analysis-and-comment

Fraught days ahead for Govt with planned changes to RPZs

The next few days will be fraught politically for the Government as it prepares what it believes is an intricate balancing act between renters' rights and developers' ambitions, writes Mícheál Lehane

What do falling interest rates mean for bank customers?

As widely expected, this week, the European Central Bank (ECB) cut interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point, bringing the main deposit rate down to 2%.

It's been one big beautiful bust-up for Trump and Musk

Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill has caused one big beautiful bust-up with Elon Musk.

Unpublished CHI report seems to show deep-rooted issues

It has not been a good couple of months for Children's Health Ireland.

Latest GDP figures hint at return of Leprechaun Economics

One way or another, the activity of multinationals is distorting Ireland's economic figures, writes David Murphy.

Condensed season gives little time to savour championship

In terms of hurling, this has to be one of the great weekends of the year with three blockbuster games, including two provincial finals, down for decision.

EU exploits Trump anti-science climate for medicines deal

The EU's sweeping new rules on the regulation of medicines has been one of the most bitterly contested pieces of legislation in recent times, with fierce lobbying by the pharma sector, writes Europe Editor Tony Connelly.

How Karol Nawrocki won the Polish presidential election

Karol Nawrocki, a 42-year-old historian and conservative, has won Poland's presidential election by a razor-thin margin. His election is likely to thwart efforts by the pro-EU coalition government to reverse rule-of-law changes made by the nationalist Law and Justice party when it was in power.

Will Trump kill America's clean future?

President Trump wasted no time delivering on his campaign promises to the fossil fuel industry - rolling back US commitments on climate and clean energy, cutting federal funding to climate change science and lifting environmental regulations. What does it all mean for America's clean future?

3 crucial issues facing the Government on housing

In a week when the minister responsible for housing admitted that meeting the Government's own target for the delivery of new housing this year would be "extremely challenging", RTÉ's Economics and Public Affairs Editor David Murphy examines three key issues that must be addressed.

EPA lets cat out of the bag on greenhouse gas emissions

Confirmation from the Environmental Protection Agency over the past few days that Ireland has gone backwards on its greenhouse gas emissions targets is hugely disappointing.

Growing political pressure for firm Govt action on Gaza

All day Wednesday and late into the evening on the street facing Leinster House, demonstrators sang a stinging song urging politicians to find their "backbone" and to enact the Occupied Territories Bill.

Poland's presidential election set for tight vote

Tomorrow, Polish voters will cast their ballots in a tight second-round vote to decide whether centrist Rafal Trzaskowski or conservative Karol Nawrocki will become their next president. At stake is the future of the current coalition government's reform agenda.

Question remains over time it took to find Tina's body

Blow for Government as two TDs back SF Israeli bonds bill

The Government suffered a blow tonight as two of the TDs that have supported it in every vote up to this point backed Sinn Féin's bill to prevent the Central Bank from having any role in the sale of Israel's bonds, writes Mícheál Lehane

Difficult to see CHI emerge from current crisis intact

The pace of events involving Children's Health Ireland is truly astonishing. Given the run of events, it is difficult to see how CHI, in its current structure, can survive, writes Health Correspondent Fergal Bowers.

First step on road to new OTB after first draft approval

Cabinet took a first step today and gave approval to Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris to draft an Occupied Territories Bill

Israel prepares to bypass UN in Gaza as aid drips in

The UN resumed aid deliveries to Gaza this week, after Israel ordered a temporary pause in the total blockade on food, water and medical supplies that had lasted 80 days. But US-Israeli plans are already underway to sideline the UN's entire relief operation in the territory.

EU-Israel deal: Why Dutch succeeded where Ireland failed

Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief will instruct the EU's diplomatic arm to carry out a review of the EU-Israel agreement, a small step in relative terms. But why did the Dutch request succeed where Ireland and Spain previously failed?

What is behind Donald Trump's 50% tariff on EU imports?

What is behind the US President Donald Trump's 50% tariff on EU imports to the US? RTÉ's Washington correspondent Sean Whelan looks at the latest developments on both sides of the Atlantic as well as what may happen in the aftermath following the US president's shock announcement

Slow steps taken by Govt amid call for action over Gaza

Political progress is sometimes described as being about inches not miles, a phrase meant to explain how change often happens slowly and incrementally rather than with sudden leaps forward.