‘He wasn’t allowed take his driving test as he was wearing sandals’: Politicians’ queries to RSA on the rise
Road Safety Authority received dozens of queries from TDs and Senators on behalf of constituents
Fine Gael
The latest news, analysis and comment on Irish political party Fine Gael
Transport budget too small for new services in 2026, officials admit
Department of Transport was allocated €4.74bn in budget as set out in October
Mary Lou McDonald says left should support ‘rules-based’ system on immigration
‘We are not a kind of a luvvie outfit,’ says Sinn Féin leader of her party’s approach to policy
The Irish Times view on 2026: a year filled with uncertainty
As the new year dawns, there is no shortage of reasons for concern
‘I was shook’: Simon Harris says he nearly quit politics after threats to his wife and children
In a wide-ranging interview, the Tánaiste responds to criticism of his statements on immigration, defends his social media usage and defends his credentials to be Minister for Finance
Simon Harris claims ‘significant number’ in emergency accommodation ‘don’t have housing right’
Homeless executive chief rejects Tánaiste’s view, saying people who ‘can’t establish a right to housing ... are sent on their way’
‘It’s clogging up the whole system’: Record number of ‘no shows’ for driving tests
Absences are worsening the problem of long waits at testing centres, campaigners say
Miriam Lord’s Awards: Who gets the gongs for brass neck, cringe event and politician of the year?
It was a weird political year, featuring a humiliating presidential election for the Government parties and a far happier time for the Opposition
Here’s the unpopular truth: many of us have never had it so good
Ireland has never been better off, yet a narrative of State failure dominates political debate and much of the media
Opposition TDs lose legal challenge over ‘super junior’ ministers sitting at Cabinet
Court holds Constitution does not restrict attendances at Cabinet meetings to the 15 members of Government
Micheál Martin’s detractors seem to have come unstuck by basic maths
Taoiseach would be wise to pay attention to the end of The Grinch on the eve of the Dáil Christmas recess
Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Sinn Féin oppose Bill to ban fox hunting
Réada Cronin says she will continue trying to persuade Sinn Féin ardfheis to ban ‘abhorrent, cruel, barbaric’ activity
FF TDs call for immediate publication of report into presidential campaign
Taoiseach says he has not yet received findings but took exception to recent ‘false assertions’
Former Fine Gael councillor jailed for stealing €172,000 from housing charity
Seán McKiernan ‘wanted to pay for sex and drugs by way of cheques from the charity’, court told
Miriam Lord’s week: Labour still first among equals as SocDems are outvoted
Government sides with Labour in row over Leaders’ Questions pecking order
Patrick Cooney obituary: Minister who confronted Provisional IRA with implacable resolve
Last surviving member of the Fine Gael-Labour coalition which held office from 1973 to 1977
Real loser in row over EU observer status for Northern Ireland is the centre ground
MEPs’ request to European Parliament was flimsy disguise for its true purpose, however
Fourteen cases taken against State over age verification of international protection applicants
Tusla confirms it ‘does not conduct age assessment in the strict statutory sense’ on people presenting as unaccompanied minors
Fine Gael councillor asked Garda superintendent to ‘sort’ speeding ticket, court hears
Text messages exchanged between Cllr Liam Galvin and now retired Eamon O’Neill heard in evidence at trial
More than 8,000 submissions made on right to request remote working
High level of interest in public consultation believed to be partially motivated by frustrations with current practice
President Connolly – How the Race Was Won: Striking reminder of botched presidential campaign
Television: Behold the idiot’s guide to running an idiotic campaign, brought to you by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil
Former Fine Gael minister and MEP Paddy Cooney dies aged 94
Simon Harris pays tribute to man of ‘tremendous integrity’ who served in governments of Liam Cosgrave and Garret Fitzgerald
Former minister Denis Naughten joins Red Flag communications agency as senior adviser
His role will include advising their clients across the technology, energy and health
Judicial reviews blocking vital infrastructure and housing to be restricted
In the absence of change, critical shortages of water and power likely within a few years, notes report
Harris says suspension of civilian Garda member over alleged threats against him ‘very concerning’
Tánaiste he does not view ‘such matters as HR matters, I view them as criminal matters’
Plans to remove name of former Israeli president from Dublin park suspended
City council executive ‘completely messed up’ allowing recommendation to rename park on meeting agenda, says Lord Mayor
Dublin’s Herzog Park set to be ‘denamed’ by city councillors over Israel connections
Chief Rabbi says Jewish story deserves not to be ‘whitewashed or erased’
Government tightens screws on migration – but will changes fix issues the country faces?
