Indo Politics

As the Dáil breaks for summer, Kevin Doyle and Maeve McTaggart assess the political winners and losers of the past six months. They examine RTÉ's growing funding gap, the fierce battle over hare coursing, Sinn Féin's push on Irish unity, and ask who's heading into the EU Presidency with momentum. We want to earn your trust and are members of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independen...

Ireland’s EU presidency officially began this week and welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Dublin. However, things became a little awkward from the outset when President Zelenskyy raised concerns about Ireland’s ties to Russian alumina. Zelenskyy was forced to cut short his visit due to an imminent attack on Kyiv, once again raising questions about European defence and Ireland’s ro...

As the UK's Labour Party reconfigures in the wake of Keir Starmer’s resignation, we hear about potential new leader Andy Burnham's proud Irish roots, what his northern sensibility might mean for UK politics and how he might deal with a push for a United Ireland. We also discuss the growing pressure on Irish neutrality, the recommendations made in a report from the Oireachtas committee on drugs and...

Indo Politics spoke to Energy and Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien this week as Mary Regan and Cónal Thomas asked the Fianna Fail TD questions relating to several key issues in Ireland today. ­ As the US and Iran near a peace deal, can Irish citizens expect some relief on oil prices? ­ Should excise cuts be extended beyond the end-of-July deadline? ­ Can we expect energy credits to return in the...

French MEP Valérie Hayer, President of the Renew Europe Group, sits down with Mary Regan this week for a wide-ranging interview. On the agenda? Ireland’s imminent EU presidency – what do Europeans expect from us at a pivotal political moment not just for Europe, but the world at large? On that note, how does Ireland’s increasingly difficult relationship with Israel and Taoiseach Micheál Marti...

The Healy-Rae political empire has dominated Kerry for decades, but disagreement over support for the government has exposed cracks within the family. This week, we examine the fallout and whether the famous Healy-Rae brand can survive intact. We also discuss Holly Cairns' growing popularity, the good news around her expanding family and what the Social Democrats' momentum could mean for Irish pol...

The Occupied Territories Bill is finally heading to the Oireachtas, but the government's decision to exclude services has sparked fierce criticism from opposition parties. Meanwhile, the Social Democrats are celebrating major by-election victories, raising fresh questions about Sinn Féin's position on the left and Holly Cairns' growing appeal. Host; Mary Regan, Guest; Maeve McTaggart We want to ea...

A “just delighted” Daniel Ennis of the Social Democrats is racing ahead in the Dublin Central by-election, leaving rival candidates from heavyweight parties in the dust. ­ A historic day for the Social Democrats proved to be a difficult one for both Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil as Mary Lou McDonald and Micheál Martin lost momentum. ­ Meanwhile, events in Galway West have been considerably tighter, wi...

RTÉ was before the Oireachtas committee this week and gossip on the corridors of Leinster House was 'intense'. Political Editor Mary Regan and reporter Aisling Moloney talk through the latest scandal and the ongoing Galway West and Dublin Central by-elections. Host: Mary Regan Guest: Aisling Moloney See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a wide-ranging interview Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan speaks to Political Editor Mary Regan and Political Correspondent Cónal Thomas about migration, Bertie Ahern's controversial comments on migrants and the long wait to become Fianna Fáil leader.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It has been strongly indicated that fuel supports will be a major factor in this year’s Budget, while we’ve recently learnt that Ireland’s electricity costs are way above the European average. Elsewhere, by-election buzz is building as polls mark the way, and Gerry Hutch stands accused of evoking Donald Trump as he finally outlines his policies. ­ Host: Fionnán Sheahan Guest: Conál Thomas See omny...

Confusion at cabinet, delays to short-term letting rules, and mounting pressure from fuel protests are exposing cracks in government strategy. With key by-elections looming, are political tensions rising See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another not-so-quiet week in politics brought us Leo Varadkar’s apologetic climbdown and rumours of in-fighting among the Healy-Rae family, but Catherine Connolly raised tensions as she put pen to paper on the International Protection Bill. Despite signing the bill into law, the President retains concerns about its nature. Are the constraints of her new offi...

