Budget 2025, reminiscent of the bonanza Celtic Tiger years, was leaked almost entirely before Ministers Jack Chambers and Paschal Donohoe took to the floor of the Dáil yesterday to deliver it. Former senior government advisor, Gerard Howlin, says that's down to the political reality of coalition parties competing to own their particular wins ahead of an impending election. The 2.2 billion euro spending package is widely viewed as an attempt to curry favour with voters instead of addressing more long-term systemic changes that fall outside the electoral cycle. Political editor, Pat Leahy, warns that a 'giveaway' budget does not automatically guarantee electoral success while political correspondent, Jennifer Bray, analyses how the opposition is framing the budget to successfully land the political blows.

Presented by Hugh Linehan. Produced by Aideen Finnegan.

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Host Hugh Linehan is joined by Harry McGee and Jack Horgan-Jones to look back on the week in politics:

· The budget was somewhat overshadowed this week by stories with far less cost involved, but no shortage of outrage – not least the final cost of Government Buildings security hut hitting €1.4 million and the row over the announcement of new sports capital grant funding for local clubs.

· Sinn Féin’s alternative budget has many worthy pledges but is ultimately futile without the party’s hands actually being on the levers of power.

· And the controversy around a letter of congratulations President Michael D Higgins sent in July to Iran’s new president Masoud Pezeshkian was reignited at a United Nations event in New York last Sunday.

Plus, the panellists pick their favourite IT reads of the week:

· Michael McDowell on the Government’s advanced administrative sclerosis.

· Mark Hennesy wrote of former taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s contention that immigration numbers have risen too quickly here.

· And Mary Carolan’s piece on the use of ‘inappropriate’ slang and cultural references in a judgment concerning a Co Clare wind farm.

Produced by John Casey.

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It's not that long ago that a Sinn Féin-led government after the next election was seen as something of a sure bet. Now, with polls showing the party losing almost half its support in the past year, the party's future seems much more uncertain.

So what happened to Sinn Féin's support, can it regain ground and where should it target its resources in the forthcoming campaign? Political scientists Theresa Reidy and Aidan Regan join Hugh to discuss.

Aidan Regan is an associate professor of political economy at the school of politics and international relations at University College Dublin. Dr Theresa Reidy is a senior lecturer in the department of government and politics at University College Cork.

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Host Hugh Linehan is joined by Jennifer Bray and Cormac McQuinn to look back on the week in politics:

· Political parties are eagerly pitching eye-catching measures ahead of Budget 2025 with 50 per cent of respondents in the latest Irish Times / Ipsos poll saying they want the Government to prioritise ‘immediate help’ with the cost of living.

· Has Simon Harris reached peak popularity? The Taoiseach’s surging personal approval ratings mirrors that of his predecessor Leo Varadkar who enjoyed similar peaks, but endured troughs not long after - could Harris be in for similar?

· The Dáil resumed this week with Sinn Féin going on the attack during leader’s questions, highlighting children with scoliosis and spina bifida awaiting surgery, and the “gold-plated” pension pots of the well-heeled that are set to get a boost.

Plus, the panellists pick their favourite IT reads of the week:

· Miriam Lord on the extremely expensive bijou bike shed on Leinster lawn.

· Carl O’Brien wrote about new research from Maynooth University that showed the benefits of much shorter homework tasks.

· And Emer McLysaght swapped tales of air fryers and steam mops on a group holiday to Spain.

Produced by John Casey.

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Support for Fine Gael has increased, according to the latest Irish Times/Ipsos B&A opinion poll, with approval ratings for Taoiseach Simon Harris surging since the last poll in early summer.

Support for Sinn Fein has fallen since the last poll, while the personal rating for party leader Mary Lou McDonald also declining sharply.

Pat and Hugh analyse all the findings of the poll.

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Jack Power and Derek Scally join Hugh Linehan to discuss developments in European politics:

Michael McGrath was handed the EU Commission's justice portfolio when commission president Ursula von der Leyen assigned roles this week. How did Ireland end up with this particular job?

Von der Leyen's consolidation of power at the centre of the commission may be good for reaching consensus. But as Europe faces an uncertain future in a range of areas from the economy to technology and security, does this approach help?

Another feature of the new commission is the presence of a far right politician for the first time, Italy's Raffaele Fitto. Meanwhile in Austria an imminent general election looks likely to return a far right-led government. As Europe's politics evolves, is the EU capable of evolving with it?

Jack Power is Europe Correspondent. Derek Scally is an Irish Times journalist based in Berlin.

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This week’s host Pat Leahy is joined by Harry McGee and Jack Horgan-Jones to look back on the week in politics:

· The fallout from Apple’s tax case continues with what to with decision on what to do with the €13bn plus interest expected within three weeks. The windfall won’t be available to the State until next March, but some sources in Government are saying there is already a consensus among Coalition parties that pressing infrastructure requirements and housing are at the top of the shopping list.

· Speaking at Fine Gael’s think-in in Tullamore Taoiseach Simon Harris backed a public childcare model, moving away from a reliance on private sector care. But would this potential restructuring result in a raft of new State employees? Sinn Féin stopped short of a public childcare model, instead pledging to reduce the financial burden on parents with the introduction of €10-a-day childcare from 2025 if it is in power after general election.

· And Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald reflected this week on a trauma-filled year for her and her family, a year in which she and her husband Martin Lanigan dealt with serious issues.

Plus, the panellists pick their favourite IT reads of the week:

· Corinna Hardgrave pulled no punches with her one-star review of a new eatery in Donnybrook.

· Ken Early on the gulf in class as Ireland were dismissed by England in a one-sided game at the Aviva stadium last Saturday.

· Harry McGee picked his own article looking at the farcical infighting at the National Party.

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Jack Horgan-Jones and Cormac McQuinn join Pat Leahy to talk about three big political stories of the day.

First they analyse last night's debate between US presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. It was a battle Harris is widely considered to have won, but will it make an impact?

Next the final judgement on the €13 billion plus interest of Apple tax that Ireland can, indeed must now collect. What will the Government do with this bounty?

Finally, today is day one of the Fine Gael think-in. The party has enjoyed the benefit of political momentum since Varadkar departed and Simon Harris took the reins - but is it ready for a general election?

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