Hugh Linehan opens the floor with Pat Leahy and Jennifer Bray as the gears of politics start to turn again.
There is a rising wave of political cues regarding the contents of the approaching budget, amplifying existing discord within the coalition.
Regular listeners of the Inside Politics podcast would be all too familiar with a bit of speculation regarding when the subsequent general election is due.
When the day does finally dawn, we can expect a host of fresh candidates vying for positions. Our commentators delve into some of the novice political figures that will feature on the ballots in the months ahead.