Good morning.
It’s the last day of term at Leinster House. The Taoiseach was in giddy form yesterday at his last Leaders’ Questions wishing everyone bon voyage for the holidays. Then the Opposition tore strips off him on various issues. He won’t miss the Dáil for the next two months, that’s for sure.
Jack Horgan-Jones assesses the political term here.
Miriam Lord reports on a skittish end-of-term feel about the place. “We won’t know ourselves once the children are gone,” one Oireachtas staffer remarked to her.
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Cost of unity
You’d expect a quiet day today in the Dáil as TDs hit the road for the holidays. But not before Simon Harris has his final confrontation of the term with Pearse Doherty (or whoever Sinn Féin subs in for Mary Lou) – a fixture in the weekly calendar that is often lively enough.
After lunch, though, there’s an interesting session – statements on the fiscal implications of a united Ireland. After the sound and fury of the debate last week on Sinn Féin’s preparing for a united Ireland legislation, perhaps this is an opportunity for deputies to consider one of the greatest and most significant unknowns – what would unity cost? Advocates for unity often adopt a “sure it’ll be grand” approach. A bit more than that might be required if the referendum ever comes.
Aughinish report
The Government report on Aughinish Alumina is expected to say that it cannot rule out the possibility that Irish-produced alumina is ending up in the Russian military supplies because of the lack of hard evidence. However, it is unlikely to conclude that product from the Co Limerick plant is being used in the country’s arms industry. The Government is likely to send the report to Brussels and commence an engagement on the issue with the European Commission, which is unlikely to be concluded until the autumn. Our lead story today.
Public or private?
More from Ireland’s “public” health service. Ellen Coyne reports that 17 public-only consultants at the Rotunda were given permission from the master of the hospital to carry out private care at the maternity hospital. They include obstetricians, neonatologists and anaesthetists.
Between January and June, when the hospital was finally forced to back down in a public row with the Government, the Rotunda had billed insurers for €350,000 worth of private care by public. Story here.
Legal aid dispute
A new front opening up in Big Jim vs the solicitors. Family lawyers met yesterday and are to seek increased payments from the Department of Justice. If they follow their criminal colleagues and decide not to take on new family civil legal aid cases, it would have adverse implications for domestic violence, custody, access, childcare and maintenance.
Occupied Territories Bill
President Catherine Connolly has been signing Bills into law at a spanking pace in recent days. One imagines she won’t take too much time considering the Occupied Territories Bill, which was passed by the Seanad last night and now awaits her signature. Its passage met a chorus of criticism from the Opposition and campaigning groups complaining that it doesn’t go far enough – fulfilling predictions that it would end up pleasing nobody. Ellen Coyne’s report here.
Best reads
Ken Early is who you should read to explain last night’s World Cup exit by England at the hands of Argentina. He correctly identifies the crucial factor: England blew it tactically in the last half hour.
“Argentina are in the World Cup final again,” he writes, “thanks to the inspiration from their captain, and to an all-time bottle job from England’s coach, Thomas Tuchel ... Tuchel was meant to provide the tactical edge to get them over the line, but now has authored a debacle that will be studied in coaching colleges for decades to come. It’s hard to see how Tuchel can continue as England manager after this: he has fumbled England’s opportunity in the most infuriating possible manner for the English public.”
And Mary Hannigan watched the build-up on GB News.
Finn McRedmond worries that we might become attached to snitching on our neighbours over the hosepipe ban. “Have we only recently become a nation of pearl-clutching, petit-bourgeois prigs?” she frets. That’s not for her, living the life of a “bohemian newspaper columnist”. Sounds nice.
Our foreign section contains important stories from all over the world. If you don’t already, you really should subscribe to Denis Staunton’s Global Briefing newsletter.
And on the op-ed page, Vincent Durac argues that both the US and Iran want to end the conflict – but there is no clear path to getting there.
Playbook
Education and then defence questions this morning in the Dáil before the last Leaders’ Questions and then aforementioned statements on the costs of a united Ireland. A civilised adjournment before 8.30pm.
The Seanad will dispose of a couple of Government Bills – the Health (Provision of Contraception Prescribing Service in Retail Pharmacy Businesses) Bill 2026 and the Development (Strategic Gas Reserve) Bill 2026, since you ask.
At the Public Accounts Committee the National Transport Authority will be grilled by members on its accounts, while the education committee will discuss the role of special needs assistants. The committee on issues affecting the Traveller community will discuss accommodation in the Wexford area with a number of Traveller reps. The full schedule of meetings is here.
Finally, the end of an era was marked in the visitors’ bar in Leinster House when political correspondents and the odd politician marked the imminent retirement of Senan Molony – author, historian, scholar, commentator, bon viveur and long-time political correspondent for a variety of outlets. One of the most popular members of the Oireachtas press gallery, Senan’s wit and wisdom will be greatly missed about the place. Doorsteps will be less unpredictable, the luxurious office accommodations enjoyed by the press corps will be quieter and Leinster House will certainly be duller for his absence.
