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.

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

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

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 

Budget 2027 is just around the corner and legitimate tensions between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are becoming increasingly visible. &nbsp;
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. &nbsp;
Do they care about public perception, or is this just business as usual? &nbsp;
What’s the noise from government insiders on energy credits?&nbsp;
What about the status of rent credits?&nbsp;
And is the budget kite of a €100 voucher for teenagers to enjoy some culture really all that substantial? &nbsp;
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.&nbsp;
Indo Politics is part of the Trust Project. You can view our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism&nbsp;

Budget 2027, government squabbles and social media showdown at the Oireachtas 

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.

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 <a href="https://www.independent.ie/service/our-journalism/a/98708550.html">independent.ie/ourjournalism</a>.

‘Audible gasps’ as Trump backs a united Ireland, blindsiding Taoiseach

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>

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

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