Politicians need to embrace risk to speed up delivery of key infrastructure projects
Ireland’s planning, procurement and regulatory systems need deep structural repair
Jack Chambers
Miriam’s Lord’s week: Fianna Fáil election fiasco report bundles Jim Gavin under the bus
Micheál Martin and his team ease back on the contrition and their inept handling of the presidential election campaign
2025 in culture politics: Arts Council’s IT crisis, RTÉ’s financial strain and Trump’s assault on the BBC
One of the many negative effects of the housing crisis is making Ireland a cold place for culture in all its forms
Jack Chambers did not consider resigning as FF deputy leader after disastrous presidential campaign
Minister for Public Expenditure was an initial point of contact with Jim Gavin and the party’s director of elections
Simon Harris stakes reputation on new spending strictures
Tánaiste and Minister for Finance promises fresh era of financial planning
Harris promises ‘fundamental change’ in budgeting with new 6% spending rule
Coalition publishes new Medium Term Fiscal and Structural Plan, setting out spending for next five years
Tighter budgets in prospect under planned 6% cap on spending hikes
The Medium Term Fiscal and Structural Plan will promise to cut the growth in day-to-day spending of recent years
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 presidential election report: Party told Jim Gavin past disputes would be uncovered
Document does not appear to contain any previously unknown ‘smoking gun’ about party’s disastrous campaign
Six key moments in the unravelling of Jim Gavin and Fianna Fáil’s presidential campaign
Report bluntly states ‘nothing further was done’ after word of former candidate’s tenancy issue began to come to light
‘Nothing was flagged with me’: Minister for Transport unaware of Jim Gavin tenant issue
O’Brien asked about reports some senior FF members were aware of problem before voting on candidate nominations
Plans for 170km pipeline to bring water from Shannon to Dublin to be lodged
The €6 billion project would run an underground pipe through four counties, crossing lands belonging to 500 separate owners
Severance deal of near €1m for DAA chief executive Kenny Jacobs off the table
Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien blocks payment as standoff at top of State airports group continues
We can’t keep objecting to wind farms 10km out to sea if we want Ireland to progress
We need a hard look at what is really necessary and appropriate for critical infrastructure
Infrastructure plan is make or break test for State, experts say
Business welcomes reforms but warn that time for talking is now over with a need to see consistent commitment to implementation
Government collects record €10bn in corporation tax in November
November total was more than the State used collect in an entire year just a decade ago
New infrastructure plan: Government expects legal challenge to judicial review reforms
Report warns court challenges and overly complex regulatory system could stall infrastructure improvements
Promises were made before about clearing blocks to big projects – what’s different this time?
The wide-ranging systemic reform contained in the Government’s 30-point plan is desperately needed but the slow political pay-off is a big issue that could stifle momentum
State agencies and departments to be encouraged to take risks in developing major projects
Infrastructural acceleration plan also promises to streamline visa process for construction workers coming to work here
Large extensions to critical infrastructure ‘should be exempted from seeking planning’
Jack Chambers to outline proposals to Cabinet aimed at speeding up delivery of key projects
Corporation tax-take heads for €10bn in November, say analysts
Business tax receipts continue to strengthen despite concerns over impact of Trump tariffs
Jack Chambers needs to tackle the culture issues in his own department
Department of Public Expenditure seems to consider procrastination as a virtue. It is penny wise and pound foolish
Simon Harris is facing his first big test. Can he shake off the TikTok Tánaiste image?
