Another not-so-quiet week in politics brought us Leo Varadkar’s apologetic climbdown and rumours of in-fighting among the Healy-Rae family, but Catherine Connolly raised tensions as she put pen to paper on the International Protection Bill. Despite signing the bill into law, the President retains concerns about its nature. Are the constraints of her new office beginning to cause problems?




Host: Mary Regan

Guest: Cónal Thomas

Another not-so-quiet week in politics brought us Leo Varadkar’s apologetic climbdown and&nbsp;rumours&nbsp;of in-fighting among the Healy-Rae family, but&nbsp;Catherine Connolly raised tensions as she put pen to paper on the International Protection Bill.&nbsp;Despite signing the bill into law, the&nbsp;President&nbsp;retains&nbsp;concerns about&nbsp;its nature. Are the constraints of her new office beginning to cause problems?
 
Host: Mary Regan
Guest:&nbsp;Cónal&nbsp;Thomas

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. 

Indo Politics

Is Catherine Connolly trying to have her cake and eat it as presidential constraints tighten? 

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. 




He also talks about his relationship with Simon Harris, how his political views have evolved over the years, including on abortion, and why he believes it's time to reform the planning process. 




Indo Politics is part of the Trust Project. You can see our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism

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.&nbsp;
 
He also talks about his relationship with Simon Harris, how his political views have evolved over the years, including on abortion, and why he believes it's time to reform the planning process.&nbsp;
 
Indo Politics is part of the Trust Project. You can see our ethics policies at <a href="https://www.independent.ie/service/our-journalism/a/98708550.html">independent.ie/ourjournalism</a>

Jack Chambers on Budget 2027, leadership Ambitions and a United Ireland 

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.

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.

School's out: The Winners, Losers and Gaffes of the Political Year (So Far)

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.  




We want to earn your trust and are members of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism. 

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. &nbsp;
 
We want to earn your trust and are members of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at <a href="https://www.independent.ie/service/our-journalism/a/98708550.html">independent.ie/ourjournalism.&nbsp;</a>

Is Catherine Connolly trying to have her cake and eat it as presidential constraints tighten?

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