On The Tonight Show with Fionnán Sheahan:

Ireland hosts a wartime president as Volodymyr Zelensky arrives for a state visit, coinciding with reports that Moscow is weighing amendments to a US-backed peace plan.

Plus, rumours are mounting that Gerry “The Monk” Hutch is preparing another bid for office in next year’s Dublin Central by-election.But what are his chances? 

🏛️ Neale Richmond TD, Minister of State

🏛️ Marie Sherlock TD, Labour 

📰 Harry McGee, Political Correspondent, The Irish Times

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The Cabinet approves tougher asylum and citizenship rules, while Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan promises more changes ahead.

At the same time, Ireland’s fiscal watchdog warns the Government to save more and stop “budgeting like there’s no tomorrow.”

Debating the impact: Niall Collins, Gary Gannon, Naomi O’Leary, and Seamus Coffey.

Big decisions. Big consequences — on The Tonight Show.

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IOn this episode, the cost of living surges back into focus as the price of home heating oil jumps by €80 in a single month, bringing the average cost of a 1,000-litre fill to around €980 — more than €200 higher than across the border. Fionnán Sheahan is joined by first-time TDs Catherine Callaghan (Fine Gael), Louis O’Hara (Sinn Féin), and Eoghan Kenny (Labour) to debate the pressure on households and what solutions are actually on the table.

As the show marks one year since the general election, our panel reflects on what has — and hasn’t — been achieved, and the realities of delivering on political promises from inside the Dáil.

Later, with Ukraine backing a US-supported peace plan and Russia signalling it may walk away, we assess whether a historic breakthrough is within reach. We go live to Washington for the latest with correspondent Toni Waterman.

A year of political promises, surging household costs, and shifting geopolitics — all on The Tonight Show.

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Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan says Ireland must be “nimble” in responding to major shifts in British asylum policy after tough new reforms were announced by UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. To debate the implications, Fianna Fáil Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee, Independent Ireland TD Ken O’Flynn, and immigration lawyer Cathal Malone join the programme.

Later, Ivan Yates appears alone before the Oireachtas Media Committee following controversy over his media training for Fianna Fáil presidential candidate Jim Gavin. With Coimisiún na Meán and Newstalk now reviewing the matter, what does this mean for media transparency and future podcast regulation?

Featuring reaction from Labour TD Alan Kelly, and analysis from John Masterson of Purcell Masterson PR.

Policy tensions, media scrutiny, and questions of transparency — all on The Tonight Show.

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“Hang in there.” That’s the message from Housing Minister James Browne, who says the upcoming National Housing Plan will mark “a real shift” in solving Ireland’s housing crisis. But can the government really deliver the radical change needed to get homes built and prices down?

Debating the challenge: Fianna Fáil TD Paul McAuliffe, People Before Profit–Solidarity TD Richard Boyd Barrett, and Eimer McAuley, News Correspondent with The Journal.

Later, as Fianna Fáil avoids any discussion of the botched Jim Gavin presidential campaign at tonight’s parliamentary party meeting, attention turns to what’s next for the government — and the political stakes of the new plan. John Lee, Executive Editor at the Irish Daily Mail, brings the latest analysis.

Promises, pressure, and a plan to fix housing — all on The Tonight Show.

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Catherine Connolly has been sworn in as Ireland’s tenth President — pledging to be “a unifying president, a steady hand, but also a catalyst for change.” In her inauguration speech, she outlined a vision for a new republic built on equality, inclusion, and neutrality.

With the left now holding the highest office in the land, can Ireland’s progressive parties find common ground, and speak with one voice?

Joining the debate: Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton, Sinn Féin TD Mairéad Farrell, Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan, and Naomi O’Leary, The Irish Times Europe Correspondent.

A new era, a new president — all on The Tonight Show.

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Housing Minister James Browne has played down claims that it could take 15 years to end Ireland’s housing crisis — even though the estimate comes from the Department of Finance. A new mapping exercise suggests the shortage could persist into the 2040s, until building finally catches up with demand.

Joining Kieran Cuddihy to debate the government’s response and what it means for homebuyers:

-Fine Gael TD Naoise Ó Muirí

-Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney

-Executive Editor, Irish Independent Kevin Doyle

-Solicitor & Planning Law Expert Fred Logue

Later — Donald Trump’s “worst nightmare” Zohran Mamdani makes history as New York City’s first Muslim mayor and the youngest in a century. With Democrats celebrating big wins in Virginia and New Jersey, is this the first major test for the Republican Party and President Trump since his return to the White House?

Kieran Cuddihy is joined by Professor of International Politics, Clinton Institute UCD, Scott Lucas for analysis.

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Seven children were among 52 people deported to Georgia last night on a chartered flight from Dublin Airport — the sixth deportation operation so far this year as the government tightens its stance on failed asylum applications.

With the Tánaiste saying migration numbers are now too high, is the coalition shifting to the right on immigration? And what does this signal about attitudes across Ireland?

Joining Kieran Cuddihy to debate this on The Tonight Show:

• Fianna Fáil Minister of State Timmy Dooley
• Sinn Féin TD & Spokesperson on Justice and Migration Matt Carthy
• Mick Clifford, Special Correspondent, Irish Examiner

Later — the political fallout from Ivan Yates’s media training for Fianna Fáil sparks tensions within the coalition, and we’ll ask: is a left-wing outsider about to become mayor of America’s biggest city?

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On The Tonight Show with Kieran Cuddihy:

The collapse of Fastway Couriers delivers a “body blow” to an already struggling industry, with hundreds of jobs lost. Is the business a casualty of green taxes and government policy?

On the eve of COP30, are public attitudes toward climate change shifting as policies retreat? And in the wake of the presidential election, do the high numbers of spoilt ballots signal a growing anti-democratic force in Irish politics?

🏛️ John Clendennen TD, Fine Gael

👨‍🏫 Kevin Cunningham, Lecturer in Politics at TU Dublin and Founder at Ireland Thinks

🏛️ Cllr Linda de Courcy, Independent Ireland

📰 John Gibbons, Journalist & Author

🚚 Ger Hyland, Irish Road Haulage Association President

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On The Tonight Show with Kieran Cuddihy:

With the presidential election over, the fallout has begun.

Government parties are counting the cost of defeat, with Fianna Fáil facing renewed internal unrest and whispers of a no-confidence motion against Taoiseach Micheál Martin. Meanwhile, Fine Gael’s Seán Kelly has accused his party of “shafting” him, deepening the coalition’s woes.

Plus, Stripe co-founder John Collison says Ireland is “stuck” - caught in a web of agencies and red tape that’s stalling progress on housing and infrastructure.

The panel debates: is he right, and have our leaders lost sight of the basics of running a country?

🏛️ John Connolly TD, Fianna Fail

🏛️ Senator Patricia Stephenson, Social Democrats

📰 Louise Burne, Political Correspondent, Irish Examiner 

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