Indo Politics

Why education is now in the political danger zone and Dublin Central battle heats up

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 15:20:30 +0000

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?

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SNA cuts, social media ban and Rotunda row: a week of pauses and public outcry

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 15:44:55 +0000

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

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Monk’s political return, a rent gamble and we finally have our housing tsar

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 15:56:44 +0000

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.

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By-Elections Loom and Bord Bia under fire

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 14:26:28 +0000

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

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The fallout from Storm Chandra and what awaits the Taoiseach in Washington on St Patrick's Day?

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 16:43:26 +0000

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.

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Trump’s trade war averted for now and the government's new state-led childcare plan

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 12:47:35 +0000

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.

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Between Grok and a hard place: Pressure on Micheál Martin to hold golden tech goose to account

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 16:09:47 +0000

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

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Indo Politics Awards 2025: Conquering Connolly, tenacious Taoiseach and gaffes galore

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 13:37:00 +0000

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 Thomas

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“A tragic drama” - Billy Kelleher speaks on the Jim Gavin presidential debacle

Sat, 29 Nov 2025 13:41:00 +0000

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 Kelleher

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Introducing: Indo Politics

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 13:43:00 +0000

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.

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