As Mary Lou McDonald returns to the political fray, the Tánaiste warns that we don't do coronations in this country. Sinn Féin will be keen to avoid the appearance of taking any votes for granted. But they've a potential partner in Fianna Fáil, with Micheál Martin not ruling out a coalition. It's a new term; Áine and the team look ahead.

This term's final cabinet meeting had over 60 items on the agenda. Right at the top was crime, after Justice Minister Helen McEntee's ham-fisted photo op. The ongoing Roads V. Rail stand-off between FG & the Greens saw Eamon Ryan in full conciliation mode, insisting that it's not a binary choice. Other issues include IVF and energy supports.

Leo Varadkar's flying visit to Ukraine was kept under wraps until the last minute. But Paul Cunningham tells us that the security operation nearly came unstuck with an unguarded tweet. He gives his last despatch from Poland. Áine and the team also look at the collapse in home ownership for the under 40s, and how many TDs we need.

"Is this the end of the beginning?" asks Áine Lawlor after another marathon committee session for RTÉ top brass. It was the first Oireachtas outing for Kevin Backhurst since taking the helm at the embattled national broadcaster on Monday, and while he expressed regret at the circumstances, he pledged to work with law-makers to tackle this crisis.

How can the embattled national broadcaster plot a path to redemption? A third week of committee hearings lies ahead, with Ryan Tubridy facing a grueling seven-hour grilling, along with his agent, Noel Kelly. Marty Morrissey ends the guessing game, puts his hands up and confesses to an "error of judgement".