A quite day next Thursday has tongues wagging in the corridors of Leinster House. Might it be the day we get our election date? Deputies are ready to go and already wearing out the shoe leather to get a running start. Things get spicy with FF and FG ready to pivot from partners to rivals for votes.
Is the dog about to get a glimpse of the rabbit? As the election looms the Dáil has signed off on a raft of bills as the Government clears the decks. Ex-MEP Clare Daly throws her hat in the ring for a seat in Dublin Central. Sinn Féin struggles on as Darragh O'Brien grapples with falling house construction.
Mairéad Farrell is the woman of the moment, apparently on the cusp on taking the helm of the powerful PAC, following the shock departure of Brian Stanley. But how many meetings will the Galway TD get to chair before an election is called? 29 November, anyone? Sinn Féin slogged through the week from hell, but it hasn't managed to turn the page.
The Dáil guillotine comes out for the Planning Bill as parliament grinds on amid growing election speculation. Hollywood eco-star Mark Ruffalo gives the Green Party a slap over LNG, Sinn Féin's child protection scandal escalates and the intensifying war in the Middle East engulfs UN peacekeepers.
The Gov splashed the cash, and for all the billions of largesse, it's getting grief over €9m for phone pouches - or 'magnetic holders'. Will the 'wasters' tag loom larger the longer Simon Harris holds off calling an election? Political insiders say it'll be in November, but who really knows? And we bid farewell to the redoubtable Mary O'Rourke.
It's all over bar the shouting. And there's been plenty of that. With each governing party having something to take to the electorate, the Opposition are concerned about the scale of spending in Budget 2025, claim that it lacks substance and warn that once-off spends will soon be forgotten 'like snow off the ditch'
Bike shelter costs in the ha'penny place after reports on the security shelter emerge. The Budget days away, and spending choices to be made. The runaway costs for the NCH puts the Taoisesach in the cross hairs, and his comments on immigration add to the heat. And then there's that New York trip by President, Taoiseach and Tánaiste...
Leinster House lockdown keeps protestors at arm's length as the Dáil resumes, but with pre-election buzz continuing politicians made prompt exits to hit the campaign trail. Speculation as to when we will be going to the polls has hit fever pitch. And then there's the surplus of budgetary kites...
Childcare, housing, migration are dominating this pre-election cycle, and with €14bn of Apple's cash on the way, the stakes just climbed even higher. Across the pond, Donald Trump went off message and straight into the ditch, while Kamala Harris kept her campaign on track. And Pat Finucane's family finally get a public inquiry into his murder.
The furore over the inflated cost of an Oireachtas bike shelter gave way to stunned outrage as the scale of abuse at Irish schools was laid bare. Parties clashed over who can sort the housing crisis, and Barnier's back as Macron finally gets his PM.
A busy summer for Taoiseach Simon Harris, meeting, greeting and literally wearing the green jersey at the Paralympics. Meanwhile, as election speculation intensifies, all parties are scrambling to get candidates in place, with a few celebrities in the mix. A hectic autumn political season beckons.
Warnings to avoid a Budget bonanza are being batted away by the Government. 'Impeccable manners and a steely edge'...Simon Coveney is to depart the political stage. And can Roderic O'Gorman can wash away the Green Party's toxic reputation in rural Ireland?
Sir Keir's all set for No. 10. Pundits are speculating on the size of Labour's majority, and who will (be left to) lead the Opposition. Might a change in Whitehall deliver an opportunity to reset relations with our nearest neighbour? More importantly, when we will go to the polls here? The team have a few potential dates.
He's into his sport, but - unlike his Budget partner Paschal Donohoe - you won't see him at Taylor Swift. Who is Jack Chambers? Áine and the team consider the steep learning curve ahead of the 33 year old, the vote on the Migration Pact, Giorgia Meloni's ire and Natasha O'Brien's standing ovation.
Will Eamon Ryan's departure speed the 'green reset' needed to restore the party's fortunes? Áine and the team also consider the prospects of a Cabinet reshuffle, whether the Budget will come early, the "strange carry-on" over the Dáil vote on the Migration Pact and Ed Davey's impressive performance on the UK campaign trail.
This was to have been the aftermath podcast, but counting continues nationwide after voting last Friday. Áine and the team get the latest developments, and ponder some puzzling transfer patterns.
It's the question everyone is asking, but even the top brass in Sinn Féin can't say why support has dropped so significantly. With results flowing in from the local and Euro election counts, Áine Lawlor, Paul Cunningham, Tommy Meskill and Mícheál Lehane analyse why Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have had a better day than they were expecting.
In the final days of the campaign for the local and European elections, candidates are trying harder to attract social media attention. Fine Gael has seen former minister Simon Coveney display questionable horse riding skills, candidate Maria Walsh appearing in a video choosing between US and European snacks, and Seán Kelly... going topless.
The National Children's Hospital will miss its completion dates by a "country mile". When will it finally open? The Palestinian flag has been raised over Leinster House - but what practical impact will Ireland's recognising the state of Palestine have? And, with polling day almost upon us, we give you a rapid-fire lowdown on the elections.
The Housing Cssn report is a "devastating" blow to the Gov's credibility, say Sinn Féin. Tommy Meskill discusses the story he broke. Paul Cunningham assesses Ireland's recognising Palestine. While David Murphy casts an eye back over Tony O'Reilly's life.
An EU leader is gunned down, and the intimidation of campaigning politicians here worsens, with weeks still to go before ballots are cast. The Government considers putting up tents at Thornton Hall, as Sinn Féin's struggle over migration is arguably costing it support, with Fine Gael wiping out its lead in the latest Ipsos research.
We know that Ireland is close to formally recognising Palestine, thanks to Europe Editor Tony Connelly, who broke the story and contributes to this podcast. But who would we be recognising as its government? Ireland is pushing for a review of the EU's association agreement with Israel. But will Hungary successfully exploit divisions to block it?
Rishi Sunak, 'gleeful' amid false rumours of gardaí being border-bound, and warnings not to be duped by a certain Fleet Street broadsheet, and its increasing tabloid tone. Relations between the Irish and UK governments are in dire straits over the issue of migrants.
A momentous week, with the families of the Stardust victims getting an overdue and, most people agreed, heartfelt apology from the Taoiseach. The delicate issue of how to manage migrants crossing the border with Northern Ireland took centre stage. Meanwhile, many asked, do protestors have the right to wear balaclavas to a politician's home?
Áine and the team consider the unlawful killing verdict in the long-running inquest into the Stardust fire. On the political front, they look at the very combative dynamic emerging between the Taoiseach and the Leader of the Opposition.
Simon Harris's first week as Taoiseach saw him in Brussels and Warsaw... but not the chamber of the Dáil, prompting an 'as láthair' attack from Sinn Féin and some social media kung fu between himself and Mary Lou McDonald.
Áine and the team consider the election of the country's youngest ever Taoiseach, the changes he has made to his executive team, and whether there's fight in this Coalition yet.
As Simon Harris readies to address the party faithful at a gathering in Galway, Áine and the team discuss the horse-trading the country's youngest leader faces to cement a majority. Who's going to get the nod for a Cabinet gig? And is the Green agenda set for a slap or two? The Peaky Blinders and Marbella fashion also feature.
New broom, new rules. Simon Harris readies himself to overhaul his party. Áine and the team assess the scale of the challenge he faces.
Leo's Day morphed into Simon's moment. Áine and the team review an unprecedented 24 hours in Irish politics and consider what lies ahead.
