Ellen Coyne and Cormac McQuinn join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:
- Budget season has already started with the Summer Economic Statement pointing to less cash being available for new spending measures in Budget 2027. Minister for Finance Simon Harris and Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers have announced that Government spending on infrastructure and services will increase by €7 billion next year to €125.5 billion. It seems that Government commitment of a maximum of €200 per child per month will have to wait a little longer.
- And while the Government stopped short of an outright ban on e-scooters, there will be new regulations coming into effect as early as next month that will extend the existing ban for under-16s to a ban for under-18s, and the mandatory wearing of helmets and high-visibility vests for everyone using an e-scooter.
- The end of private maternity care in publicly funded hospitals might be arriving sooner than expected with news this week that about 150 women have been turned away for private care by consultants at the National Maternity Hospital over the last six weeks.
- And it is all change in the annual RTÉ salary top ten as the on-air talent have been largely replaced in the list by ‘faceless executives’, with RTÉ director general Kevin Bakhurst occupying top spot. Who will think of the poor radio presenters?
Plus, the panel picks their favourite Irish Times pieces of the week:
- Louvre’s burgled gallery reopens its doors for tourists with nary a jewel in sight, we meet the most powerful woman in Britain, and is The Odyssey an epic letdown?
