politics

New Taoiseach appointed
Michael Healy-Rae could walk away from Government over Mercosur trade deal
Junior minister Michael Healy-Rae said he and other Regional Independents were 'steadfast' in their opposition to the deal ahead of Government decision on the trade pact on Friday

Wed, 07 Jan, 2026

GERMANY-US-INTERNET-X-TWITTER-MUSK
As concerns rise over Grok, only one political party has stopped using Elon Musk's X
X has faced sustained criticism because some people are using Grok to remove clothing from real people with a new tool called 'edit image'

Wed, 07 Jan, 2026

Elon Musk Debuts Grok AI Bot To Challenge ChatGPT
AI minister seeks urgent meeting with X over ‘disturbing’ Grok image feature
Niamh Smyth says Grok’s image-editing tool raises serious legal and child protection concerns under Irish and EU law

Wed, 07 Jan, 2026

Taoiseach calls for 'common sense' as Trump continues talk of acquiring Greenland
Taoiseach calls for 'common sense' as Trump continues talk of acquiring Greenland
Using the US military is 'always an option' for the president to consider, a statement released by the White House also said.

Wed, 07 Jan, 2026

Taoiseach leaves door open for Government to support Mercosur trade deal
Taoiseach leaves door open for Government to support Mercosur trade deal
The Government has long opposed the deal, which would see the EU sign a trade deal with South American countries

Wed, 07 Jan, 2026

Fianna Fáil TDs want Micheál Martin to deliver on housing, infrastructure and disability
Fianna Fáil TDs want Micheál Martin to deliver on housing, infrastructure and disability
Some TDs, speaking on anonymity, said they believed Mr Martin should depart as leader in the near future

Wed, 07 Jan, 2026

'I don't see a security risk': Taoiseach on Chinese links to Ireland's third-level institutions
'I don't see a security risk': Taoiseach on Chinese links to Ireland's third-level institutions
Mr Martin also said an EU-China trade deal was 'logical' for the two to resolve trading issues

Tue, 06 Jan, 2026

IRELAND-POLITICS
RTÉ posts on Michael D Higgins 'better kept to the canteen over cups of coffee', minister says
The national broadcaster was widely criticised in November regarding videos shared lamenting the departure of former president Michael D Higgins from Áras an Uachtaráin

Tue, 06 Jan, 2026

'Tyrannical' Venezuelan president Maduro 'did a lot of damage' to his own people, says Martin
'Tyrannical' Venezuelan president Maduro 'did a lot of damage' to his own people, says Martin
China has condemned the US action as a breach of international law, but the Taoiseach said the Irish Government has 'never accepted the legitimacy of the Maduro regime'

Mon, 05 Jan, 2026

China ready for a 'comprehensive framework' for trade with EU, says Taoiseach
China ready for a 'comprehensive framework' for trade with EU, says Taoiseach
Mr Martin also said Mr Xi had committed to 'looking at' beef tariffs, which have been increased to up to 55%

Mon, 05 Jan, 2026

Micheál Martin meets China's Xi Jinping hailing 'long-standing relationship'
Micheál Martin meets China's Xi Jinping hailing 'long-standing relationship'
Mr Martin arrived at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing early on Monday morning, becoming the first Taoiseach since Enda Kenny to meet the Chinese leader

Mon, 05 Jan, 2026

China Russia
Micheál Martin first taoiseach in 14 years to meet China's leader 
Taoiseach arrived in Beijing on Sunday ahead of his meeting with Xi Jinping on Monday

Mon, 05 Jan, 2026

No second bailout for RTÉ as minister rules out renewed State funding after 2027
No second bailout for RTÉ as minister rules out renewed State funding after 2027
Media minister Patrick O’Donovan says RTÉ must grow commercial revenue and modernise as ring-fenced funding ends in 2027

Sat, 03 Jan, 2026

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael used Independent Ireland as ‘bait’ in government talks, says Collins
Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael used Independent Ireland as ‘bait’ in government talks, says Collins
Independent Ireland leader says his party was sidelined in coalition talks and criticises how regional independents entered government

Sat, 03 Jan, 2026

Irish presidential election
Darragh O’Brien says Jim Gavin controversy became an ‘obsession’ for Fianna Fáil
Darragh O’Brien says internal review is complete and Fianna Fáil must refocus on housing, health and cost-of-living priorities

