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A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>At the publication of the medium-term expenditure framework on Wednesday, Public Expenditure minister Jack Chambers said: 'We need to pivot away from the focus on the additionality, which is how budgets are often framed.' Picture: Brian Lawless/PA</p>

politics

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

<p>Culture minister Patrick O’Donovan at Fine Gael’s parliamentary party “Think In” in Mullingar . Picture: Andrew Downes/xposure</p>

politics

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

<p>Tánaiste and Fine Gael party leader Simon Harris said protecting his family would be his number one priority, adding that he would be 'guided by them on the next steps'. Picture: Liam McBurney/PA</p>

comment-analysis

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

Fine Gael think-in

politics

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

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

politics

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

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

politics

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

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

Sinn Féin TD writes to Jerry Buttimer asking questions over Martin Conway controversy

Sinn Féin TD writes to Jerry Buttimer asking questions over Martin Conway controversy

Jerry Buttimer was the Leas-Chathaoirleach of the Seanad in 2020 and the Cathaoirleach of the chamber from 2022 to 2024

Thu, 06 Mar, 2025

Arts Council to be reviewed

Paschal Donohoe refuses to back boom-era tax relief

A new Strategic Housing Activation Office is also due to be established, which will be responsible for unblocking infrastructure delays

Tue, 18 Feb, 2025

Elaine Loughlin: Seanad is padded out with has-beens, wannabes, and losers

Elaine Loughlin: Seanad is padded out with has-beens, wannabes, and losers

Taoiseach's nominees to the upper house include failed election candidates, prospective TDs, and others using the upper house of the Oireachtas as a step-down facility

Wed, 12 Feb, 2025

Senator Martin Conway has 'no real way back' into Fine Gael after arrest

Senator Martin Conway has 'no real way back' into Fine Gael after arrest

Fine Gael sources say it is unlikely Mr Conway would return to the parliamentary party after the revelation of his arrest for being intoxicated

Mon, 10 Feb, 2025

RTÉ sports journalist Evanne Ní Chuilinn is to become a Fine Gael senator

RTÉ sports journalist Evanne Ní Chuilinn is to become a Fine Gael senator

In a surprise announcement, Tánaiste Simon Harris said Ms Ní Chuilinn would be a 'fantastic addition' to the Fine Gael team

Fri, 07 Feb, 2025

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael 'should cut all ties with Michael Lowry'

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael 'should cut all ties with Michael Lowry'

Opposition call on the Taoiseach and Tánaiste to convene a meeting of party leaders to put an end to the row before the Dáil resumes on Wednesday

Fri, 31 Jan, 2025

Housing stock

'No reference' to commission's recommendations in housing plan

Michelle Norris, a professor of social policy at UCD, said she was 'really disappointed' that no commitment was given to even examine the report's advice

Mon, 27 Jan, 2025

The Mick Clifford Podcast: Martin back on top - Elaine Loughlin

The Mick Clifford Podcast: Martin back on top - Elaine Loughlin

Irish Examiner Political Editor Elaine Loughlin joins this week's podcast

Listen | Thu, 23 Jan, 2025

New Taoiseach appointed

Mick Clifford: Luckless Micheál Martin made to wait for his day in the sun

Just when Micheál Martin was to finally experience the traditional pomp and ceremony that comes with being appointed Taoiseach, the opposition had other ideas

Wed, 22 Jan, 2025

New Taoiseach appointed

ieExplains: What are Dáil speaking rights and what is the current row about?

We take a deeper look at what is causing the division

Wed, 22 Jan, 2025

Fianna Fail ard fheis conference

Micheál Martin set to return as Taoiseach as coalition prepares to choose ministers

TDs are due to gather in the Dáil chamber from 10.30am, before the process itself begins at 11am. Here's how the day is expected to unfold

Wed, 22 Jan, 2025

Programme for Government

Harris 'has to look at Cork as a counterbalance to Dublin' in ministerial ranks

The outgoing minister of state for public health said there is a significant argument for Cork to be well-represented at ministerial and junior ministerial level

Tue, 21 Jan, 2025

Fine Gael members vote 'overwhelmingly' to support coalition deal

Fine Gael members vote 'overwhelmingly' to support coalition deal

With both parties having accepted the deal, the path is now clear for Micheál Martin to be voted in as the Taoiseach when the Dáil resumes on Wednesday

Mon, 20 Jan, 2025

ieExplains: What is a junior minister?

ieExplains: What is a junior minister?

