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A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>After collapsing in the Dáil in June 2023, Patrick O’Donovan was admitted to Beaumont Hospital. His neurologist diagnosed him with deep frontal lobe epilepsy. File Picture: Sasko Lazrov/Photocall Ireland/Department of Education</p>

spotlight

Patrick O’Donovan on epilepsy, politics and hitting rock bottom in Ireland’s health system

The arts minister reflects on epilepsy, misdiagnosis, stigma and why revealing his condition became unavoidable in public life

<p>Despite dubbing himself “Sensible Simon”, some have questioned whether Mr Harris will be able to say no to Fine Gael ministers as easily as Mr Donohoe was. Picture: Moya Nolan</p>

politics

'Sensible' Simon Harris will say no to Fine Gael ministers’ budget requests

Paul Hosford: Simon Harris’s Fine Gael leadership risks becoming a one-man show

John Swinney visit to Dublin

politics

Diaspora referendum to extend voting rights for presidential elections is being considered

Paul Hosford: Paschal Donohoe’s departure makes it harder to rebuild Fine Gael

Simon Harris tying Fine Gael's fortunes to the person at the top

comment-analysis

Simon Harris tying Fine Gael's fortunes to the person at the top

Minister 'concerned' about Young Fine Gael's difficulty in re-establishing branch at UCC

Minister 'concerned' about Young Fine Gael's difficulty in re-establishing branch at UCC

It comes as the executive refuses to allow new political societies to be formed

Wed, 19 Nov, 2025

European Union Finance Ministers Eurogroup Meeting

The Donohoe decade: Ireland's budget surpluses were built on a corporate tax tightrope

As Paschal Donohoe moves on to a new role in the World Bank, Ronan Smyth runs the rule over his work as Ireland's finance minister

Wed, 19 Nov, 2025

Paschal Donohoe — new role for pragmatic centrist at the heart of Irish politics

Paschal Donohoe — new role for pragmatic centrist at the heart of Irish politics

As Ireland's finance minister steps down to take up a senior role at the World Bank, Paul Hosford looks back on the political career of a prudent pragmatist

Tue, 18 Nov, 2025

Paul Hosford: Paschal Donohoe's exit could strain relations between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil

Paul Hosford: Paschal Donohoe's exit could strain relations between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil

Beyond Mr Donohoe, attention will focus on Simon Harris who, at a time of global uncertainty, now has two by-elections to fight

Tue, 18 Nov, 2025

File photo Fine Gael’s Sean Kyne has been elected to the Seanad today. End

Fine Gael to undertake 'extensive consultation' with members before Galway West by-election

Fine Gael has not won a Dáil by-election since 2014

Sun, 16 Nov, 2025

Planned changes to Scotland's parliamentary regions

Former Young Fine Gael president considering Galway West by-election run

Eoghan Gallagher was the president of Young Fine Gael between 2023 and 2025, having worked for former junior minister Josepha Madigan

Tue, 04 Nov, 2025

Ivan Yates1

Who is Ivan Yates? From government minister to political commentator

A former Fine Gael TD and minister, Ivan Yates was first elected to the Dáil in 1981 at just 21, making him the youngest TD elected at the time

Tue, 04 Nov, 2025

Louise Burne: Fine Gael had a respectable candidate — but not a good campaign

Louise Burne: Fine Gael had a respectable candidate — but not a good campaign

Fine Gael must accept that it did not give Heather Humphreys the chance she deserved, writes Louise Burne

Sun, 26 Oct, 2025

Irish presidential election

'Polls don't decide elections' the mantra for Heather Humphreys' final day on campaign trail

Despite it being the last day of the campaign, spirits in Camp Humphreys were higher than ever

Thu, 23 Oct, 2025

Louise Burne: If this was Humphreys’ last chance, she didn’t take it

Louise Burne: If this was Humphreys’ last chance, she didn’t take it

The final debate between Catherine Connolly and Heather Humphreys lacked fire, offering voters little new insight ahead of polling day

Wed, 22 Oct, 2025

Race to the Áras: Humphreys and Connolly decry Citywest violence during final debate

Race to the Áras: Humphreys and Connolly decry Citywest violence during final debate

The final televised debate, hosted on RTÉ’s Prime Time, saw the two candidates face off ahead of polling day on Friday

Tue, 21 Oct, 2025

Irish presidential election

Heather Humphreys appears to row back on comments about Catherine Connolly's work

Asked about her earlier comments about 'capitalising on people's misfortunes', Ms Humphreys said: 'I never mentioned Catherine's name in all of that'

Tue, 21 Oct, 2025

Irish presidential election 2025

'I never evicted anyone' says Humphreys as candidates clash over their previous jobs

Fine Gael candidate defends her credit union role amid Fine Gael attacks on Catherine Connolly for not disclosing that she had worked for financial institutions

Mon, 20 Oct, 2025

FG members echo Connolly challenge — but some express disquiet: 'Video made a balls of it'

FG members echo Connolly challenge — but some express disquiet: 'Video made a balls of it'

Senior Fine Gael politicians who also work as lawyers insist that they never represented banks

Mon, 20 Oct, 2025

Paul Hosford: Fine Gael's US-style attack video may be a new departure in Irish politics

Paul Hosford: Fine Gael's US-style attack video may be a new departure in Irish politics

The clip uses quotes without context: Catherine Connolly's remarks about banks came during the tracker mortgage scandal in 2017, and were echoed across the political spectrum

Mon, 20 Oct, 2025

Catherine Connolly accuses Fine Gael of 'engendering a negative campaign'

Catherine Connolly accuses Fine Gael of 'engendering a negative campaign'

Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys over the weekend distanced herself from the party's former minister Ivan Yates, following comments he made on a podcast

Mon, 13 Oct, 2025

Joe Brolly attends the game 17/3/2024

Heather Humphreys hits out at Joe Brolly's 'misogynistic' gesture

'I will stand up for mná na hÉireann against that type of intimidation,' candidate says as podcaster apologises for 'childish, crude, and inappropriate gesture'

Fri, 10 Oct, 2025

Humphreys' presidency would be about 'breaking down awful prejudices creeping into our society'

Humphreys' presidency would be about 'breaking down awful prejudices creeping into our society'

Born in Monaghan, her father was a member of the Orange Order but Ms Humphreys became 'a proud Irish republican'

Sat, 27 Sep, 2025

Heather Humphreys visits English Market and Ballincollig as presidential campaign rolls into Cork

Heather Humphreys visits English Market and Ballincollig as presidential campaign rolls into Cork

Ms Humphreys commended the 'magnificent array of Irish-produced food' at the English Market during her Saturday visit to Leeside

Sat, 27 Sep, 2025

Jim Gavin and Heather Humphreys crisscross Kerry as voters lament limited presidential choice

Jim Gavin and Heather Humphreys crisscross Kerry as voters lament limited presidential choice

As Jim Gavin and Heather Humphreys canvassed in Kerry, voters voiced frustration at a presidential race seen as lacking choice

Sat, 27 Sep, 2025

If elected, Humphreys pledges to continue to call out genocide as Michael D has done

If elected, Humphreys pledges to continue to call out genocide as Michael D has done

Fine Gael candidate said her presidency would more resemble that of Mary McAleese, on whose work she wants to build

Fri, 26 Sep, 2025

Medium Term Expenditure Framework

Divisions emerge in Coalition as ministers 'will have to sing for their supper' in future budgets

Senior source said Jack Chambers has advised ministers they will have to 'justify and make a business case' for their budgets

Thu, 11 Sep, 2025

Fianna Fáil TDs play down spat with Fine Gael minister over new 'Netflix levy'

Fianna Fáil TDs play down spat with Fine Gael minister over new 'Netflix levy'

One Fine Gael source described the vote in favour of the streaming levy as 'Fianna Fáil getting into bed with Sinn Féin to increase the price of streaming services'

Wed, 10 Sep, 2025

Fine Gael think-in

Paul Hosford: We should not shy away from speaking out when the line is crossed

Politicians know if they were to bow to the pressure of the worst impulses of the worst people, they would create an Ireland whereby the ballot box matters less than the furthest a person is willing to go

Mon, 08 Sep, 2025

Fine Gael think-in

Tax breaks for developers up for discussion as part of Fine Gael solution to housing crisis

Tánaiste Simon Harris said there will be a requirement for developers to 'get on with it'

Mon, 08 Sep, 2025

Claims Fine Gael is anti-democratic to oppose Independent candidates 'utter rubbish', says Tánaiste

Claims Fine Gael is anti-democratic to oppose Independent candidates 'utter rubbish', says Tánaiste

The Fine Gael move brought criticism from Aontú and Independent Ireland, who accused Fine Gael of 'shutting down' democratic routes to the presidency

Mon, 08 Sep, 2025

Heather Humphreys in pole position to be Fine Gael nominee for presidency

Heather Humphreys in pole position to be Fine Gael nominee for presidency

Ms Humphreys has backing from 38 Fine Gael parliamentary party members — almost double the number she needs

Tue, 19 Aug, 2025

Woman killed in dog attack in Co. Limerick

'It's going to be Heather': Humphreys emerges as Fine Gael favourite for Áras run