Sat, 03 Jan, 2026

'Door firmly closed' on increased sick days for workers, despite previous commitment 
'Door firmly closed' on increased sick days for workers, despite previous commitment 
Enterprise minister Peter Burke said the Government had also changed the trajectory to a living wage from 2026 to 2029

Fri, 02 Jan, 2026

British ambassador to Ireland focusing on energy, infrastructure and security
British ambassador to Ireland focusing on energy, infrastructure and security
Kara Owen said she was 'really pleased' to be taking on the job in the context of improved relations between Britain and Ireland

Fri, 02 Jan, 2026

Tánaiste urged to withdraw 'dishonest and dangerous' homelessness comments
Tánaiste urged to withdraw 'dishonest and dangerous' homelessness comments
Simon Harris suggested that a 'significant number' of people in emergency accommodation 'don’t have a housing right in Ireland'

Wed, 31 Dec, 2025

Mary Lou McDonald 'hopes' Sinn Féin leadership visits Washington DC for St Patrick’s Day
Mary Lou McDonald 'hopes' Sinn Féin leadership visits Washington DC for St Patrick’s Day
Sinn Féin leader vows to continue to fight against plans to change the Triple Lock

Wed, 31 Dec, 2025

Employers face fines up to €50,000 for failing to join auto-enrolment pension scheme
Employers face fines up to €50,000 for failing to join auto-enrolment pension scheme
Up to 750,000 workers are set to be enrolled as MyFutureFund launches, with penalties for employers who fail to comply

Wed, 31 Dec, 2025

Cost-of-disability payment a priority for 2026, says social protection minister
Cost-of-disability payment a priority for 2026, says social protection minister
Dara Calleary said he wanted to see a budget proposal provided to him before the summer

Wed, 31 Dec, 2025

Teacher Helping Students Training To Be Electricians
'Sloppiness' in electrical apprenticeship exams makes reform 'essential' – minister
Higher education minister says wider reform of further education and training agency Solas is needed

Tue, 30 Dec, 2025

Mid adult professor teaching a lecture from desktop PC at computer lab.
Crackdown planned on 'bogus' schools acting as back door for immigration
English language schools and other institutions will have to meet new quality mark criteria laid down by TrustEd Ireland

Tue, 30 Dec, 2025

Micheál Martin urged to back Bertie Ahern in wake of Jim Gavin's withdrawal from presidential election
Micheál Martin urged to back Bertie Ahern in wake of Jim Gavin's withdrawal from presidential election
Another person suggested Mr Gavin could reconsider his decision to step away

Mon, 29 Dec, 2025

'Sensible' Simon Harris will say no to Fine Gael ministers’ budget requests
'Sensible' Simon Harris will say no to Fine Gael ministers’ budget requests
He also said 'barring an unforeseen shock', there will be a tax package in Budget 2027

Mon, 29 Dec, 2025

Fianna Fail president
Cork MEP Billy Kelleher says he would have won presidency as Fianna Fáil candidate
Cork MEP reflects on Fianna Fáil’s presidential election collapse, leadership fallout and growing fears for politicians’ personal safety

Sat, 27 Dec, 2025

Billy Kelleher: I would have won the presidency and Ireland missed a real choice
Billy Kelleher: I would have won the presidency and Ireland missed a real choice
The Cork MEP reflects on his failed presidential bid, Fianna Fáil’s future, rising extremism and growing strains in transatlantic politics

Sat, 27 Dec, 2025

John Swinney visit to Dublin
Diaspora referendum to extend voting rights for presidential elections is being considered
A plan for a referendum in place in 2019 was ditched amid the Brexit emergency — and covid pushed it further down the agenda

Tue, 23 Dec, 2025

Mary Lou McDonald interview
Voters thought Sinn Féin was ‘pulling punches’ on immigration, McDonald says
In the wake of last year’s local and European elections, Mary Lou McDonald revealed that senior figures in Sinn Féin were “disappointed” with her engagement with the party’s base and that she needed to offer more clarity on its policies, including on immigration

Tue, 23 Dec, 2025

Footage of drones off the Irish coast during Zelenskyy visit may be kept from the public
Footage of drones off the Irish coast during Zelenskyy visit may be kept from the public
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he believed the Defence Forces had taken the correct decision in not shooting down the drones

Mon, 22 Dec, 2025

More than €210,000 claimed back by TDs and senators to upgrade personal security
More than €210,000 claimed back by TDs and senators to upgrade personal security
The Oireachtas members claimed back €210,000 in the last year for items such as intruder alarms, CCTV, panic buttons, and personal monitoring devices

