We are about to see first public divergence by governments on North since Belfast Agreement

Taoiseach notes thin line between politicians’ great strengths and biggest weaknesses

The mantra ‘There will be no hard Border’ is not enough to magic the prospect away

Moderation and incremental approach to budget balanced with political generosity.

Irish channels have every right to charge international cable firms for retransmission

The plans are nothing but a weak Government trying to prove it has vision and durability

Government’s claim to be able to legislate will stand or fall on progress of alcohol Bill

Hillary Clinton’s revelation that she considered such a proposal shows its potency

Micheál Martin’s ruling out of a government with the party is due to political necessity

Data-protection watchdog should know better than to fan the flames of the controversy

Eighth Amendment vote and presidential election will both influence timing of the poll

Ireland now only a bystander in crucial discussions about future of the country

DUP claims about frictionless post-Brexit Border have been exposed as fantasy

Brexit books and a documentary on Macron may provide sustenance in the off-season

Taoiseach is open and decisive, but has not yet proved he is a leader of substance

The journalist leaves a trail of memorable moments as he prepares to sign off for good

Factionalism has long relegated fractious hard left to margins of Irish politics

Passage of important legislation has had to play second fiddle to Shane Ross’s pet project

New dynamic emerges between parties but not over Whelan appointment

Contrary to media commentary, the Taoiseach may have overdone it in terms of changes

New Fine Gael leader’s quietness makes his meteoric ascent all the more remarkable

Labour Party manifesto was more centrist, more costed and more popular

Noel Whelan: Coveney and Varadkar promises ring hollow against Dáil logjam

Former FG leader on several occasions showed a determination to stay in power

Party campaigns are personality contests rather than competitions about policy

It was said the ‘new politics’ needs ‘bedding down’, but our politicians are almost asleep

No reason why vote could not be held in late February or early March next year

Theresa May undermines British democracy by announcing a vote with no real choice

Noel Whelan: new leaders of FG or SF only things likely to shake up Dáil make-up

We should insist on bilateral talks on Brexit’s implications for the agreement

Irish frustration must be channelled towards getting the best outcome in EU negotiations

Noel Whelan: Definitive view of the IRA leader turned politician still to be formed

Little substance to announcement 1,265 days after convention’s recommendation

Frank debate about unity should be pursued without fear of spooking unionists

The Dáil is not free to do as it chooses on water – it has to comply with European law

Fine Gael Ministers will be absorbed by the leadership race and not focused on their jobs

Enda Kenny’s rickety relationships all took a hit over his handling of the McCabe scandal

DUP leader’s Irish language comments exposed the arrogance alleged by Sinn Féin

British prime minister’s talk of a ‘frictionless’ Border has already been exposed as a fantasy

Arguably the only substantial piece of new legislation passed by the Dáil was the Act to tackle the housing and homelessness crisi(...)

Direct input from Dublin is essential as article 50 framework has deep flaws

It is foolish to wait and see what the UK will do before deciding what is best for Ireland

Brexit means our main trading partners, the UK and US, will be outside the EU

Politicians and officials speak of unease pending Brexit and the Trump presidency

The books, movies, podcasts and programmes to get you through the downtime

Adams got caught out while trying to manage the fallout of Austin Stack’s fight for answers

The precedents that illustrate the Sinn Féin leader’s loose relationship with the truth are stacked high and can only damage his c(...)

Experts were given impossible, highly politicised task, making for timid report

Minister’s animated spat contrasts with low-energy departmental performance

Above all else, Donald Trump’s shock victory comes down to his massive celebrity

We can deal with incoming US president without abandoning our self-respect

Not clear how ‘all-island forum’ without unionist involvement is supposed to help calm impact of Brexit

TDs such as Daly and Paul Murphy have same access to redress as all other citizens

Even if defeated, the candidate has ability to damage the US political system even further

The party wants to negotiate the budget in private and act as Opposition on TV

It is clear budget will not be transformative moment in Irish social or economic policy

Latest move to abolish charges for good took some members of the party by surprise

If watchdog not fit to oversee Nama then somebody or something else will have to

He may well be rewarded for supporting the Government as an independent

A frank and honest communication of the case for an appeal is needed but unlikely

The next 10 weeks will be the first test of ‘new politics’ following its summer slumber

‘Gubu does not do justice to the events surrounding the Olympic Council of Ireland this week’

There will be no clarity on the actual state of the race until after the early September Labour weekend

She has decided the Brexiteers should be beside her taking the flak for their overselling the benefits of leaving the EU

Fine Gael would be wise to learn from recent party upheaval in British politics

A short-lived but decisive Government is preferable to one that survives by doing little

Real engagement vital North and South at each and every stage of Brexit process

Brexit: Fertile ground laid for Leave over years of politicians blaming Brussels

No precedent for freedom to oppose legislation which AG says is unconstitutional

Irish government would be remiss if not making known risks of Brexit for State

With seven weeks to go before summer recess we are unlikely to see any substantial Bills passed

Real test of party’s leadership will be the next election - whenever that comes

Nobody has ever been brought to justice for the Kingsmill killings and the families of the dead have run a long campaign to have t(...)

Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have set a slow pace for the new parliament

‘One wonders why the Government’s media handlers felt the need to engage in this “put the wimmin” up front manoeuvre’

Replacing him is a challenging prospect – but his recent gaffes have been a liability

The most dramatic shift in the line up of the 43 senators on the vocational panels was the Sinn Féin breakthrough

The new government will not have working majority in the Seanad if Taoiseach true to the new politics

A realisation that all is not lost may help the newly elected to focus on the general political good

Suggestion that some Independents could be part of FG-FF dominated government is creative

Events were dignified, inclusive and reflected the complexity of the Easter Rising

Unstable minority administration would serve only FG and FF and not the country

Precedents do not augur well for real reform

If negotiations are to succeed then Fine Gael can not rule out Mícheál Martin becoming Taoiseach first

It is now clear that Fine Gael’s campaign was fixed on a disastrous course

Anlaysis: Although first count results can be overturned, it is still a rare development

The party as likely to perform as well in the next election coming out of government as they are from opposition

FG have applied British Tory script without adapting appropriately to the Irish context

At this stage, regardless of how you look at it, outgoing government will fall about a dozen seats short of overall majority

McHale is telling the Government that if and when additional money comes along most of it will already be committed to new overhea(...)

Independents’ purposes and objectives are more complex than the crude caricatures

Film tells story of investigation by ‘Boston Globe’ into cover up of clerical sexual abuse

This election is not about choosing who can keep the recovery going because those choices are not made here in Ireland

For almost five years Coalition failed to carry out pre-2011 promise of a “democratic revolution”

Same-sex marriage: referendum didn’t just amend Constitution - it changed lives

Their life stories and their heritage will be part of the narrative of our country’s future

I grew up in a councillor’s home. Our house was the first port of call for many who needed help. Among the typical visitors I reca(...)

The task of seeking to divine national political implications or constituency-by-constituency impact of any particular poll is a d(...)

Nothing concentrates the minds of politicians like the fear of a further election. Next year will be no different.

The fudged, vague agreement with Labour was this week pushed off into the never never