Patrick Smyth: Macron shares Cameron’s aloofness, invulnerability and catastrophic urge to call voters’ bluffWorldview: This disastrous election is France’s Brexit moment - every bit as mistimed and every bit as consequential for his country
Sinn Féin to ‘dust ourselves off’ after it failed to reach electoral ambitionsParty got ‘a knock’ with poor performance this month, says Mary Lou McDonald
Two simple truths have been forgotten in the rush to write Sinn Féin offLocal elections are about local issues. In the next election, housing will continue to be the defining issue
Women still underrepresented on councils amid online abuse and lack of supportOnly one more female councillor sitting after latest elections compared to beforehand, with 677 women candidates having run and 247 of them securing seats
Referendums risked ‘legal uncertainty’ for migration rules, officials warned before O’Gorman’s reassurancesGovernment repeatedly claimed referendums had no immigration implications
Future governments should consider being clearer with voters ahead of referendumsThe Government maintained throughout the campaign that the amendment would not affect taxation, succession, or family law
Michelle O’Neill ‘not hung up’ on what to call Northern IrelandSinn Féin vice-president meeting with Conservative MPs in Westminster
Pat Leahy: We need clarity on criteria for calling referendum on Irish unitySuch a move should be part of a general re-examination of Belfast Agreement
Rise of Alliance reveals surprising facets of North’s shifting politicsParty’s supporters are not necessarily neutral on constitutional question
The Irish Times view on Fianna Fáil/Sinn Féin relations: leaving the door openIf the Fianna Fáil leadership is softening on the idea of a future coalition with Sinn Féin, it’s a reflection of shifting views within the party
Fianna Fáil review of 2020 election performance still not readyInternal review not expected to be ready until April
Fine Gael blames poor election result on series of pre-poll gaffesSeán Kelly MEP singles out Catherine Noone controversy at party postmortem meeting
Eamon Ryan ‘regrets’ abandoning 2004 presidential race but rules out 2025 bidGreen Party leader dropped out when it became clear other candidates would not challenge Mary McAleese
Would a new office of vice-president help inclusivity in an united Ireland? Irish Times/ARINS surveys asked respondents North and South to consider reform of the presidency to create more inclusivity in a united Ireland
David Norris on his decision to leave politics: ‘I think it's time to go’The senator on living alone, destigmatising homosexuality, and stepping down from politics