It’s been a stormy first six months for the newly-formed coalition — from bitter rows over speaking rights to growing pressure on healthcare and housing. Has the government weathered the storm, or are cracks already showing?

In this episode of The Tonight Show, Bríd Smith, John Lee, and Gabija Gataveckaite hand out gold stars (and some red cards) as they dissect a turbulent political term and what it signals for the months ahead.

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The government has ruled out any new cost of living supports in the upcoming budget, citing falling inflation and a shift toward infrastructure investment. Taoiseach Micheál Martin defended the move in Leaders’ Questions, while Tanaiste Simon Harris confirmed one-off measures will be scrapped. But with reduced VAT for hospitality still costing over €700 million annually, has the government prepared for the political fallout?

Also on the show: the Tanaiste warns of serious risks from potential US tariffs, and Fine Gael confirms Mairead McGuinness as its presidential candidate.

Joining Kieran Cuddihy tonight were Fianna Fáil TD Malcolm Byrne, Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney, and Fionnán Sheahan, Ireland Editor with the Irish Independent.

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On The Tonight Show with Kieran Cuddihy:

Is it finally time to copy other countries and introduce a ‘tourist tax’ in Ireland?

Will Trump pose 200% tariffs on pharmaceuticals, or will he chicken-out?

And Elon Musk’s Grok AI sparks social media outrage with Hitler praise.

📰 Louise Burne, Political Correspondent, Irish Mirror

📰 Thomas Hubert, Editor, The Currency

📈 David W. Higgins, Economist

📰 Mick Clifford, Irish Examiner

🏨 Michael Magner, President, Irish Hotels Federation

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