Pat Leahy and Jack Horgan-Jones join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:

• Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union got off to a slightly awkward start at the opening ceremony at Dublin Castle on Wednesday when guest Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned against “material emanating from a plant in Ireland” being used in Russia’s war effort. The Ukrainian president didn’t name Aughinish Alumina, but his feelings were clear.
• Dozens of solicitors walked out of District Court rooms on Wednesday in protest against a new pay system for legal aid. This marked an escalation in tensions with Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan who has pushed the reform through.
• The Government are not going to act on Oireachtas committee recommendations on the decriminalisation of the possession of drugs for personal use.
• And as the United States celebrates its 250th birthday, how has the country lived up to the principals and aspirations of its founding fathers?

Plus, the panel picks their favourite Irish Times pieces of the week:

• The dad fashion of Andy Burnham, France’s World Cup stars set to sweep aside all competition, and the inside story ofthe Riad Bouchaker trial.