James Lawless unleashed a furore with his miscalculated comments on fees. Might budgetary vagueness and "options" offer a way back? But just how serious is the Coalition friction? Trump's tariffs still stalk the economy, threatening State coffers. As this term limps to the finish line, the Govt remains mired in the housing quagmire.
Another downward revision on housing, looming concrete shortages and the impact of homelessness on children. Government initiatives are afoot, but progress in completions is slow. An end to the long Covid scheme for health workers, and a tactical wee? Sinn Féin spokesperson misses a Dáil vote for the call of nature.
After months of no committees, there were finally fireworks at Health with the scandal-mired CHI getting a grilling. Outraged TDs warn the agency has lost its way as its future is questioned. More bad news on housing with another forecast saying Govt targets for '25 are already a bust. But the Oppo fears apathy is taking the heat out of the crisis.
We try to unpack the tortured calculus of the Government's rental plan. One thing's clear - if it delivers, it won't be anytime soon. And is there now a danger people could simply tune out, as with hospital trollies? The Opposition remains united on Israeli war bonds, again hammering the Coalition. Simon Harris pushes ahead with Triple Lock reform.
President Higgins slams a "slander against Ireland" over its criticism of Israel. Simon Harris slams the Opposition over deploying "brickbats" and "moral superiority". The Coalition majority looks less robust as pro-Govt TDs support Sinn Féin. Housing delivery remains dire, and may worsen further. And the fox's fate hangs on a bill at second stage.
The National Children's Hospital saga rumbles on, with Simon Harris squarely in the Opposition's crosshairs. Have lessons been learned, or will costly errors be repeated with the new National Maternity Hospital? Cara Darmody's Dáil protest puts assessment of need at the top of the agenda. Tánaiste says Occupied Territories Bill is moving forward.
The report into the Oireachtas bike shed names no-one and, quelle surprise, vows that lessons will be learned. While the minister in charge has - boldly - promised to cut driving test times in 10 weeks, one person felt they had no option but to go to Georgia to get theirs. The hip surgery crisis gathers pace as another health scandal looms.
The new PAC chief alleges 'massive profiteering' in housing asylum seekers, and vows action. RTÉ's DG seems calm ahead of a tricky committee appearance. Pressure on Gov over Gaza rises, with demands to pass Occupied Territories Bill. And a TD no-show in the hard-won Other Members' Dáil time leaves the Govt red-faced.
There's fresh developments over the housing czar, with the front runner ruling himself out. But like the housing market, the debate stays very heated. After massive expenditure, the Farrelly Commission fails to answer crucial questions. Turnout in elections might be higher than we thought. And it turns out dandelions were good guys all along.
Donald Trump steps back from the brink...for now. The 90-day pause is nowhere near long enough to hammer out trade deals. So, what happens on 9 July? We may get a housing tsar, but will they be hobbled by water supplies and planning blockages? More grim revelations at CHI, and the Soc Dems ditch the high ground to pull an old fashioned stroke.
Donald Trump has unleashed a crisis which may prompt a recession. Irish officials are all on message - negotiations are needed, not tit-for-tat trade warfare. But the usually upbeat Pascal Donohoe warns of 'dark and more damaging' scenarios. Will the EU bring out the big guns? Or the US blink first? The world is being pulled into terra incognita.
A remarkable, arguably unprecedented, week in Irish politics. Verona Murphy remains in situ, and Micheál Martin is doubling down. Given the ('Lowry') Government majority, is it all over bar the shouting? That double digital meme is bad for brand Martin, already damaged by this controversy. But how's it all faring on Paul's bus route?
The seasons may change, but the speaking rights row rumbles on. Expect high drama next Tuesday as it all comes to a head in the Dáil. "Not a red cent" has been paid out of a multi-million "game-changing fund" for children with special needs. Radical steps promised on housing, as figures again plummet. Plenty of talk - where's the action?
Micheál Martin got out of the Oval Office intact, only for Donald Trump to hit Irish alcohol with a 200% tariff. The 'emperor' and his deputy clearly have fondness for Éire, but how to leverage it? While the Taoiseach's one blunder was on housing, with many asking how that problem could be good. Market jitters greet Trump's recession remark.
