Show Notes
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.
More from Indo Politics
Budget 2027 is just around the corner and legitimate tensions between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are becoming increasingly visible. From proposed ideas being shot down to a contentious announcement around a sports grant, the coalition government appears to have a big job on its hands ahead of Budget Day in just a couple of weeks’ time. Do they care about public perception, or is this just business as usual? What’s the noise from government insiders on energy credits? What about the status of rent credits? And is the budget kite of a €100 voucher for teenagers to enjoy some culture really all that substantial? Host Fionnán Sheahan has a full Irish Independent political team on board this week, with Mary Regan and Aisling Moloney joining him in studio, while Cónal Thomas provides a dispatch from New York on the United Nations General Assembly, and Maeve McTaggart reports from Leinster House following a social media-themed showdown at the Oireachtas Media Committee. Indo Politics is part of the Trust Project. You can view our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism
Donald Trump has come and gone from Áras an Uachtaráin, but not without causing considerable consternation. The US president said he would “love” to see a united Ireland and suggested it “may as well happen now” because it is “going to happen eventually”. So what prompted his unexpected intervention, and could it have any impact on the debate over Ireland’s future? 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.
Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers joins Mary Regan in the Indo Politics studio to discuss his preparations for Budget 2027, including inheritance tax, childcare costs and the key challenges facing the Government.
From Micheál Martin's resilience to Sinn Féin's missed opportunities and the biggest political blunders of the year, Mary Regan and Maeve McTaggart look back on a dramatic first half of 2026, and ahead to the budget battles and leadership questions still to come. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
EU Commissioner Michael McGrath talks to Mary Regan about potential social media bans for teens in Europe as EU officials grapple with the thorny issue of technology and teens, the growing scrutiny surrounding the Aughinish Alumina refinery in Limerick and the future of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.