Government can't help helping as fuel costs soar; and how many TDs are too many?

Government can't help helping as fuel costs soar; and how many TDs are too many?

This week the Government decided to unveil a €250 million package to help citizens meet the elevated cost of fuel. And this could be just the start of a series of new efforts to keep down the cost of living. After ending such supports in the last Budget, it seems there is a limit to the Government’s ability to resist helping when times get tough and the money is there. But what will happen when a crisis coincides with tougher fiscal times?


The renewed threat of inflation is having an impact across the economic and political landscape. Inflation means unpredictable costs and that is especially bad for one key area.


Other Government departments will be asked to bail out the Department of Education, which is facing another large budget overspend this year. Will this request brew inter-departmental strife?


Our population is growing and our constitution stipulates there should be at least one TD for every 30,000 people. Should that rule be changed before we end up with excessive numbers of Deputies? Maybe - but a referendum on the issue is unlikely under this Government.


Plus the panel pick their favourite Irish Times articles of the week, including Newton Emerson on an issue uniting left and right in Belfast, Big Tech’s Big Tobacco moment and Malachy Clerkin’s report on Ireland’s heartbreaking loss against Czech Republic.

Would you like to receive daily insights into world events delivered to your inbox? Sign up for Denis Staunton's Global Briefing newsletter here: irishtimes.com/newsletters/global-briefing/

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Episoder(1011)

Will the Government's rent control legislation help tenants?

Will the Government's rent control legislation help tenants?

Legislation to reform Ireland's residential property rental landscape is being fast-tracked through the Dáil. What impact will it have? On security of tenure, we will now have some of the most robust ...

28 Jan 54min

Has the EU learned that a tougher line might work with Donald Trump?

Has the EU learned that a tougher line might work with Donald Trump?

Ellen Coyne and Pat Leahy join Jack Horgan-Jones to look back on the week in politics:· This week saw EU-US relations shift as the near-confrontation over Greenland perhaps showed the best way t...

23 Jan 48min

Ireland and Europe weigh options as Trump keeps pressure up over Greenland

Ireland and Europe weigh options as Trump keeps pressure up over Greenland

Jack Power and Jack Horgan-Jones join Pat Leahy to assess a dramatic week in which the transatlantic alliance took a further battering from US president Donald Trump and his demands to acquire Greenla...

21 Jan 39min

Can the Government hold Elon Musk and Grok to account?

Can the Government hold Elon Musk and Grok to account?

Harry McGee, Ellen Coyne and Mark Paul join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:· The Minister with responsibility for artificial intelligence (AI), Niamh Smyth, met with executive...

16 Jan 53min

Will global turmoil matter to Irish politics in 2026?

Will global turmoil matter to Irish politics in 2026?

Despite global turmoil, the focus of Irish politics in 2026 is set to remain on matters close to home. Pat Leahy and Jack Horgan-Jones join Hugh to identify the main challenges facing the Government t...

14 Jan 46min

How do Greenlanders feel about Trump's 'psychologically needed' takeover?

How do Greenlanders feel about Trump's 'psychologically needed' takeover?

US president Donald Trump wants to acquire Greenland, asserting strategic and security needs but also a 'psychological need' to take over the vast, frozen island from Denmark. So how do Greenlanders t...

12 Jan 22min

Could Coalition politics hurt Ireland’s influence in Brussels?

Could Coalition politics hurt Ireland’s influence in Brussels?

Jack Horgan-Jones and Ellen Coyne join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:· The long-anticipated EU-Mercosur trade deal was provisionally approved on Friday, despite the oppositio...

9 Jan 52min

Venezuela has “emboldened” Trump. Here’s what it means for the world

Venezuela has “emboldened” Trump. Here’s what it means for the world

After the weekend’s US airstrikes on Venezuela, and arrest of its president Nicolás Maduro by US special forces, The Irish Times’ China Correspondent Denis Staunton has been pondering what it means fo...

7 Jan 40min

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