Mon, 22 Dec, 2025

TD 'frustrated' at slow rollout out of contactless payments on public transport
TD 'frustrated' at slow rollout out of contactless payments on public transport
Cork South-Central TD Jerry Buttimer said tap and pay is about making public transport easier for people

Sun, 21 Dec, 2025

Sinn Féin leader will consider rejection of 'super-juniors' case over Christmas 
Sinn Féin leader will consider rejection of 'super-juniors' case over Christmas 
Mary Lou McDonald was reacting to the High Court's decision on challenges brought by People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy and Sinn Féin TD Pa Daly

Fri, 19 Dec, 2025

Tánaiste admits it was 'hard to turn up to work' amid sustained threats against his family
Tánaiste admits it was 'hard to turn up to work' amid sustained threats against his family
'I think most people in this country are just great....It's when people cross that line and start to threaten your young children and your family, that's just not acceptable'

Fri, 19 Dec, 2025

Belgium Europe Summit
Taoiseach: EU loan to Ukraine sends strong signal of solidarity
Micheál Martin adds that it was 'disappointing' that EU leaders did not opt to secure the loan against Russia's frozen assets

Fri, 19 Dec, 2025

Jack Chambers never considered resignation in wake of 'devastating' presidential election
Jack Chambers never considered resignation in wake of 'devastating' presidential election
Jack Chambers was questioned about whether or not he believed it was a mistake to be appointed as the director of elections for Fianna Fáil, while he was preparing Budget 2026

Fri, 19 Dec, 2025

The death of Cork's Máirín Quill: 'She was a true patriot'
The death of Cork's Máirín Quill: 'She was a true patriot'
Ms Quill passed away peacefully, in the presence of her loving family after a long illness

Thu, 18 Dec, 2025

Bill to ban fox hunting defeated in the Dáil by 124 votes to 24
Bill to ban fox hunting defeated in the Dáil by 124 votes to 24
The Bill would not have outlawed the shooting of foxes on one’s land to protect livestock

Thu, 18 Dec, 2025

Cabinet meeting - Dublin
Micheál Martin's leadership 'safe as houses' for the time being, say Fianna Fáil TDs
Several TDs did say they believed Mr Martin could be challenged for his leadership at the end of Ireland’s EU presidency next year

Thu, 18 Dec, 2025

What is long Covid and how do you know if you have it?
Committee urges minister to extend payment scheme for healthcare workers with long covid
Many of the 159 workers became sick during the so-called ‘meaningful Christmas’ in December 2020, when many pandemic-era social restrictions were briefly relaxed, leading to a massive spike in infections

Thu, 18 Dec, 2025

'Reprehensible' to suggest Fianna Fáil withheld information about Jim Gavin, says Micheál Martin
'Reprehensible' to suggest Fianna Fáil withheld information about Jim Gavin, says Micheál Martin
In his first interview since the publication of a report into the party’s calamitous election, the Fianna Fáil leader said Jim Gavin was insistent he never had a journalist as a tenant

Wed, 17 Dec, 2025

What does the Fianna Fáil presidential election review reveal?
What does the Fianna Fáil presidential election review reveal?
After weeks of queries and delays, the party has finally published its presidential election review

Wed, 17 Dec, 2025

Micheál Martin wounded, but his leadership of Fianna Fáil is intact after stormy meeting
Micheál Martin wounded, but his leadership of Fianna Fáil is intact after stormy meeting
Internal party review into its disastrous presidential campaign largely puts the blame at the feet of its candidate, Jim Gavin

Wed, 17 Dec, 2025

Fianna Fáil TDs and senators chide HQ for not dealing with queries about Jim Gavin
Fianna Fáil TDs and senators chide HQ for not dealing with queries about Jim Gavin
Two MEPs who failed to secure party's nomination for the presidential election were among those to address 'tense' party meeting

Tue, 16 Dec, 2025

Micheál Martin told Jim Gavin he could not recommend Fianna Fáil support after tenant row revelations
Micheál Martin told Jim Gavin he could not recommend Fianna Fáil support after tenant row revelations
The review into the presidential election campaign, which saw Jim Gavin drop out of the race over a dispute with a tenant, was completed on Monday evening

Tue, 16 Dec, 2025

Cabinet meeting - Dublin
Taoiseach denies leadership in trouble as Fianna Fáil presidential election review to be shared 
Ahead of the long-awaited review being shared, when asked if his leadership was in trouble, Mr Martin said: “No, not at all”.

Tue, 16 Dec, 2025

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