Leo Varadkar

Letters to the Editor Opinion How would we feel if the US put a cap on Irish immigrants?

Sir — While in my local library recently, I witnessed an exchange between a middle-aged Ukrainian man and one of the librarians.

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Brendan O'Connor Opinion Let’s stay together, and not let it fall apart like Rupert and Jerry

Not that most of us would know, but you’d have to wonder if this is what it feels like in the dying days of a bad marriage.

Two years on, Coalition at odds as it faces the perfect storm

The latest victim of the cost of living crisis is the traditional two-day ard fheis — at least for Sinn Féin. It has decided to host a one-day conference instead in the RDS in early November.

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Shane Ross Opinion An infallible dogma saves politicians when the Attorney General speaks

His Holiness Pope Francis must be green-eyed with envy this weekend. He is surely gazing longingly from his Vatican perch, agog at the Irish way of doing things. As the powers of the papacy diminish and he searches for alternative models of exercising undemocratic authority, he should look no further than the office of Ireland’s Attorney General. The pontiff will be dumbstruck with admiration for Ireland’s answer to papal infallibility.

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Ministerial ratings: Two years after Cabinet was formed, who has outstayed their welcome and who deserves to be asked back?

THIS weekend marks two years since the ‘grand coalition’ of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party came to power. Micheál Martin’s Cabinet picks brought together a mix of very experienced ministers and rookie TDs. With a reshuffle scheduled for later this year, Political Correspondent Senan Molony assesses who is swimming and sinking.

Two years on, the ‘calamity coalition’ has survived – but from now on the dangers mount

Not since the Civil War and the State’s foundation has any Irish government faced such a rolling series of successive bouts of turmoil.

Letters to the Editor Opinion There is never a bad time to do the right thing, Tánaiste

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland about pay restoration for top civil servants from July 1, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said “there never is a good time to do these things”.

Angry motorists rage at TDs over parking woes and 30kmh speed limit in Phoenix Park

Leo Varadkar and Chief Whip Jack Chambers were sent angry letters from constituents who claimed a new 30kmh speed limit in Dublin’s Phoenix Park was damaging their cars or forcing their vehicles to cut out altogether.

Buoyant tax receipts will fund Budget cuts in childcare fees

Record employment and buoyant tax receipts will help fund a significant cut in childcare fees and welfare increases of more than €5 per week that could come into effect immediately after the Budget in October.

Editorial Opinion McEntee’s good news shows up political system

A woman having a baby shouldn’t spark a constitutional crisis. Those days are supposed to be behind us. Neither should it raise questions about whether she will have to give up her job. Those days are supposed to be behind us too.

Tax-free bonuses up to €1,000 on table for Budget

The Government is looking at increasing €500 tax-free bonuses for employees in the private sector to €1,000 as part of Budget 2023 preparations.

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Senan Molony Opinion Taoiseach bets on Coalition surviving a Summer of Discontent

No new cost-of-living measures before the Budget. The Taoiseach has insisted on it a couple of times now, and again yesterday.

Letters to the Editor Opinion Army of tired carers deserve better recognition and help

I’m a full-time carer for my son who is going to be 17 years old next month. He requires 24-hour care. He is a wheelchair user. He has complex medical needs, a severe/profound intellectual disability and is non-verbal.

‘Passenger safety will be compromised’ if ride-share apps are introduced as cab shortage solution, claims taxi boss

The head of a leading Irish taxi operator has said “ride-hail” car-share platforms are less regulated and as result less safe than taxis.

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Brendan O’Connor Opinion Leo the Lynx truly has The Killers instinct

In this era of populism there is always one easy answer to all our problems, and the latest easy answer became clear midweek as we listened to Sam. Sam was the young Dubliner who got pulled up on stage to play with popular beat combo The Killers in Malahide on Tuesday night. As Sam did the rounds of radio interviews, one thing became clear. He was the only truly happy person in Ireland. He was the antidote to the cost of living, the protocol, the return of Covid. The rest of us, in our negativity, were tempted to say: “Enjoy it while you can kid. It’s all downhill from here.” But still, you couldn’t take it away from Sam. He was purely, simply, joyfully happy.

Out of patience and out of pocket, and there’s more to come

Ireland’s commitment to deliver 80pc of electricity from renewable sources by the end of the decade will “inevitably” lead to even higher costs for consumers in the near future, ministers have been warned.

Out of patience and out of pocket, and there’s more to come

Ireland’s commitment to deliver 80pc of electricity from renewable sources by the end of the decade will “inevitably” lead to even higher costs for consumers in the near future, ministers have been warned.

Letters to the Editor Opinion It’s high time the GAA embraced technology to assist referees with difficult match decisions

How much longer must we wait before the GAA embraces technology fully to assist referees, officials and players?

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Philip Ryan Opinion The gloves are off: Leo Varadkar knows next election could come down to a two-party scrap between Fine Gael and Sinn Féin

“Where has this man been the other 99pc of the time?”

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Revealed: Fine Gael’s secret 18-page dossier lays out its plan of attack against Sinn Féin

Fine Gael has compiled a secret dossier detailing damaging information about Sinn Féin TDs and compar ing the party to Donald Trump, the Irish Independent can reveal.

Varadkar v Doherty: The story behind the garda 'abuse' remarks and a bitter Dáil row

It started with Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty accusing Fine Gael and Leo Varadkar of “being out of touch” as an expert ESRI report detailing spiralling living costs was discussed.

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exclusive Leo Varadkar’s Aughinish meeting ‘stinks’, says Putin critic Bill Browder

Bill Browder, the financier and political activist who is a long-time critic of the Kremlin, has criticised Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe for meeting with a UK Conservative life peer to discuss his plan to take over the Aughinish Alumina refinery in Limerick.

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Eoin O’Malley Opinion Government is on autopilot as we brace for a crash landing

Those people lucky enough to get through the chaos in Dublin Airport to their holidays might wonder if they really want to get home.

Target cost-of-living assistance at those most in need

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has said an “economic regime change” is now under way and has warned the Government’s balance sheet cannot be used to absorb all of the current price shock. In the prevailing inflation crisis, however, it is more important than ever that whatever further assistance is made available in the budget later this year — to mitigate the cost of living — be primarily targeted at those who need it most.

Irish woman who sued Washington Ireland Program over alleged sexual harassment reaches settlement

An Irish woman and the US-based Washington Ireland Program have agreed in principle to settle a case of sexual harassment taken against the organisation.

Letters to the Editor Opinion Well-merited recognition for Dr Lynn and women like her

I fully concur with the sentiments of Tom Cooper in his letter (‘Time to finally honour the work of Dr Kathleen Lynn’, Irish Independent, June 7). I was delighted to recognise Ailbhe Smyth, Prof Mary Aiken and Kellie Harrington with the Freedom of the City of Dublin, which I will formally award on Saturday.

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Leo Varadkar slaps down Simon Harris over ‘navel gazing’ comments

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has slapped down Simon Harris in a clear sign of simmering tension between two of the most high-profile ministers in Fine Gael.

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exclusive Sunday Independent poll: Public fears worst is yet to come – cost of living crisis and recession worries dominate

A huge majority of the public believes there will be an economic recession in the next 12 months, according to the latest Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks opinion poll.

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Cost of living crisis: Real stories of how ordinary people are struggling

The 20pc cut in public transport fares introduced last month is set to be extended into 2023 when the Budget is announced in October.

Leo Varadkar defends meeting LNG developers as Eamon Ryan insists the gas terminal should not proceed

TÁNAISTE Leo Varadkar has defended his decision to meet with the company behind the proposed Shannon Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal while the planning application for the controversial project is live.