While Ms Humphreys had ruled herself out, she has indicated her willingness to run in recent days. Sources indicated that she is currently building a team for her campaign

Mon, 18 Aug, 2025

HEATHER HUMPHREYS

Fine Gael to reopen presidential nomination after Mairead McGuinness withdrawal

Heather Humphreys and Seán Kelly are weighing presidential bids after Mairead McGuinness’s withdrawal reshaped Fine Gael’s candidacy race

Mon, 18 Aug, 2025

HEATHER HUMPHREYS

Heather Humphreys emerges as favourite for Fine Gael presidential nomination

Heather Humphreys had earlier this year said that she would not be contesting the presidency having retired from politics before last year's general election

Fri, 15 Aug, 2025

Frances Fitzgerald rules herself out of seeking FG nomination in presidential race

Frances Fitzgerald rules herself out of seeking FG nomination in presidential race

Fine Gael's executive committee is due to meet in the coming days to set out a new nomination process

Fri, 15 Aug, 2025

Foreign Affairs distances itself from Senator Martin Conway's speech in Finland

Foreign Affairs distances itself from Senator Martin Conway's speech in Finland

Embattled senator's speech at an OSCE event prompted a statement that the 'Department has no role in sanctioning participation or travel' of members of the advisory panel

Tue, 05 Aug, 2025

Two presidential candidates confirmed, but who is likely to join them in race for the Áras?

Two presidential candidates confirmed, but who is likely to join them in race for the Áras?

With Catherine Connolly and Mairead McGuinness now in the field, attention turns to possible contenders from Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil among others

Wed, 16 Jul, 2025

Mairead McGuinness to get Fine Gael nod for presidential election

Mairead McGuinness to get Fine Gael nod for presidential election

Former MEP and European Commissioner is expected to be the only runner left as Fine Gael closes its nominations on Tuesday

Tue, 15 Jul, 2025

European and local elections

Fine Gael opens nominations for presidential election

Mairead McGuinness is regarded as the frontrunner for a Fine Gael tilt at the Áras — but Ireland South MEP Seán Kelly has not ruled out putting his name forward

Mon, 07 Jul, 2025

US Ambassador to Ireland hosts 4th July celebrations

Elaine Loughlin: College fees could be the snag that will unravel an already fractious Coalition

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael had long been eyeing each other with growing distrust, long before Simon Harris and James Lawless blew up the discord over student fees

Sun, 06 Jul, 2025

'He’s not the minister anymore': Fianna Fáil bristles over Harris student fee push

'He’s not the minister anymore': Fianna Fáil bristles over Harris student fee push

Coalition tensions escalate as Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael diverge on plans for student fees in upcoming budget

Fri, 27 Jun, 2025

Ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements

Elaine Loughlin: Presidential poker — who’s bluffing, who’s stalling, and who’s really in the race?

With no clear frontrunner and all parties hesitating, the presidential race risks becoming a political last-minute scramble

Sun, 08 Jun, 2025

Simon Coveney: 'I didn't leave politics to retire — I'm as busy as ever'

Simon Coveney: 'I didn't leave politics to retire — I'm as busy as ever'

Last year's election saw a significant level of attrition among politicians. Elaine Loughlin talks to the former tánaiste and long-serving Fine Gael TD Simon Coveney about the path ahead

Mon, 19 May, 2025

Irish stalking bill amendments

Browne's reputation 'seriously wounded' after housing tsar candidate withdraws

A Fine Gael minister added the process of naming Mr McDonagh had 'pissed off' a lot of people in Fine Gael, while a senior party source said the 'entire episode has been a disaster'

Thu, 01 May, 2025

Mairead McGuinness elected vice president of European People's Party

Mairead McGuinness elected vice president of European People's Party

Tánaiste Simon Harris has congratulated the Fine Gael politician and former EU Commissioner after she secured the influential role

Wed, 30 Apr, 2025

Stardust nightclub fire

Taoiseach admits 'Dáil isn't working' over speaking rights row

Micheál Martin: 'I kept speaking, but there were attempts to drown me down in a very co-ordinated way'

Fri, 28 Mar, 2025

New Taoiseach appointed

Further Dáil disruption expected over questioning slots for Independent TDs

It is expected that Sinn Féin will formally confirm the no confidence motion on Friday, after Ms Murphy refused to step down as Ceann Comhairle on Wednesday

Thu, 27 Mar, 2025

Mick Clifford: If housing is a priority, why are 5,000 homes stuck in limbo?

Mick Clifford: If housing is a priority, why are 5,000 homes stuck in limbo?

Despite government promises of a 'step change,' funding delays and bureaucracy are worsening Ireland’s housing crisis instead of solving it

Tue, 11 Mar, 2025