Fine Gael

The latest news, analysis and comment on Irish political party Fine Gael

Time to stop this nonsense about ‘people who get up early’

Fine Gael Ministers need to get a new line

State wants us to be tech-savvy, but the problem is we do not trust technology

Public has mixed feelings about Government making access to public services easier online

No plans to cut stamp duty for first-time buyers in budget, says Harris

Minister for Finance says focus of the €1.5 billion tax package planned for the budget would be on income tax

Sinn Féin’s strategy is built on the hope that something will turn up

Hard to escape the conclusion that its plan is simply to try harder with the same strategies and messages as before

Early risers don’t feel looked after by Fine Gael

Promises of support are meaningless in face of increased public transport fares and inaction on housing

Councils must spend all excess Local Property Tax cash on housing under new plan

Ministers to be briefed on issues including online child safety, Arts Council, fodder shortages and citizenship

Policy focus at Fianna Fáil gathering reveals fronts on which Coalition struggling to deliver

Party in better place than it has been at any of its recent think-ins, but big and politically tricky decisions loom

Stamp duty cut: Would it really help first-time buyers or drive up house prices yet again?

Will potential abolition of 1% rate be a help to prospective homeowners or lead to further property market inflation?

Fine Gael ‘cannot afford to cede ground to other political groups on Irish unity’

Party must ‘plan, prepare and articulate’ what a united Ireland means, Neale Richmond to tell members

Budget 2027: Jack Chambers plays down expectations of big tax giveaway after Harris comments

Taoiseach warns one-off cost-of-living payments can erode ability to tackle longer term issues, including childcare

The Cork town transformed from small village to one of the most prosperous areas in Ireland

Carrigaline, south of Cork city, is experiencing challenges familiar to many dormitory areas that enjoy rapid growth

The Magaverse is echoing the language of Ireland’s most pro-data centre party

The pro-data centre language of US politicians sounds strikingly familiar to an Irish audience

We must honour Donogh O’Malley’s legacy by cutting school class sizes

More than 425,000 pupils are in oversized classes, yet we have lost almost 500 teachers

Your guide to the four basic camps in Irish politics

How these political forces negotiate the great tides of the age will determine the country’s future, for good or ill

Honest assessment is needed of Ireland’s military neutrality

Government policies are at odds with stated position

The two things that make Ireland expensive: Energy and housing

The drivers of Ireland’s high-cost economy are many but two stand out

Harris indicates income tax package could be above €1.5bn if additional revenues raised

Minister for Finance determined that people would not be penalised with higher tax bracket if in receipt of overtime pay or promotion

Impact of levy to cover education spending overrun bemoaned by Department of Enterprise

Jack Chambers, who is imposing the levy, said his department would suppress roles and cut spending on consultancy and research to find savings

Our politicians need to engage us with ideas as smart as the one for parents in New York

Criticising the Government isn’t enough: Opposition parties have to convince us they could make our lives better

If there is a strategic brain around the Cabinet table, it is being kept well hidden

Excise duty cuts decision indicates if there is a strategic brain around the Cabinet table, it is being kept well hidden

Fuel supports extended by two months as Dáil vote splits Healy-Rae brothers

Reduction of 30c per litre for diesel and 25c for petrol to remain in place until October 31st

New Arts Council chief takes on a troubled organisation in tough political climate

Shona McCarthy will need to retain support of an Arts Minister not reluctant to speak his mind

Planned increases to fuel excise duty from next month will not go ahead, Government says

Restoration of cuts to be kept under review while geopolitical situation remains uncertain, Minister says

Water rationing is probably inevitable unless people are made to pay for it

The existing system of unlimited free public water for all households is unsustainable in the long term and unfair

Simon Harris’s aide mocked teachers as work-shy and public as ‘racist’

Constituency chief John Kelly called Donald Trump a ‘moron’ and Prince Harry a ‘snowflake’ in social media posts

Rural TDs lobby Simon Harris to stall plans to reinstate full rate of fuel excise duty

There are mixed views among Coalition backbenchers over next month’s planned increase

FG TDs ask firm behind Friedreich’s ataxia drug to consider compassionate access scheme

Meeting held with representatives from Biogen, which makes drug Skyclarys

‘A very dark day in Carlow’: Sisters seriously injured in fatal M9 crash are named

Taoiseach ‘shocked and saddened at horrific road crash’

Micheál Martin says talk of Border poll makes him go ‘bananas’

Taoiseach said party colleagues should concentrate on the benefits of the Shared Island initiative

Calls to examine additional parent’s leave for births of twins and triplets

Cork North West Deputy John Paul O’Shea said current arrangements do not adequately reflect additional demands placed on families

Vape tax increase being considered after it raises €22m in nine months

Increase likely to be announced in Budget 2027

The Limerick mayor, the Government councillors, and a significant row

John Moran’s time in office marked by clashes, in particular one concerning passage of Limerick’s corporate plan

Irish officials proposed scrapping ‘linchpin’ of climate legislation

Move would have ‘scuppered any notion that this Government takes climate action seriously’, environmentalists say

Micheál Martin thinks voters reward delivery. Simon Harris is not convinced

Micheál Martin is a ‘deliverist’ at heart; Harris, by contrast, does things, tells people about them, shows he is doing them – on repeat

Is the Irish economy really Trump-proof? We’d better hope so

As the Taoiseach eyes the exit and the unity debate gets louder, the current calm in Irish politics may not last

Public urged to avoid areas of Co Wicklow due to reignition of wildfire

But ‘promising’ signs of containment of week-long blaze on Slievenamon, Co Tipperary

Pharmacists’ powers to prescribe contraception expected to be in place by year end

Women will be able to get monthly repeat prescriptions at chemists after initial GP consultation

Mary Lou McDonald says Irish unity talks with Simon Harris ‘extremely constructive’

Sinn Féin leader says there is now a recognition that parties need to work collaboratively on the issue

Why Simon Harris will really struggle to move the dial on income tax in the Budget

Fine Gael aspirations to help ‘people who get up early in the morning’ might be kept in check by realpolitik

Miriam Lord’s End-of-Dáil-term awards: Holly Cairns still getting under Taoiseach’s skin

Hissy fits, bust-ups, mortification and demonstrations of backbone as TDs and senators go toe to toe

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE...

Stardust

Inquests into the nightclub fire that led to the deaths of 48 people

Common Ground

How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands