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
Taoiseach bids Dáil farewell for summer recess
Inside Politics: Occupied Territories Bill set to be signed into law following Seanad vote
A sombre Dáil sets divisions aside for apology to Bill Kenneally victims
Inside Politics: Micheál Martin addressed the men abused as boys in the 1980s, saying two former Fianna Fáil TDs failed in their duty to protect them
Cordial loathing between Mary Lou McDonald and Micheál Martin as TDs enter last week of term
Flare-up in hostilities between US and Iran; and back-to-school costs at back of mind
What can we expect before Dáil summer recess?
Inside Politics: Aughinish Alumina is one of the issues hanging in the balance before the break
Nigel Farage’s main byelection rival: Count Binface
Inside Politics: At home, the big set piece this week was Sinn Féin’s bid to ramp up preparations for a united Ireland
MetroLink makes its biggest property purchase yet
Inside Politics: State acquisition of O’Connell Street site for Dublin transport project part of €725m pre-construction spend
McDonald charm offensive fails to win support for Sinn Féin Bill on united Ireland plans
McDonald argued the Bill that would have committed the Government to drafting a Green Paper on reunification within 18 months was ‘not a Sinn Féin thing’
End of term approaches for Dáil, but EU presidency keeps politicians focused
Eurocrats descended on Co Mayo where Dara Calleary played host for an informal meeting
Ireland relieved to have avoided obvious embarrassment on EU stage – so far
Micheál Martin to speak in Strasbourg, and Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin talk about Ukraine
On a day of soft words, Zelenskiy’s tough love stole the show
Zelenskiy did not rain on the parade exactly but this is a political leader whose style of communication is blunt and direct
Aughinish Alumina criticism causes discomfort on Ireland’s first day as EU president
Ursula von der Leyen unlikely to do a walkabout in Cork; and very interesting questions raised following the Jeffrey Donaldson case
Zelenskiy the star turn on opening day of Ireland’s EU presidency
Inside Politics: Ukrainian president will participate in a three-way meeting with Taoiseach Micheál Martin and president of the EU Council António Costa
Yes, the fuel tax cuts will come to an end ... slowly
Inside Politics: Building once-off housing in rural area is about to get easier, especially for Irish speakers
The tricky politics of unwinding petrol and diesel excise cuts
Inside Politics: Irish motorists are promised no ‘cliff edge’ as Ministers decide how to pare back fuel excise cuts
‘The ultra left is nihilist’: Pat Rabbitte outlines why broad left alliance won’t happen
Former minister told Inside Politics podcast that co-operation between Labour and Social Democrats would be ‘wise’
Starmer shafting latest psychodrama in British party politics
A report recommends decriminalising drugs, but the issue has caused division in Ireland
Is decriminalisation of drug possession on the way?
A ‘once-in-a-generation opportunity’ to help people with addiction; and ‘climate on steroids’
Expectation on fuel-duty decision shows how hard it is to unwind cost-of-living supports
Inside Politics: Staying safe in Europe during the heatwave, and claims Occupied Territories Bill has been designed to avoid ‘annoying the Americans’
Podium of doom outside Number 10 marks departure of another British prime minister
Inside Politics: Andy Burnham emerges as frontrunner to succeed Keir Starmer in Downing Street
British political stability a thing of the past as Keir Starmer says he will step down
More rumblings in Fianna Fáil over triple lock, and more work for civil servants when Ireland takes up EU presidency
Taoiseach’s biggest event of the year just around the corner
Meanwhile it’s Makerfield or breakerfield for UK Labour Party as Andy Burnham tipped to win byelection and launch a challenge to Keir Starmer
With abortion reform looking likely, Sinn Féin seems set to achieve rare feat
Abortion may not be the defining social and political issue it once was, but securing a change to reproductive rights would still be significant
Budget 2027 positioning already under way amid long shadow of fuel protests
Inside Politics: There are signals the Government wants to scale back the rate of spending growth in the economy
US-Iran peace deal raises hopes of lower Irish fuel prices
Inside Politics: Fuel prices, public pay and derelict sites all feature on a busy political agenda
Tensions come to fore over drive towards single-tier healthcare
Inside Politics: Meanwhile, political focus on controversial Ireland-Israel matches as, elsewhere, the World Cup kicks off
Focus on Border as entry point for asylum seekers after second night of riots in Belfast
Micheál Martin defends Common Travel Area but says issues need to be addressed
Another State apology for era when politicians, priests and gardaí looked the other way
Serial paedophile Bill Kenneally was able to prey on his young victims in plain sight
Carroll MacNeill the big political winner after Rotunda board backs down
Stand-off arose it emerged consultants on public-only contracts were allowed to treat private patients at the hospital despite a direction not to do so
Push to boycott Ireland-Israel games kicks off in the Dáil
Inside Politics: Two motions will be tabled this week calling for the Republic of Ireland’s Nations League matches with Israel to be called off
All quiet on the Fianna Fáil front for now, but growing ructions on the left
Inside Politics: Galway West and Dublin Central byelection results raise questions over a future left-wing government
Ireland steps up for Ukraine in EU as domestic support wanes
Inside Politics: Ministers hope to make ‘swift progress’ on Ukraine’s bid to join the EU
Occupied Territories Bill becomes political test of Ireland’s stance on Gaza
Opposition parties plan to seek stronger measures as Coalition excludes services from proposed trade ban
Sinn Féin’s struggles suggest uneasy left-wing alliance may be crumbling
Plus: New TDs in the House; and ghost estates return to the news
Soul-searching for Sinn Féin and Mary Lou McDonald after party falls short in byelections
Donald Trump misses son’s wedding amid fresh hopes of compromise with Iran
Ennis and Kyne in poll position on a bad day for big parties
Inside Politics podcast with Hugh Linehan
Record rent-rise was seized upon by candidates in last dash before byelections
Inside Politics: Taoiseach questioned nature of property-group report while elsewhere, RTÉ faced a familiar line of questioning
Ireland leads calls to review EU-Israel trade
Inside Politics: Micheál Martin says behaviour of Israeli security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir towards Gaza flotilla activists was ‘disgusting’ and ‘disgraceful’
RTÉ prepares for another Oireachtas committee grilling
Inside Politics: Expect more fireworks today when Kevin Bakhurst and friends face the music over the latest staff pay controversy
All to play for in Dublin Central and Galway West in last days of byelection campaigns
Plus RTÉ, Big Tobacco and some splendid news
Fianna Fáil critics stay in shadows during Micheál Martin’s weekend in the spotlight
Inside Politics: Pressure mounts on Keir Starmer, and there’s been suspicious betting on the Dublin Central byelection
Boylan, Ennis and transfer tennis in Dublin Central as polls show second preferences vital
British prime minister Keir Starmer on the brink; and Bertie Ahern’s long shadow over Fianna Fáil Ardfheis
Boylan, Ennis and transfer tennis in Dublin Central as polls show second preferences vital
British prime minister Keir Starmer on the brink; and Bertie Ahern’s long shadow over Fianna Fáil Ardfheis
Coalition prepares €7bn budget against backdrop of potential economic turmoil
Inside Politics: Our opinion poll on the Dublin Central byelection will give first indication of who’s in line for seat
Micheál Martin under pressure over response to striking ambulance workers
Inside Politics: Spending ‘diktats’ from Jack Chambers are ‘going down like a lead balloon’, according to one Minister
Keir Starmer fights for his political life
Fianna Fáil marks centenary milestone amid byelection campaigns
Jostling continues as Jim O’Callaghan and Jack Chambers call for different types of change
Nigel Farage’s Reform UK is exerting more and more influence
Galway West byelection: Is Independent Ireland’s Noel Thomas transfer-friendly enough?
Inside Politics: Irish Times/TG4 poll shows Seán Kyne with a narrow lead over Thomas in contest for Connolly’s former seat
Byelection juices flowing in Galway West and Dublin Central
Cost of living looks set to dominate campaign; and HSE’s financial position has ‘significantly worsened’
Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael spat shows student fees issue remains weak point for Coalition
Behind the scenes, there was plenty of finger-pointing, with the two parties blaming the other
Time to seriously examine going nuclear, says Taoiseach in Armenia
Micheál Martin says further cost-of-living measures coming in next budget
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
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
Family NoticesOpens in new window
Weddings, Births, Deaths and other family notices