Jack Horgan-Jones and Jennifer Bray join Hugh to look back on the week in politics:

• Sinn Féin announced it would not send representatives to Washington for St Patrick's Day, in protest over the proposed "mass expulsion of the Palestinian people from their homes and the permanent seizure of Palestinian lands".

• Should the Government provide tax breaks for developers to encourage homebuilding? Within Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, there are opposing views.

• The speaking rights row is not over. Is there a solution?

Plus the panel pick their favourite Irish Times stories of the week.

And finally, an announcement.

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Micheál Martin's recent signalling of a possible policy shift regarding Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) has put housing policy back in the spotlight. On today's podcast Hugh discusses the evolving housing policy landscape with Michael Byrne, a housing researcher at UCD.

Michael explains the limitations and impacts of RPZs on affordability and supply, and alternative systems of rent control that might replace it.

They also discuss the growing role of institutional landlords and the complex tradeoffs involved in addressing supply, affordability, and rates of homeownership.

Michael Byrne is a lecturer in political economy at UCD's School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice and the author of The Week in Housing blog on Substack.

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Pat Leahy and Jennifer Bray join Hugh for our weekly Irish politics wrap:

• Did Taoiseach Micheál Martin call Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald a liar, in breach of arcane Dáil rules? Our panel of lapsed Gaeilgeoirí struggle to analyse the linguistic nuances of what Martin said, but identify an underlying political attitude.

• Minister for the Arts Patrick O'Donovan this week kitchen-sinked the news that the Arts Council wasted millions on an IT system that didn't work. The story adds to a perception of wastefulness in public spending, but could be an opportunity for the new Minister to prove himself.

• Housing became the other big issue of the week when the Taoiseach hinted at changes to the system of rent pressure zones. The pressure is on Martin to deliver on housing before he hands back over to Simon Harris - can he make a dent?

Plus the panel pick their favourite Irish Times articles of the week, on P.G. Wodehouse, the art of mingling and what happens when power goes to a leader's head.

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Support for Irish unity has grown significantly in the past three years in Northern Ireland, though a clear majority remains in favour of remaining part of the United Kingdom, according to the latest opinion poll for The Irish Times and the ARINS Project.

On today’s Inside Politics podcast Hugh Linehan is joined by political editor Pat Leahy and Brendan O’Leary from the University of Pennsylvania to discuss the latest findings from the project, a study that explores attitudes to a possible future united Ireland.

They discuss recent trends in public opinion regarding Irish reunification, the demographic shifts influencing the movement, and the prospects for planning and compromise in the face of potential unity.

The conversation also covers the varying attitudes between the North and the Republic on issues like preparedness for a future United Ireland and whether NATO and Commonwealth membership should be adopted in the event of reunification. 

The North and South series is a collaboration between The Irish Times and ARINS (Analysing and Researching Ireland North and South), a joint research project of the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) and the Keough-Naughton Centre for Irish Studies at the University of Notre Dame.

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It is just three weeks since Donald Trump was inaugurated but his impact has been huge. A flurry of executive orders and aggressive actions is already reshaping American life.

On today's podcast Hugh discusses the Trump presidency with conservative commentator Michael Brendan Dougherty.

The conversation covers Dougherty's evolving views on Trump, the impact of Trump's executive orders, and the ideological shifts within American conservatism.

They explore Trump's unpredictable political strategies, the tension within the Republican Party and the challenges facing the Democratic Party in regaining lost constituencies.

Michael Brendan Dougherty is a writer for National Review and the author of My Father Left Me Ireland.

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Harry McGee and Jack Horgan-Jones join Hugh Linehan on today’s Inside Politics podcast to discuss the week in politics:

·      Letters from Independent TDs to to Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy stating they will support the Government on a “case-by-case” basis has brough the true size of the coalition’s majority into question.

·      The speculation around picks for the last 11 Seanad seats suggests Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris will opt for greater gender balance.

·      Incoming Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan, like the raft of other new senior ministers, will look to hit the ground running in his new role. Addressing dwindling Garda numbers and restoring a sense of safety to Dublin’s city streets will be high on his priority list.

·      Although the contest to succeed President Michael D Higgins is not happening until late autumn, there are already some eye-catching, if unlikely, potential candidates, not least the Irish Times’ own Fintan O’Toole.  

Plus, the panel pick their favourite Irish Times articles of the week, including the defunding of USAID and peace process absurdities, radical right momentum in Europe, and a Chitty-averse arts minister.

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Hugh Linehan and guests discuss domestic political issues and European defence challenges.

In part one, Pat Leahy talks about the resolution of the Dáil speaking rights row and the damage it has done to the Government.

In part two, Jack Power joins from Brussels to discuss the EU's defence strategy in light of recent geopolitical shifts. They discuss Ireland's military neutrality, potential defence spending, and the EU's broader strategy against emerging threats. The conversation also touches on challenges facing the EU with the Trump administration's threat of tariffs and the upcoming German elections.

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Hugh speaks with Berlin correspondent Derek Scally about major political shifts happening in Germany ahead of the federal election later this month. Germany’s history has meant any cooperation between mainstream parties and the far-right has been an unbreakable taboo. Could that finally change?

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Harry McGee and Cormac McQuinn join Hugh Linehan on today’s Inside Politics podcast to discuss the week in politics:

·      As the count continues to fill seats in the Upper House, and high-profile candidates lose out, the panel looks at whether the Seanad is a ‘creche for future TDs and a retirement home for others’.

·      Ireland’s 23 new junior Ministers have been decided, but how many of them are real jobs, and who is likely to use their new position as a springboard to a senior ministry in the future?

·      And the proposal to give the Regional Independent Group 10 minutes of speaking on Opposition time that caused uproar in the Dáil last week looks far from over with no resolution forthcoming.

Plus, the panel pick their favourite Irish Times articles of the week, including Bertie for president? The place of small farms in modern Ireland, Latin America reacts to Trump’s aggression, and restriction on immigration in Germany.

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