Pat Leahy
Pat Leahy columns
Ireland’s surplus won’t last long if there are two more aid packages to come
This is the way our politics works now – a constant stream of demand and response
Trump is stuck and looking for options – an Irish former US adviser warns this is risky
Tom Wright, who worked in the Biden administration, believes the president is in ‘a real bind’ in Iran
There’s something missing from Ireland’s debates on foreign policy: our interests
Bollocking the president of the United States on St Patrick’s Day is probably not what the people want their political leader to do
Expect to hear the phrase ‘Governments don’t win byelections’ a lot in the months ahead
Coalition leaders will not relish Dublin Central and Galway West contests. Just ask Keir Starmer
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
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
Try explaining to the people of Enniscorthy why it’s hard to get things done
Instead of action, Ministers can take refuge in process. But public patience is wearing thin
This is the one thing you’ll never hear a politician say
On and on it goes, every week: more spending is the only solution to every problem facing the country. Nobody ever says we can’t afford it
Lesson EU leaders took from Davos is that they need to stop appeasing Trump
Irish Government will try to follow the rugby coaches’ advice and control the controllables
What is the future for the new right in Irish politics?
Plenty of energy, as evidenced by the recent ‘Irlforum’, but no sign of a breakthrough
Can the left alliance grow this year? Only if it answers these questions
Challenge for the putative alliance is to show the public that they can co-operate consistently on substantive issues, beyond political posturing
Better-paid TDs, more powerful ministers – and other ideas to improve Ireland
There is a recurring dilemma of politics – how to get politicians to do what’s best for the longer term and unpopular in the short term?
Go shooting, drink wine, sing in a chorus – and other life advice from a politics journalist
Sing in a choir, make something with your hands, shoot real or clay pigeons, go to a church, dance if you really must
A decisive showdown over Micheál Martin’s leadership might be best for everyone
Not yet having the numbers to push the button, his opponents within Fianna Fáil are now hoping to harry him to destruction
Left rising, Lowry’s comeback and a blackface controversy: the year in politics
One important thing that happened in 2025 was something that didn’t happen – the monstering of the Irish economy by Trump’s tariffs
Irish fretting about the triple lock seems faintly ridiculous in light of Russia threat
Ireland’s neutrality doesn’t bother EU allies. Our inability to defend ourselves does
These three Ministers are doing something welcome – making enemies
Patrick O’Donovan, Jim O’Callaghan and Jennifer Carroll MacNeill have shown they are not afraid of rattling cages
Only thing predictable about Irish politics is that nothing is predictable
Right now, Sinn Féin are the bookies’ favourites to win the next general election, but you might as well ask Mystic Meg
Catherine Connolly served notice on the Government – but the left is not its biggest problem
Unless it can make rapid progress in facilitating homebuilding, the Coalition will have no future. Nor, frankly, will it deserve one
John Collison has mapped a way out of the Government’s lethargy
Our electoral system and political culture has taught politicians that above all, they should annoy nobody. The housing crisis is changing that
Catherine Connolly will be president of Blueshirt barristers, Fianna Fáil farmers, lefties and pro-lifers
She proved to be an exceptional candidate – poised, disciplined and possessed of an unflappable temperament
If Catherine Connolly wins, it means one of two things
If the Government parties and their leaders aren’t worried about the political implications, they’re sticking their heads in the sand
Jim O’Callaghan will bide his time, but the great game is on
Micheál Martin is going nowhere for now, but the power dynamics have definitely shifted following the Gavin debacle
Budget 2026: This is what caution looks like. But will it wash with voters?
Paschal Donohoe is a steady-as-she-goes man, not given to dramatic lurches in spending or tax policy. That can be a tough sell
Ireland faces a stark choice in the face of the threat from Russia
Catherine Connolly’s horror at the remilitarisation of Europe is understandable, but she has taken the wrong lesson from the history of the 1930s
Presidential debate: who came out on top and who struggled?
Inside Politics podcast with Hugh Linehan
If conservatives like Maria Steen want to have an impact, they need to do three things better
Does her experience suggest anyone who holds socially conservative views is excluded from public life?
Hollowing out of democracy is secondary to the profits of big tech
Social media companies should be legally bound to reveal identities of those who threaten politicians
Mary Lou McDonald’s RTÉ interview on the presidency was more revealing than she intended
McDonald used the first person (I, me, my) 32 times. This was a decision that she was framing very much as a personal choice
Three (other) big issues preoccupying Irish politicians: spending, housing, neutrality
These are the things they’re thinking about when they’re not thinking about the presidential election (which is a lot of the time)
There are landmines on the path to the presidency for every party
Every party leader has a lot to lose in the upcoming election - and it’s less clear what they have to gain
Brian Cowen and The Crash: a new look at the handling and political cost of the Celtic Tiger collapse
A new Irish Times podcast series looks back at the crash with the benefit of 14 years’ hindsight
Crash, part two: austerity bites and Brian Cowen’s Morning Ireland humiliation
Inside Politics podcast with Hugh Linehan
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
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