Here's everything you need to know

Thu, 16 Jan, 2025

Irish Government formation

Fine Gael TDs feel they ceded too much power to Independents in new coalition

'Two super juniors and three juniors as well as Ceann Comhairle is too much', as one FG insider put it

Thu, 16 Jan, 2025

'Ambitious' programme for government with Martin as Taoiseach until November 2027

'Ambitious' programme for government with Martin as Taoiseach until November 2027

Smaller class sizes, cheaper childcare, and no change to pension age are among the measures agreed by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and Independents

Thu, 16 Jan, 2025

Woman working at a restaurant

Fine Gael's election manifesto wins — and where it lost out in the programme for government

The party's wins including a coalition commitment to progressively reduce the cost of childcare to €200 a month — and it also expects to surpass its pledge to cut Vat on hospitality

Wed, 15 Jan, 2025

Irish Government formation

Elaine Loughlin: Independents' freewheeling nature makes them unpredictable partners

Independents have given FF and FG a path to power but some are untested politically while others have courted controversy and caused headaches for previous administrations

Wed, 15 Jan, 2025

Junior ministry 'going in my direction', says Michael Healy-Rae as deal reached

Junior ministry 'going in my direction', says Michael Healy-Rae as deal reached

With the Healy-Raes support secured, the new government will have a total of 95 TDs supporting it, giving it a comfortable majority above the 87 TDs required

Wed, 15 Jan, 2025

The legs of a newborn during baptism in the church. Baptism and anointing ceremony.

Newborn scheme shelved as coalition parties decide on programme for government

A programme for government was agreed between negotiators for the two parties and regional independents on Tuesday, with the regional group set to have two super-junior ministers

Wed, 15 Jan, 2025

Danny and Michael Healy-Rae continue discussions with big parties late into the night

Danny and Michael Healy-Rae continue discussions with big parties late into the night

Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and the Regional Independents have reached a deal on a programme for government — but negotiations with the brothers and Kerry TDs continued late on Tuesday

Tue, 14 Jan, 2025

BT Young Scientist Competition

Micheál Martin's chances of being elected Taoiseach increase after 'intensive' talks

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael worked across the weekend and conducted two sessions of talks with Regional Independents in a bid to put a policy programme in place within the next two days

Sun, 12 Jan, 2025

Taoiseach visit to Naas

Agreeing new government by January 22 'tight', admits Harris

January 22 is the date that "everybody is working in good faith towards", said Taoiseach Simon Harris.

Tue, 07 Jan, 2025

FILE PHOTO Pressure is growing for TDs to return to Leinster House for sittings of the Dail END

Independents likely to get 'voice at the Cabinet table' with potential super junior ministry

Parties had hoped to have a programme agreed by the end of this week to facilitate membership votes that would pave the way for a new Taoiseach to be elected when the Dáil reconvenes on January 22

Tue, 07 Jan, 2025

Government records €12.8bn surplus bolstered by Apple tax ruling in 2024

Government records €12.8bn surplus bolstered by Apple tax ruling in 2024

Throughout the course of the year, €108bn in tax was collected — 22.6% higher, or €19.9bn higher, than 2023

Mon, 06 Jan, 2025

Paul Hosford: New year, new government — that's just the start of the work

Paul Hosford: New year, new government — that's just the start of the work

Micheál Martin and Simon Harris are navigating policy differences, hatching a deal with regional Independents, and deciding the destination of ministries ahead of the 34th Dáil reconvening

Sat, 04 Jan, 2025

Elaine Loughlin: The year of 'new energy' brought us lots of the same old controversies too

Elaine Loughlin: The year of 'new energy' brought us lots of the same old controversies too

The political year was defined by conflict, referendums, and a long-awaited election — the fallout from which will last well into 2025

Sun, 29 Dec, 2024