Usually on this morning of this week, our politics digest is stuffed with budget stories, with advance nuggets about what Simon Harris and Jack Chambers might include in the document next week.
But not this morning. Like a thunderbolt out of the blue, a ghost from the past reared its ugly head. A quarter of a century after the sectarian violence and standoffs around the Drumcree march came to an end, it all exploded again last weekend.
It has dominated politics North and South since the frenetic court hearings of the weekend and the sit-down protests by residents of the Garvaghy Road. And while the threat of violence seems to have receded, the activity since the weekend has been intense and it has also been fraught.
As the standoff continued in Portadown, new Northern Secretary Chris Bryant (who now knows the true meaning of a baptism of fire) met the Orange Order yesterday, and also met the Garvaghy Road Residents’ Coalition at Hillsborough Castle. Those meetings are likely to continue all day today.
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In Dublin, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald and Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill met Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris in Government Buildings. It was the main theme debated during Leaders’ Questions too.
As our main lead discloses, Martin told Sinn Féin the Government would not intervene, while Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee said it was likely an international mediator would be appointed. All parties in the Dáil oppose the march taking place – the difference lies in what they propose to do about it, with Sinn Féin pressing the Government to tell Bryant to halt the marches.
Lording it for the last time
Alongside the grave matter of the Drumcree standoff, the other big moment in the Dáil yesterday was the Miriam Lord sendoff.
The renowned Irish Times columnist and colour writer is taking early retirement and taking leave of her eyrie high up on the press gallery of Dáil Éireann, where she has surveyed the world of Leinster House for 20 years for this paper.
Lord is a generational talent, whose column could light up the dullest day with her flares of humour and ingenious word play.
There was a going-away celebration for her in the Dáil bar last night attended by many journalist colleagues and politicians, and generous tributes were paid to her in the Dáil by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Cian O’Callaghan of the Social Democrats, Ivana Bacik of Labour and Ruth Coppinger of Solidarity/People Before Profit.
Here, amid the Garvaghy Road contributions, is a flavour of what Martin said.
And yes, there is budget stuff
Thanks to Jack Horgan-Jones, who nosed out this excellent yarn about the possibility of childcare fee reductions being eased in during 2027, in phases. That way, it will mean the whole-year cost for 2027 will be a little less, making it a little less harsh on the arithmetic.
Jack reports that Government figures point to a possible fee reduction in January, followed by more in September. The precise timing of the introduction will be thrashed out in the days ahead.
And there’s transport news too.
Cormac McQuinn was reporting from the European energy ministers’ gathering in Dublin Castle yesterday. Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien defended the planned increases in public transport fares by arguing it was the first increase in eight years and that Irish fares were “affordable” by EU standards.
Best Reads
Newton Emerson, in an excellent column, outlines the background and the twists and turns of the Drumcree standoff.
He writes: “Because Portadown Orangemen have spurned direct engagement they have conveniently rerouted themselves. Instead of talking, a dozen or so have walked to the top of the Garvaghy Road every Sunday for 28 years, complained to a police officer, then turned around. Their unique intransigence has provided Drumcree with its unique solution. “Elsewhere, the mediation or restriction model has been enormously successful, resolving every other contentious parade as of 2016.”
Mark Hennessy looks at what might happen next in Drumcree.
There has been another Asian hornet capture in Cork. Tim O’Brien reports that Minister of State for Nature Christopher O’Sullivan has called for public vigilance.
Playbook
Dáil Éireann
10:00 — Private Members’ Business: Social Democrats motion on introducing a windfall tax on the excess profits of energy companies
12:00 — Leaders’ Questions
12:45 — Questions on Policy or Legislation
2:15pm — Statements on Migration and Citizenship
Seanad Éireann
4:00pm — Statements on the School Meals Programme
Committees
9:30am — Joint Committee on Disability Matters
Living arrangements for persons with disabilities
9:30am — Joint Committee on Health
Detailed scrutiny of the Health (Abolition of the Three Day Wait Rule) Amendment Bill 2026
9:45am — Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development
Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2026–2030
12:45pm — Joint Committee on Education and Youth
Update on the Deis and Deis Plus Programme
