As the election campaigns gain momentum, the usual political agenda slightly takes a backseat. Whilst a relatively light Cabinet agenda lies ahead, Sinn Féin is again striving to refocus political conversations towards housing, through a Dáil motion on the topic.
The maiden televised debate of the election campaign was hosted last night, with Midlands North West European Parliament candidates battling it out on RTÉ’s ‘Upfront with Katie Hannon’. The event was covered live by Harry McGee with a quick summary from me towards the end. Although no candidate stood out or dealt a decisive blow, Ming Flanagan appeared to be the most content. It was indeed a challenge to have a clear winner among eight candidates within an hour.
Tonight, another debate is set to take place in Limerick, featuring candidates vying for the first ever direct election of a mayor. The Limerick Chamber of Commerce has organised the event which can be followed online. Harry will continue to monitor the happenings, and another well-known individual will be putting the question to the candidates.
If you happened to miss the first constituency-specific polls of the European campaign, they were reported here last Saturday. A few initial leaders seem securely positioned for seats, while there appears to be a tight competition for the rest.
Today’s primary story discloses that high-ranking officials in the Department of Public Expenditure aim to limit the expansion of senior managers and administrators in the HSE – their numbers have surged by over 35% since 2019.
On the campaign path, a man faced court charges yesterday for racially abusing and confronting a Fianna Fáil candidate during his campaign in Limerick. 37-year-old Aaron Daly, a resident of Blackthorn Drive, Caherdavin, Limerick, was charged with two counts of utilising abusive or disrespectful words or actions in the Limerick District Court. He was granted bail. With such incidents becoming increasingly common, it appears the police intend to act swiftly.
Ahead of this morning’s Cabinet meeting, Jack Horgan Jones reveals a proposal from Eamon Ryan to extend the Dart service to Drogheda.
In an unorthodox operation, members of the local police will be going incognito in lorries aiming to catch motorists on their mobile phones. Reports speculate how Tony O’Reilly’s clandestine history might have driven his ambition. O’Reilly’s obituary, if you didn’t catch it, revealed him to be quite the player.
Today’s report from Denis Staunton originates from Taipei, where the country’s new president, Lai Ching-te, has been inaugurated. Known for its political tension, Taiwan remains one of the globe’s most sensitive spots.
An update from the political sphere: The Cabinet will convene at the Government Buildings this morning, whereas activity at Leinster House begins at 2pm with Leaders’ Questions. Following the routine business and structured inquiries to the Taoiseach, there will be governmental discussions on housing, followed by a lengthy four and half hour debate on private housing led by Sinn Fein. The Finance Minister’s questioning session will take place at 8.20pm.
Two pieces of proposed governmental bills will be on the table at the Seanad; one regarding the unifying of the investment and sovereign wealth funds and another – the Research and Innovation Bill – proposing a merger of Irish Research Council and Science Foundation Ireland. The consolidation would form ‘Research Ireland’ or ‘Taighde Eireann’, a singular funding agency for research and innovation.
Other entries in today’s agenda comprise a couple of committee meetings – though essential, they are not expected to generate much excitement.