New Minister for Finance and his colleague Jack Chambers will need to channel a bit of Ray MacSharry
Harris takes the purse strings just as Ireland’s golden economic decade may be ending
This week’s Ifac report outlines challenges facing the Irish economy, and the few options facing Simon Harris
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
Harris yet to prove he’s serious about Finance role
Incoming Minister for Finance needs to focus on getting on top of his brief, not putting out nonsensical press releases signifying activity over real action
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
Scarifying risks and malign scenarios: Five crunch issues facing Simon Harris
Relationship with Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers will be pivotal
Potential litigation looms as Minister blocks near-€1m exit package for DAA chief Kenny Jacobs
Relations between DAA board and Jacobs broke down after directors concluded chief executive was unsuitable for post
Well wishes from all sides see Paschal Donohoe off from his time in the Dáil
The now former minister bowed out ahead of taking on his new job at the World Bank in his usual fuss-free style
Paschal Donohoe resignation leaves Government weaker with problems piling up
Less than a year after Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil were returned to power, Coalition must cushion a heavy blow
‘Jim O’Callaghan could stop all this. He hasn’t’: Inside Fianna Fáil’s post-election crisis
Taoiseach and party leader Micheál Martin is deemed vulnerable by insiders after the Jim Gavin debacle, but there is a sense that any potential heave is on hold
How Ireland plans to speed up the delivery of big projects
Department of Public Expenditure has been criticised over hurdles large projects have had to clear
Darragh O’Brien wants Kenny Jacobs DAA row resolved quickly
Minister for Transport has blocked a near €1m deal for Jacobs to leave DAA role
Being tech savvy shouldn’t be a requirement to access State services
Digitalisation of public services may be the direction of travel but, with uneven digital skills and access across the population, it is vital that nobody is locked out
DAA board pushes back as Minister suggests reconciliation with Kenny Jacobs
State-owned airports group needs sign-off from Darragh O’Brien for near-€1m exit deal for chief executive
Harris promises to use EU loans if military funding is not forthcoming
Government has so far opted not to draw on €150 billion EU loan facility for countries to strengthen their militaries
Jack Chambers endures silent tsunami of schadenfreude in the Dáil
With the Taoiseach abroad, Chambers and the Yates connection take centre stage at Leinster House
Call in Dáil for immediate byelection to fill Catherine Connolly’s Galway West seat
Deputies pay tribute after she became first sitting woman TD to win presidential election
Timelines for big infrastructure projects could be cut by a year under new plans
Separately, private sector could be allowed to deliver wastewater infrastructure to speed up rural housing developments
Michael O’Leary attacks DAA over departure of CEO Kenny Jacobs
Ryanair boss said Mr Jacobs’ ‘elbows out’ style was what was needed in the public sector to get things done
Infrastructure court challenges could be restricted under new proposals
Government to examine measures aimed at introducing higher threshold for pursuing judicial review cases
Why have ministers still not signed off on exit deal agreed between DAA and its CEO?
Government yet to approve settlement seven weeks after DAA board and Kenny Jacobs agreed to it
Are Micheál Martin’s days as Fianna Fáil leader drawing to a close?
After the Jim Gavin presidential election debacle, there are a lot of angry people in Fianna Fáil, but it’s less clear if anybody is ready to replace Micheál Martin
Who runs the country’s hospital system?
Governance of Ireland’s public hospital structure is complex and now Ministers are involved in a long-running dispute
John Collison’s critique of Ireland’s failures stirs Coalition debate
Tech founder is ‘quite right’ that infrastructure delivery is too slow, Taoiseach’s spokesman says
‘The election blew up in our face’: how Jim Gavin and Fianna Fáil dramatically fell out of the race
Exit of former Dublin GAA luminary raised questions about his selection, and the future of Micheál Martin
RSM Ireland part of UK-US accounting tie up
Transatlantic partnership pitched as alternative to bringing in private equity capital
Expensive-looking typo appears outside Government department
Presidential election polling day is just around the corner, so political minds are elsewhere
Several councils not using powers to buy vacant housing
Ministers to be briefed at Cabinet on plans to overhaul rules and guidance on State spending
Why is it that IT projects do not come in on budget and on time?
Expert says issue is not unique to Ireland or the public sector
Micheál Martin’s damage limitation might be too little too late after all
O’Donovan tells lovely wee stories, insomnia inspires McCullagh and Sinn Féin slip up on no-shows
DAA board views payout to CEO Kenny Jacobs as lower cost settlement option with reduced risks, minister told
DAA board agreed to a payout of just under €1m for CEO following mediation process, after a rift emerged between the two sides
Uisce Éireann paid €9.3m for personal injury, damage claims over five years
State water company says claims thoroughly investigated to safeguard taxpayers’ cash
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Stardust
Inquests into the nightclub fire that led to the deaths of 48 people
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How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
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