*stands up on bus* "I don't know what a starter home is"

At the launch of the long awaited housing plan this morning - Minister for Housing James Browne says the scale of homes needed is now far beyond previous estimates. He says the new plan is built around two pillars: supporting people and activating supply.

This week on The Journal's politics podcast: Why did yesterday's inauguration, such a major democratic moment, feel stilted and oddly empty? Listen now pod.link/1439226641/e...

Independent Ireland TD Michael Collins claimed "the shit was frightened out of" Transport Infrastructure Ireland today during a committee appearance in relation to CPOs and greenways. "Remember one thing, Cromwell is gone," the Cork TD told protesters. jrnl.ie/6872252t

We’re in place in St Patrick’s Hall ahead of the inauguration ceremony later this morning. Some final rehearsals for the Army No. 1 band while guests begin to arrive at Dublin Castle. A colleague has just passed out KitKats while we wait for the action to begin.

People Before Profit leader Richard Boyd Barrett has shared that his cancer treatment has been successful. He said he will be returning to work on a phased basis. jrnl.ie/6861296t

This week on The Journal's politics podcast: we sit down with presidential candidate Catherine Connolly for a wide-ranging conversation. We delve into her campaign so far - its origins, its controversies, and its future. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts pod.link/1439226641

As the electorate goes to the polls next week, one presidential candidate has been far more active on podcasts than the other. PR and communications expert Eoghan Tomás McDermott explains to us why this matters. jrnl.ie/6847584t

This week on The Journal's politics podcast: Connolly is pulling ahead in the polls, and it's starting to look a lot like Humphrey's campaign just hasn't landed. She's running out of time to change that. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts pod.link/1439226641/e...

New: In a rejig of their party spokespeople, the Social Democrats have appointed Eoin Hayes as their social protection spokesperson.

Lucia O'Farrell, the mother of hit-and-run victim Shane O'Farrell, has pushed back on presidential candidate Heather Humphreys' claim that she "did everything she could" to help the O'Farrell family. jrnl.ie/6843351t

Former Labour leader Brendan Howlin has confirmed he is backing Catherine Connolly in the presidential election, despite Heather Humphreys sharing a photograph of them both over the weekend. jrnl.ie/6842888t

Opposition parties and a housing charity have criticised the Government after ministers failed to mention homelessness in their Budget speeches today

Minister Jack Chambers shed further light this evening on the timeline surrounding the circumstances that led to Jim Gavin's withdrawal from the presidential election. http://jrnl.ie/6838101t

“Repeatedly Jim was asked had you ever any issue with a tenant, and he said absolutely not” - Micheál Martin tells RTÉ’s Six One. He claims “very comprehensive” due diligence was done with his selection.

The blame game has already begun within Fianna Fáil as the dust settles on last night's shock news of Jim Gavin's withdrawal from the presidential race. http://jrnl.ie/6836206t

Last night's presidential debate gave voters their first real close-up look at how the three candidates perform under pressure... but maybe left viewers without a clear picture of who they actually are. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts pod.link/1439226641/

Maria Steen has just arrived at Leinster House ahead of Independent Ireland TDs announcing their intentions for the presidential election. Looks like she has their 4 votes.

A spokesperson for Gareth Sheridan tells @thejournal.ie “It’s over.” Having failed to secure a nomination from Offaly Council, Sheridan’s team have conceded it’s the end of the line in his bid for the Áras.

New: The Green Party has made the decision to back Catherine Connolly in the presidential election. @thejournal.ie

Described repeatedly as a "quiet man", can former Dubs manager Jim Gavin open himself up enough to the public to win the presidency? http://jrnl.ie/6814974t

Selling cabins for €40k in a housing crisis: 'I'm like a counsellor, people tell me their problems' jrnl.ie/6801495

'It's Alan being Alan': Labour plays down talk of rift over Connolly jrnl.ie/6801624

Spoke to Mary Lou McDonald yesterday about her party’s plans for the presidential election, the timeline for Irish unity, and her priorities for the new Dáil term. www.thejournal.ie/mary-lou-mcd...

Really important story this morning from @mariadelaney.ie ⤵️ Just 13% of people w/breast cancer at Letterkenny University Hospital had treatment on time in 1st quarter of year. jrnl.ie/6798640t

Minister for Tourism Peter Burke says the “extortionate” prices charged by some Dublin hotels this summer is something he plans to address in this year’s Budget. “It really sends out a bad message for Irish tourism,” he says, adding that it’s not acceptable. @thejournal.ie

Who is Heather Humphreys and why does she want to be President of Ireland? http://jrnl.ie/6793828t

Sean Kelly confirms to Morning Ireland that he will be seeking the Fine Gael nomination for president.

