Inside Politics

The Inside Politics newsletter. Our politics team’s behind-the-scenes take on events of the day. Every weekday when the Dáil sits

As rain teems down, it’s revealed councillors tried to zone flood-prone sites for development

Inside Politics: Government accused of prioritising tourism over housing

Golf stuff for Trump, whiskey for Zelenskiy and maybe a tastier return for the Irish public

Simon Harris says the Government is looking at ways to encourage Irish people to save and invest

From rent reform rows to short-term lets: Housing remains biggest issue in Irish politics

Inside Politics: Sinn Féin under fire for opposing €90bn loan to Ukraine; Taoiseach stages landmark moment in the Dáil

Martin looks to shatter silence over Freddie Scappaticci

Taoiseach’s Dáil naming of Freddie Scappaticci as infamous M15 agent Stakeknife will pressure British government to follow course

Michael Healy-Rae’s win leaves questions about Government’s zeal for ending homelessness

Inside Politics: preferred pronouns in schools, and incentives for immigrants to join the Defence Forces

Epstein files fallout could affect Ireland through Keir Starmer and in a more opaque way

Micheál Martin urged to raise issue of Irishman held for in US by Ice for five months despite having valid work permit

Irish adviser’s resignation may not be enough to save Keir Starmer

Democrats in US are getting worked up about what Donald Trump might do in advance of November’s midterm elections

Is it too early for byelections fever?

Inside Politics: Busy week sees new opinion poll and the President in Northern Ireland

Micheál Martin gets a boost, while Keir Starmer risks getting the boot

There is some relief this morning for Taoiseach Micheál Martin in our first Irish Times/Ipsos B&A opinion poll

European Commission rebuts US politicians’ claim of Irish 2024 election social media censoring

Irish regulators are accused in US Congress panel report of working with ‘biased fact checkers’

After the floods, Micheál Martin makes a raft of promises

Residents of Enniscorthy were not shy about sharing their disappointment and scepticism with the Taoiseach

This week’s floods highlight the failure of successive governments on issue

Inside Politics: Housing completion figures offer some good news for Coalition

Grace Lynch’s death exposes shortfalls in implementing laws

Government planning to ban scramblers from public places

Storm floods homes while Ministers brainstorm priorities

Inside Politics: The bad weather is due to continue. But fear not – the National Emergency Co-ordination Group is meeting

Cabinet faces packed domestic agenda as world watches Trump

Inside Politics: Ministers are set to approve travel plans for St Patrick’s Day

Micheál Martin knocked by poll as he ponders walking Trump tightrope

Fellow Fianna Fáilers Jim O’Callaghan and Darragh O’Brien have been out promoting what they’ve been doing

After Davos, the US can no longer be treated as a normal EU ally

Canadian prime minister Mark Carney seized the agenda in the Alps with a speech immediately hailed as an historic milestone

Peace in our time? With Trump you never know

The US president has climbed down over Greenland, for now, but the spat has exposed fundamental weakness in the EU

Another day of Europe trying to climb out of a Donald Trump rabbit hole

Ireland will support the collective measures of the EU but won’t lead on them

The moment politics became Greenland, Grok and grotesque

Donald Trump has focused his attack on the EU’s three big weaknesses

For how much longer can Ireland embrace both Boston and Berlin?

It’s getting tougher to sell the Irish message of ‘careful now’

Donald Trump taking control of Greenland could smash the western alliance

The prospect of a definitive break between the EU and the US over Greenland is a horror show for Ireland

Denmark expands military presence in Greenland amid transatlantic megaphone diplomacy

Danish move comes after White House talks over the future of the Arctic island ended after just 50 minutes

Politics braces for fiercer storms as State set to miss emissions target by half

Ireland’s climate experience closely follows the global trend, with 2025 the country’s second-warmest year on record

Housing pressures, FF unrest and a tricky meeting with Trump in prospect as Dáil returns

Opposition parties set to focus on affordability and Government waste and bureaucracy

Micheál Martin’s detractors seem to have come unstuck by basic maths

Taoiseach would be wise to pay attention to the end of The Grinch on the eve of the Dáil Christmas recess

Micheál Martin survives Fianna Fáil showdown - for now

Report lays out process that ultimately proved disastrous for the party’s presidential election hopes

Plan before Cabinet would see €600m in loans to small builders and developers

Scheme to be presented by Simon Harris aims for up to 5,000 new homes in the next few years

Will Fianna Fáil’s presidential campaign review put more pressure on Martin?

Inside Politics podcast with Hugh Linehan

Micheál Martin to find out scale of damage done to him in Fianna Fáil by Gavin fiasco

Meanwhile, Jim O’Callaghan continues to lean into the immigration debate

Eoin Lenihan on how Ireland was ‘vandalised’

Inside Politics podcast with Hugh Linehan

European Council president makes a courtesy call as buzz about drones continues

Ibec urges increase in defence and security spending to safeguard business

Pensions enrolment scheme and childcare plan sum up challenges facing Coalition

Both policies form core of Government’s pitch to voters: it will address chronic issues in delivery while curing symptoms of cost-of-living crisis

People who object to infrastructure projects could be offered damages under new plan

Publication of internal Fianna Fáil review on disastrous presidential election campaign unlikely before next year

Zelenskiy visit brings politics of a world at war to Ireland

Ukrainian president identifies Ireland’s global soft power as a mechanism for ensuring a dignified peace for his country

Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s historic visit to Ireland aims to help secure Ukraine’s future

Ireland to pledge an extra €100 million in non-lethal military support

Jim O’Callaghan’s explicit message on migration, and the Taoiseach’s fondness for overseas trips

Inside Politics podcast with Hugh Linehan

Further measures tighten Government’s ‘fair and firm’ approach to immigration

Latest steps include new restrictions both on family reunifications and citizenship grants

Coalition warned about fiscally ‘flying blind’

Government was supposed to update medium-term expenditure plan last summer but still hasn’t done so

Immigration stays on political agenda as Coalition looks to tighten asylum regime

People seeking international protection face paying up to 40 per cent of their weekly income to fund the cost of State accommodation

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