esterday’s Budget unveiled new measures to tackle the housing crisis — including a VAT cut on apartment sales from 13.5% to 9%. Is it a smart solution to boost supply, or just another break for developers? Fine Gael Minister of State John Cummins, Sinn Féin TD and Housing Spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin, and Irish Examiner Political Correspondent Louise Burne debate the move.

Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil faces internal unrest as the party meets to examine the fallout from Jim Gavin’s withdrawal from the presidential race. How did his ill-fated bid get through “very comprehensive due diligence”? Fianna Fáil MEP Cynthia Ní Murchú joins the discussion on what went wrong — and what happens next.

Housing, politics, and party fallout — all on The Tonight Show.

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Budget 2026 was billed as an investment in the future — but in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, are households actually worse off? Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers and Sinn Féin’s Public Expenditure Spokesperson Mairéad Farrell go head-to-head in studio.

We’ll also examine the government’s decision to cut VAT for the hospitality sector. Will it protect jobs — or just pad profits for the so-called “burger barons”?

Joining the discussion: Fine Gael TD and President of the Vintners Federation of Ireland John Clendennen, Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney, and John Lee, Executive Editor at the Irish Daily Mail & Mail on Sunday.

Politics, pressure, and the price of living — all on The Tonight Show.

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On The Tonight Show with Kieran Cuddihy:

Fianna Fáil in crisis as Jim Gavin spectacularly exits the presidential race. Are Michael Martin’s days numbered after this ‘serious miscalculation’?

Plus, what does this mean for the remaining two? Will Fianna Fáil back Heather Humphreys, and will the latest Áras polls prove correct as Catherine Connolly pulls ahead?

And predictions on the eve of Budget '26, as well as a look at tomorrow’s papers…

🏛️ Niall Collins TD, Fianna Fáil

🏛️ Billy Kelleher MEP, Fianna Fáíl

🏛️ Paul Murphy TD, People Before Profit-Solidarity

🏛️James Geoghegan, TD, Fine Gael

📰 Fionnan Sheahan, Ireland Editor, Irish Independent

📰 Alison O'Connor, Journalist

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As Budget day looms, we ask will cutting VAT be helpful to a struggling hospitality sector, or is it simply wasteful spending and "economically illiterate?

Plus, our panel will be forecasting other key areas in next Tuesday’s package, as households brace for no repeat of one-off supports.

And, a look ahead to tomorrow’s front pages and the Gaza Flotilla

🏛️John Lahart TD, Fianna Fáil

🏛️Michael Fitzmaurice TD, Independent Ireland

🎓Michael Taft, research officer, SIPTU

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On The Tonight Show with Kieran Cuddihy:

What did yesterday's presidential debate reveal about the candidates, and the key issues that will dominate this election?

Is the government's plan to splash cash at asylum applicants a "right-wing dog whistle"?

We'll also discuss the Gaza "peace plan" along with all of tomorrow's front-page news.

🏛️ Colm Brophy TD, Fine Gael

🏛️ Gary Gannon TD, Social Democrats

🏛️ Mary Butler TD, Fianna Fáil

📰 Fionnán Sheahan, Ireland Editor, Irish Independent

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ireland’s presidential election is down to just three candidates — the fewest since 1990. Is the system concentrating too much power in too few hands? Minister of State and Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae, Labour TD Marie Sherlock, and Virgin Media News Political Correspondent Gavan Reilly join the debate.

Meanwhile, fallout continues from Donald Trump’s explosive speech at the UN General Assembly, with Zara King, Virgin Media News Correspondent, reporting live from New York.

And as Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill pushes new legislation to clamp down on single-use vapes, the panel asks: will a ban really work, or just push demand underground?

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With presidential nominations closing, the election debate intensifies. Fianna Fáil TD Séamus McGrath, Sinn Féin TD Eoin Ó Broin, Fine Gael TD Joe Neville, and Aontú Leader Peadar Tóibín — backing independent hopeful Maria Steen — set out their positions as the race for the Áras heats up.

On housing, Séamus McGrath and Eoin Ó Broin are joined by Mick Clifford, Special Correspondent with the Irish Examiner, to discuss warnings from the State’s affordable housing chair that over two thirds of workers are priced out of the market.

And later, Mick Clifford returns to analyse US President Donald Trump’s address to the United Nations General Assembly.

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