In one incident, bake sales organised for the Irish Red Cross were allegedly criticised as being "antisemitic". http://jrnl.ie/6788593t

First-time TD Barry Heneghan on making a splash, that Lowry photo, and his thoughts on Paul Murphy jrnl.ie/6791530

Fine Gael's Mairead McGuinness has pulled out of the presidential race following medical advice. Read more: https://www.thejournal.ie/mairead-mcguinness-president-6790565-Aug2025/

Baby Pereppadan, a Fine Gael councillor, co-founded a limited company called Angel Care Consultancy Limited in 2022. The ‪@investigates.thejournal.ie‬ team spoke to three nurses who said they paid thousands of euro in ‘agency fees’ to this company to come to Ireland. http://jrnl.ie/6784617

Over the next few weeks, The Journal will be chatting to first-time TDs about their experiences so far. Next up we hear from Fianna Fáil's Louth TD Erin McGreehan. http://jrnl.ie/6780430t

The Journal takes a look behind the curtain on the Labour Party's decision to back its former member Catherine Connolly in the race for the Áras. http://jrnl.ie/6780250t

No hints from the Tánaiste on whether childcare fees will be cut in the Budget. Asked by The Journal if parents can expect fees to be cut in Oct, he said the government is committed to reducing it to €200 over the lifetime of the govt. Specifics are a matter for Budget Day, he said.

Cian O'Callaghan's administrative assistant has quit the Social Democrats following the party’s decision to lift Eoin Hayes’ suspension. She said Hayes should not have been given a “second chance”. https://www.thejournal.ie/eoin-hayes-social-democrats-cian-ocallaghan-assistant-6777578-Jul2025/

We want to hear from you! Tell us who you think the winners and losers of this Dáil are in our summer recess awards. http://jrnl.ie/6777308t

Taoiseach pours cold water on any suggestion that there will be government supports for exporting businesses impacted by US tariffs. “It has to be a strategic approach, not a handout approach,” he says.

Kerry TD Danny Healy Rae no longer plans to make a formal complaint about being "shoved" by a member of the gardaí while in Dublin for the All-Ireland football final yesterday. "It would be nice if he apologised but I'm going no further with it," he said. http://jrnl.ie/6775890t

Over the coming weeks, The Journal will be chatting to new TDs about their experience of Dáil Éireann so far. First up on the roster is Social Democrats TD for Dublin Rathdown, Sinéad Gibney. http://jrnl.ie/6771068t

At 32 years of age, the Limerick City TD is one of the youngest representatives in the Dáil. He talks us through the highs and lows, adjusting to hotel living and how he sometimes feels like he's talking to a brick wall. http://jrnl.ie/6772708t

The Dáil has wrapped up for the summer... again. But with a housing crisis, major legislation pending, and just 33 sitting weeks a year, should TDs still be clocking off this easily? Spotify https://spoti.fi/4kq5BMN Apple https://apple.co/4djk6j7

Tánaiste Simon Harris appeared to be enjoying himself in the Dáil today when he got the opportunity to slag Sinn Féin's finance spokesperson for his Supervalu faux pas. http://jrnl.ie/6765907t

Officials in the Department of Transport have been pitching Ireland as a potential "global leader" for commercial drones, touting our "uncluttered airspace" as an area where we have "the edge" for the development of a drone-based services sector. http://jrnl.ie/6755723t

This week on The Journal's politics podcast: Micheál Martin shows off his harp skills over in Japan, all eyes at home are on student fees. Listen on Spotify https://spoti.fi/3YN7H0L Listen on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/4jP5avs

Conor McGregor appeal: Court will refer matters relating to withdrawn 'fresh evidence' to DPP jrnl.ie/6749881

The Housing Minister has said it will be "difficult to prevent" reaching the point where 5,000 children in Ireland are homeless. He also denied that changes to who can access homeless services are being introduced to 'massage' the homelessness figures. jrnl.ie/6749033t

Latest figures show 4,844 children living in homelessness in the State. Asked if we are going to cross the 5k threshold, Housing Minister James Browne says “it’s going to be very difficult to prevent”. “The sense of direction, unfortunately, has been growing upwards,” he says.

The NATO summit gave us diplomacy, defence pledges, and one very cursed moment. This week's episode of The Candidate unpacks what the 'daddy' text says about Europe’s willingness to placate Trump. Spotify https://spoti.fi/4kq5BMN Apple https://apple.co/4djk6j7

Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar says he believes that Hungary is setting a “political trap” for the European Union in its attempts to ban Budapest’s Pride parade this weekend. Read more: jrnl.ie/6744346