Germany stuns as it ditches fiscal rectitude for tanks and guns. France thumbs its nose at the US, rallies a coalition of the willing and offers to extend its nuclear umbrella. Gorilla handshakes and golf links beckon as Micheál Martin prepares to greet Donald Trump in Washington. Amid the turmoil, the Dáil is knocking off - again - until the 19th.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanks Ireland as he fights for a just peace with Russia. The EU is on the outer orbit of the talks, but will be picking up the tab. Simon Harris struggles to get a clear message on the triple lock. And the speaking rights row has gone toxic, fueling instability when our political system least needs it.
US President Donald Trump is causing mayhem in liberal democracies. The speed and focus of his offensive has surprised many, not least Volodymyr Zelensky. As EU heavyweights convene, Ireland is very much at the edge of the table. Back home, the housing minister faces charges of being MIA. And Linda Martin for the Áras?
The latest fracas between Sinn Féin and the Gov has our correspondent reaching for Marcus Aurelius. Micheál Martin's irked remarks got the Ceann Comhairle's attention: is a walk-back imminent? Then he's got that tricky Paddy's Day visit to the White House. Housing continues to dominate, briefly eclipsed by the Arts Council blowing millions of euro.
Demand continues to soar as delivery stumbles, landing the Govt in a serious jam over housing. Planning reforms face legal challenges, so who can deliver the Big Bang that is clearly needed? And were voters sold a pup? Micheál Martin has a pop at the Soc Dems, who pop right back as wrangling over Storm Éowyn fallout continues.
A Government proposal to break the logjam over speaking rights has been met with another barrage of fury from Opposition ranks. It's shaping up to be a repeat Dáil row next week over the Goverment-supporting technical group. Meanwhile, gender imbalance continues to keep the Cabinet off kilter. And the Seanad count ploughs on.
It was a good day, ministerially speaking, for male barristers named James. Women fared far worse in Cabinet appointments. There's the freshness of new new faces, but also a lack of experience. How much scope does James Browne have at Housing, after Darragh O'Brien's struggle? Paul's bus chats provide crucial intelligence.
Are the Regional Indos in or out? A bit of both, maybe. There's not much passionate support for the Prog for Govt, but not much criticism either. FF and FG got it over the line, which was far from given. No timelines or costings as the new govt waits for the impact of Trump 2.0 on our open economy. And parliamentary party rooms are up for grabs.
It's all go, if a bit slow. Will we have a new government by the 22 January deadline, or is after St Brigid's Day more likely? And don't forget the Seanad elections. A DPP file, 14 years after the final Moriarty report, may spell tribunal trouble for Michael Lowry, arguably not a great look for new generation political avatar, Simon Harris.
After fierce speculation and passionate appeals from the candidates, the Dáil has its first female Ceann Comhairle. Michael Lowry emerges as a key player and kingmaker, if a controversial one, overseeing Verona Murphy's historic appointment. And now the Healy-Raes look set to give the new administration a half-leg up.
Things are shaping up in the process of government formation. Labour and the Soc Dems are out, and the Regionals might be in. Will Verona be the first female Ceann? Or might Sinn Féin cause an upset? Speculation is rife over who'll get a ministerial role. With the realignment of the independents, and the end of the Rurals, where will Mattie end up?
Micheál Martin has a bounce in his step, like he knows he'll be leading the next administreation, but with whom? The tortuous choreography of the government formation waltz is slowly getting underway. Slim chance of it being done by Christmas. Who'll be Ceann? Seán Ó Fearghaíl isn't a lock. Then there's the tug of war over the justice portfolio.
There's a hefty deficit of clarity as the election campaign winds down. Has the die has been cast, or are there still a raft of undecideds? Few pundits are willing to forecast with the ground having shifted in recent days. After all the plans and costings, did any of it change anyone's mind?
The weather is lousy and everyone's wrecked, so perhaps a bit of agro is to be expected. Sparks are flying on the campaign trail. Claims and counterclaims on what was or wasn't in which manifesto. As the final week approaches, the shortest campaign in memory feels likes its been underway a long time. All eyes on Saturday's opinion polls...
We're nearing the end of week one, but things have yet to catch fire on the campaign trail. Is the sparring between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil a sham or serious agro brewing? Either way, it's good news for Sinn Féin. But there's no doubt that on a constituency level, the ground war is very real (just ask Stephen Donnelly).
And they're (almost) off! A three week sprint and then we'll vote. Micheál Martin's neat footwork kept him centre-stage while Simon Harris made up his mind. Seán Ó Fearghaíl appealed for more diversity in the next Dáil. But across the pond, it's back to the future with Trump 2.0. And we bid fond farewell to a bona fide journalistic giant, DDP.