It has been a busy first week back in the Dail, as the effects nationwide fuel protests continue to be felt within the coalition government. With Micheál Martin’s leadership of Fianna Fáil facing renewed threats, with a group of TDs approaching senior ministers to discuss a change at the top. While it is understood the disgruntled backbenchers are not close to having the numbers for a successful n...

hings have escalated dramatically in recent days, with nationwide fuel protests dominating the news agenda and causing chaos on our streets. As protestors continue to dig in, notable alarm has been growing in the government. Taoiseach Micheál Martin has condemned the demonstrations, calling the blockage of a key refinery in Cork an act of “national sabotage”. As pressure mounts and talk of Defence...

Mairead McGuinness returns with a new EU role as the government rolls out a €250m cost-of-living package. Will it ease the pressure, or just delay tougher budget decisions ahead? Host; Kevin Doyle, Guest; Cónal Thomas ­ We want to earn your trust and are members of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin sat down with US president Donald Trump for the traditional St Patrick’s Day summit, with Mr Trump in typically boisterous form. How did the Taoiseach get on, though, with Iran, Keir Starmer, and a potential Doonbeg visit all on the agenda?   Host: Tabitha Monahan  Guests: Mary Regan and Cónal Thomas   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ministers may be globe trotting for St Patrick’s Day, but the political temperature at home is rising. As energy prices climb amid tensions in the Middle East, the Government insists it will not be found wanting, but what does that mean in practice? At the same time, Micheál Martin prepares for a significant meeting with Donald Trump in the White House. ­ Host: Fionnán Sheahan, Guest:  Cónal...

As conflict in Iran pushes up energy prices, the Government faces mounting pressure over possible emergency supports. New rent reforms are already causing controversy in the Housing Minister’s own constituency, while Phil Hogan re-emerges as Ireland’s candidate for a top UN job. Tabitha Monahan and Conal Thomas chat through down a tense week in Leinster House.      We want to e...

The government scrambles to contain the fallout from its SNA allocation controversy, announcing a late night funding reversal but has lasting damage already been done? Plus, Sinn Fein selects Janice Boylan for the crucial Dublin Central by election as Gerry The Monk Hutch gears up for another run. What does it all mean for the political landscape? Copy: This week on Indo Politics, the government f...

A tricky week for the Government inside and outside of Leinster House goes under the microscope on the latest Indo Politics. On the agenda: public outcry at proposed SNA cuts, the planning permission row at the Rotunda Hospital, and the much-mooted social media ban for under-16s and how it might work, not to mention the Coalition tensions it’s causing. Host: Tabitha Monahan Guests: Mary Regan and...

Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch has confirmed he will contest the Dublin Central by-election and already the political temperature is rising. On this week’s episode of Indo Politics, Tabitha Monahan and Conal Thomas examine how Hutch’s entry could reshape the race, who Sinn Féin and the government parties are likely to run, and why transfers may once again prove decisive. See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

Whilst heavy rain and winds battered parts of the East coast this week, temperatures rose inside Leinster House. As Bord Bia chairman Larry Murrin appeared before the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee. The government continued to push through regulations on the ban on scramblers, and we now have a date for the upcoming by-elections in Galway West and Dublin Central. So how is the field shaping up?...

It's been a busy week in Irish politics. As the country reels from Storm Chandra, government ministers have accused Met Eireann of withholding information about the extent of the storm. The death of Grace Lynch has placed the government's inability to police scramblers at the heart of political debate. Cónal Thomas joins Tabitha Monahan to discuss the government's next steps in the wake of the tra...

Donald Trump pulls back from threatened tariffs and military action over Greenland, but what does it mean for EU-US relations? From Brussels, Mary Regan joins Tabitha Monahan to assess the fallout, Ireland’s tightrope diplomacy, and fresh tensions over the Mercosur trade deal. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.