Indo Politics

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
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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.
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Host: Fionnán Sheahan, Guest: Cónal Thomas
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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.


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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.