Indo Politics

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 earn your trust and are members of The Trust Project. You can see our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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, with a final result not expected until lunchtime on Sunday. ­ As it stands - at least at the time of recording this podcast - Noel Thomas of Independent Ireland is leading the charge, with Fine Gael’s Seán Kyne trailing slightly behind. ­ So, what does it all mean? ­ Micheál Martin may be putting on a brave face, but he faces a tricky forecast. ­ Mary Lou McDonald says there’s no threat to her leadership, but how damaging is this latest election loss under her watch? ­ Did the novelty of Gerry Hutch wear off in the end? And are the Greens back in business? ­ It's all up for discussion on this edition of Indo Politics as host Cónal Thomas hears from Irish Independent political editor Mary Regan in Galway, and from Irish Independent political reporter Aisling Moloney in Dublin. ­ We want to earn your trust and are members of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalismSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 MoloneySee 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 ThomasSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 office beginning to cause problems? Host: Mary Regan Guest: Cónal ThomasSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 no-confidence motion. They are trying to build support. And are in search of a leader to lead a heave. ­ Host:  Mary Regan     Guest: Aisling MoloneySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Force deployment increases, Indo Politics brings you the very latest from an increasingly tense standoff. Host: Fionnán Sheahan Guest: Conál ThomasSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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/ourjournalismSee 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 Thomas  ­ We want to earn your trust and are members of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalismSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 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.

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 finds itself on the defensive after a botched review of Special Needs Assistant allocations spiralled into a full blown political crisis. A late night 19 million euro funding injection has paused the cuts for now, but questions remain about how the review was handled, why ministers appeared blindsided, and whether trust in the special education system has been shaken. With disability services already a stated priority for this government, has serious political capital been burned over what critics say was a preventable controversy? We also turn to Dublin Central, where Sinn Fein has selected councillor Janice Boylan as its candidate in the upcoming by election. After a disappointing general election performance, can she consolidate the party vote or will the contest open the door to rivals on the left, or even to Gerry The Monk Hutch, who is already mobilising supporters? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Maeve McTaggart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 privacy information.

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? Mary Regan joins Tabitha Monahan to discuss the runners and riders in the upcoming by-elections. Today's podcast comes from our sister podcast Indo Politics, where you can find new episodes every Friday. Host: Tabitha Monahan Guest: Mary Regan See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 tragedy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

The Dáil is back and so is Indo Politics for the first time in 2026. The controversy around AI tool Grok dominated proceedings. Elsewhere the Mercosur trade deal sparked outrage. And government overspending was once more on the agenda this week at the Public Accounts Committee. Host: Tabitha Monahan Guest: Mary Regan See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Indo Politics. Every week the Irish Independent's political team will bring you the biggest stories, the latest analysis and the gossip from the corridors of Leinster House. New episodes every Friday. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another year in the history books, full of all kinds of point-scoring, in-fighting, power plays and seismic shifts. So, who won big on the political stage? Who lost in headline-making fashion? What were the standout gaffes? And just who can call themselves the “Brat of the Year” for 2025? All will be revealed as the Indo politics team hand out their coveted gongs just in time for Christmas... ­ Host: Fionnán Sheahan, Guests: Mary Regan, Tabitha Monahan and Cónal ThomasSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Indo Politics, Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher speaks candidly about the party’s bruising presidential selection saga, the pressures applied behind the scenes, and what he calls a “tragic drama” for all involved. ­ Host: Mary Regan, Guest: Billy KelleherSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Indo Politics. Every week the Irish Independent's political team will bring you the biggest stories, the latest analysis and the gossip from the corridors of Leinster House. New episodes every Friday. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.