Good morning.
When does a byelection campaign properly start? Is it the selection conventions, the posters going up, the debates starting or the more wonkish milestones of the deadline for voter registration passing and the final slates of candidates being confirmed?
None of the above – it’s when the first dedicated Irish Times Inside Politics podcast drops, of course.
The team, almost entirely comprised of non-Galwegians (but ably sherpa’d by native Harry McGee), travelled west of the Shannon this week for a special live show in Róisín Dubh – which you can listen to here:
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And if that’s not enough to get the byelection juices flowing, we have the first constituency-level poll of the election campaign arriving at 7pm, when The Irish Times/TG4 Ipsos poll of voters in Galway West drops. Dublin Central will follow next week.
Byelections are strange beasts: voter turnout can be low, and results unrepresentative of how people will vote in a general election with more on the line. As contests, they are intense. Issues-wise, they are crowded fields, as local is layered on top of national – all with an unrelenting media focus that outdoes even a general election, when there are 43 constituencies competing simultaneously.
It is inevitable the cost of living will dominate. The prevailing narrative in the Dáil has been one of misery as the Opposition piles criticism and pressure on the Government to do more in the face of rising inflation. Eurostat figures showing Ireland has the most expensive electricity in the EU, released on Wednesday, provided the latest spark to that story.
But as yesterday’s exchequer returns show, segments of the economy are humming along, with stronger-than-expected receipts of income tax, VAT and corporation tax. Employment figures remain strong and consumers continue to shop, with retail sales increasing.
That will be the backdrop for these elections – seasoned with whatever the campaigns throw up. We get the first real indication of where the contenders stand at 7pm.
HSE overspend
Considering the political tension caused by overspending in the Department of Education, the headlines coming out of the Health Service Executive (HSE) yesterday will have been most unwelcome for the Government. HSE boss Anne O’Connor warned that its financial position had “significantly worsened” in recent weeks, pausing some recruitment and increasing spending scrutiny.
The bean counters in the Department of Public Expenditure aren’t quite as fretful about this one as the education situation – for now, anyway – pointing to efforts already under way within the HSE to bring the overspend under control. But a €250 million overrun less than half way through the year won’t do much for the State’s already flimsy reputation for spending.
Read Martin Wall and Shauna Bowers’ story here.
Best reads
Silage, manure, cow dung on Don Quixote – here’s Miriam Lord on a day of fragrant exchanges in the Dáil.
Europe Correspondent Jack Power reports from Armenia – which is playing footsie with Europe, apparently.
It’s a big election day in the UK with voters going to the polls for local councils in England and for devolved assemblies in Wales and Scotland. London Correspondent Mark Paul has a scene-setter here.
The Department of Health is planning for the repatriation of two Irish passengers on board the hantavirus cruise ship.
Our lead story covers how 300 asylum seekers claiming to be children were in fact adults, according to a submission by Tusla to the Public Accounts Committee.
Dublin Editor Olivia Kelly on the scrapped regeneration plan for Oliver Bond House.
Finn McRedmond asks: is Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre even nice at all?
Playbook
Patrick O’Donovan and Helen McEntee take the morning round of oral parliamentary questions in the Dáil this morning, followed by Leaders’ Questions at midday. In the afternoon, Government Business will be given over to statements to mark Europe Day, before a Labour motion on a cost-of-living mini-budget.
Topical Issues at 6.22pm rounds out the day.
Here’s the full set list.
Over in the Seanad, there will be statements on international developments at teatime before the second stage of the Arbitration (Amendment) Bill – otherwise known as the Ceta Bill, enabling the ratification of the trade deal with Canada.
The full schedule can be found here.
The committees meet from 9am, with the Defence Committee hearing from officials in the Department of Defence on procurement, while the big digital platforms are in front of the Committee on Children to talk about young people’s safety and wellbeing online.
The Public Accounts Committee holds its weekly public meeting from 10am, with the National Oil Reserves Agency in attendance.
Here’s the full rundown.
Beyond Leinster House, Micheál Martin visits Belfast for meetings and engagements, along with Simon Harris and Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien. They’ll be doing a railways announcement with Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly before going on to Stormont to meet Assembly parties.
Minister for Housing James Browne will be at the launch of a conservation and culture project at 11 Parnell Square, where President Catherine Connolly will do the honours.