Housing and services remain problems to be solved even as numbers coming into country are going down
Children’s science museum project described as ‘absolute shambles’
The Office of Public Works - which is under a legal obligation to deliver a building for the project - appeared before the Dáil’s spending watchdog
Harris accuses Sinn Féin of ‘taking big money from big American building companies’
While landlords end 35% more tenancies this year, Tánaiste Simon Harris called Pearse Doherty a ‘hypocrite’ in heated Dáil clashes over rising rents
Enoch Burke’s ferocious desire for martyrdom has roots in Irish life
Catholic anti-divorce crusaders deliberately made outrageous analogies and used modern tactics, too
Europe ‘a little bit removed’ from US and will be more realistic in future decisions, says Kenny
Former taoiseach given inaugural Trinity European Laureate Award in recognition of Irish EU presidency in 2013
Judicial reviews are not the problem – and deregulation is no answer
We have seen before how cutting ‘red tape’ leads to disaster, especially in planning and housing
Ban on electroconvulsive therapy for under-18s on way to Cabinet for approval
Flexibility for broadband customers, immigration reform and flood relief also on the agenda
Government could boost merger notification limits, says competition body
Competition and Consumer Protection Commission publishes details of €971m Phoenix Tower deal findings
Gerry Hutch plans to register new voters as part of bid for seat in Dublin byelection
Unsettled €800,000 tax demand from Cab will not disqualify criminal figure from running, say officials
Message from the Editor: Exit Paschal Donohoe
The abruptness of the minister for finance’s departure leaves the Coalition facing a significant reset
What next for Fine Gael and the Coalition after Paschal Donohoe?
Senior party figures lament former minister’s departure but back Simon Harris as natural fit for role
How to earn €100,000 a year for reading the newspaper
Plus: Ryder Cup experiences in far-flung destinations; a prominent Romanian’s beef with Bram Stoker; and the councillor who doesn’t believe in a potholing God
Fine Gael’s ‘new generation’ who quit: ‘Many TDs don’t see it as a career any more’
The party’s brightest stars of the 2000s walked away from politics by the age of 51
As economic storm clouds gather, Simon Harris has big decisions to make
Growth is slowing and the stock market is wobbling - the new Minister for Finance could have a lot on his plate
Only thing predictable about Irish politics is that nothing is predictable
Right now, Sinn Féin are the bookies’ favourites to win the next general election, but you might as well ask Mystic Meg
Diarmaid Ferriter: Departing Fine Gaelers leave a mixed legacy
Leo Varadkar, Paschal Donohoe and Simon Coveney are gone but the question remains: what does Fine Gael stand for?
Simon Harris’s short time at Foreign Affairs: building bridges, less foreign travel - and a lot of press releases
‘On trade he’d get a better mark than on the pure foreign policy side of things’
Hardly a dry seat in the house as Paschal Donohoe makes his exit
Outgoing minister for finance effusive in his praise for party leader and ministerial successor Simon Harris at Fine Gael gathering
The Irish Times view on the Government after Donohoe: does Harris have what it takes?
His move into Finance could herald a different sort of Coalition
Catherine Connolly makes a strong case against political spindoctors
Authenticity matters more, and charisma cannot be contrived
Was Paschal Donohoe a safe pair of hands or the luckiest minister for finance in history?
Was he handed a golden ticket and is the ‘Prudent Paschal’ moniker justified?
Paschal Donohoe’s worst sin: being ‘a wee bit scabby on nights out’
On RTÉ Radio 1, Oliver Callan mourns the departure of the minister for finance in winning style
Paschal Donohoe uses final Dáil speech to appeal for continued support for libraries
Tánaiste says he never thought he would see the day when former finance minister would ‘ask me to spend more money’
Ivan Yates ‘deliberately’ didn’t tell Matt Cooper about Jim Gavin training
Pundit addresses Oireachtas committee after it emerged he provided media training Jim Gavin during presidential election
Who will run for Paschal Donohoe’s vacant Dáil seat in the Dublin Central byelection?
Vote is expected in late spring 2026 and looks set to field contenders from across the political spectrum
Paschal Donohoe’s departure gives Coalition a different complexion
Tánaiste Simon Harris, now Minister for Finance, assumes an even more prominent role
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Stardust
Inquests into the nightclub fire that led to the deaths of 48 people
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
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