Mary Lou McDonald

Here’s what the rapid U-turn on special needs assistants tells us about this Government

Taking services away has greater political cost than not providing them in the first place

Sinn Féin not invited to St Patrick’s Day White House events, says US embassy

Party said last week it would boycott festivities in Washington DC, citing war in Gaza

Mary Lou McDonald among objectors to development of former pub

Sinn Fein leader objecting to student housing planned for site of former pub in Cabra

Review finds 209 children treated by north Kerry Camhs were at risk of potential harm

Taoiseach says there must be ‘accountability from a clinical perspective’

Micheál’s full of bluster on his record - but threatened SNA ‘review’ falls flat as a pancake

No jobs will be cut, insisted the Taoiseach - but tell that to parents in schools told they will lose Special Needs Assistants

Sinn Féin will not attend St Patrick’s Day White House events, party confirms

Trump’s backing of Israel in war in Gaza cited by Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O’Neill as reason for boycott

Ireland v Israel match should proceed in Dublin, says Minister of State

Minister of State’s remarks come after senior figures in Government suggested the home fixture could be played outside the State

History no longer casts such a shadow over Irish politics but we can’t gloss over the past

Gerry Hutch, who plans to run in a byelection, has been a central figure in organised crime in Dublin

Minister disagrees with Taoiseach over football matches against Israel

Independent Minister of State Marian Harkin says she is ‘at odds on a personal view’

Gerry Hutch says ‘karma’ will follow Jonathan Dowdall, former Sinn Féin councillor who testified against him

The Monk also confirms he will contest upcoming Dublin Central byelection due to be held in May

Micheál Martin’s musings on European getaway are interrupted by bus stops and prisons

Taoiseach had one foot on plane to informal EU summit as TDs railed on grassroots issues

Taoiseach names Freddie Scappaticci in the Dáil as former British agent Stakeknife

Micheál Martin says identity of spy was ‘clear to everybody here’ and that he should be officially named by the UK government

Government throwing ‘renters to wolves’ with new rental market laws, Sinn Féin claims

Taoiseach accuses Mary Lou McDonald of being ‘interested in chaos’ and says she ‘couldn’t care less if we provide more houses’

Relief for Micheál Martin as polls swing back

Fianna Fáil leader gets overwhelming backing of his party’s voters

Sinn Féin leads a scattered field

Forming behind the party is an orderly queue of alternatives, all aware that the electorate is frustrated

TDs sing in a saturated spring to bid farewell to one of the Dáil’s unsung organisers

Birthday boy and deputy head usher Mick O’Brien bows out before Micheál wades through a flood of questioning

Sinn Féin is deliberately being obtuse about EU plan to help Ukraine

It’s not a simple question of spending money on services here or bolstering Ukraine’s defence

Mother of Harvey Morrison Sherratt could be selected by Sinn Féin for byelection run

Gillian Sherratt could contest election in Dublin Central - though may have competition for ballot slot

Grace Lynch made people ‘feel happy just to be around her’, teenager’s funeral hears

There are ‘mad youngsters full of bravado’ driving scramblers on roads that ‘will kill and be killed’, priest says

Husband of Sinn Féin leader settles defamation case against Shane Ross following apology

Martin Lanigan had sued the former government minister in the High Court over his 2022 biography of Mary Lou McDonald

Student accommodation plan for Dublin’s Blackpitts gets green light

An Coimisiún Pleanála reduced envisaged 217 bed spaces in Dublin 8 site to 189

Taoiseach and McDonald clash over claims up to 20 new gardaí cannot start work for lack of Garda vetting

Row erupts over Minister for Justice’s remarks to committee about issues with vetting process

Death of Grace Lynch jolts Micheál Martin into promise of prompt action

Taoiseach vows to ban scramblers from public roads following death of 16 year old in Dublin

Rent and triple lock plans look set to trigger fierce political battles

The Government is happy to take short-term pain for long-term gain - but only the first of those is certain

‘Justice for Grace’: Over 1,000 take part in walk for teen killed in Finglas scrambler incident

Mother of Grace Lynch says she will ‘fight’ to get scrambler bikes and e-scooters off the streets

Sinn Féin calls on Bord Bia chair to resign over his firm’s use of Brazilian beef

Taoiseach defends State agency, telling Mary Lou McDonald: ‘Don’t try and drag down a good organisation’

Three more Trump years? For God’s sake, Holly, don’t remind us of Ol’ Fanta Face

US president’s increasingly disturbing behaviour dominates Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil

For how much longer can Ireland embrace both Boston and Berlin?

It’s getting tougher to sell the Irish message of ‘careful now’

Finance committee votes against seeking Donohoe’s attendance over State’s €141.4m World Bank contribution

Opposition TDs claimed State paid €10 million more than requested seven months before former minister resigned to join the bank

Planning permission sought for new 249-bed student housing development at site of ‘derelict’ Dublin pub

Cabra premises has been vacant since 2016 and was the site of the murder of gang leader Eamon Dunne

Cancer patient received chemo only after presenting at emergency in ‘significant pain’

Sinn Féin leader highlights disparity in chemotherapy waiting times, with patients in some regions waiting up to eight weeks

Housing pressures, FF unrest and a tricky meeting with Trump in prospect as Dáil returns

Opposition parties set to focus on affordability and Government waste and bureaucracy

Fianna Fáil MEP criticises Mercosur opposition amid debate ‘focused exclusively on beef’

Barry Andrews said pharmaceuticals, tech and chemicals sectors stood to benefit from deal, as France announces decision to vote against

Post-Connolly alliance seeks long-term change to left-wing politics

Grassroots movement in Galway hopes to spread nationwide, galvanising support for vote transfer pacts

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

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

Why 2025 will be remembered as a pivotal year in Irish politics

In the News podcast: In a hectic political year, the challenge was to choose just a handful of stories

Politicians are bad at the internet. Just look at Simon Harris’s TikTok

Keir Starmer’s new Substack only proves the point

NTA says council sought more money for Deer Park steps due to ‘challenges on site’

Taoiseach said €750,000 bill for 14 steps and new ramp at Mount Merrion park was ‘excessive’ while Sinn Fein called it a waste of money

Candidate Hutch: Why Cab, the Spanish police and a State watchdog cannot stop his Dáil run

Gerry Hutch plans to run in Dublin Central byelection and mobilise first-time voters after tapping academics for advice

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