We hope she reconsiders, on a day where UK is under extreme heat warnings.
The climate crisis is real, we need a Chancellor who fights it.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Brendan K O'Rourke
Excited to join Lara Monticelli, Torsten Geelan, and Jan Groos to co-organise the Alternatives to Capitalism Network @sasemeeting.bsky.social! Check out the Network, our new call for papers, and guidelines here: sase.org/networks/i-a...
@bcusociology.bsky.social @bristoluni.bsky.social @uni-kiel.de
@bcusociology.bsky.social @bristoluni.bsky.social @uni-kiel.de
October 20, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Excited to join Lara Monticelli, Torsten Geelan, and Jan Groos to co-organise the Alternatives to Capitalism Network @sasemeeting.bsky.social! Check out the Network, our new call for papers, and guidelines here: sase.org/networks/i-a...
@bcusociology.bsky.social @bristoluni.bsky.social @uni-kiel.de
@bcusociology.bsky.social @bristoluni.bsky.social @uni-kiel.de