Ireland’s EU presidency puts its contradictions on display: Atlantic tax haven, digital gatekeeper, defence free‑rider

The Irish government is forecasted to spend up to €400m on its EU Presidency, potentially four times that of the recent Danish and Cypriot presidencies. While much of this money will be allocated to policing and security of high-level events, such an eye-watering sum raises the question: is Ireland simply attempting to dazzle the rest of the EU with a glorified PR exercise to sanitise its image in light of growing misdeeds?

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