In full: Everything you need to know about Budget 2026 www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...

Budget 2026: Little to no change in take home pay for majority, budget battle as resistance to €12 welfare increase continues, moderate cuts to childcare costs, college fee row, Xmas bonus on the cards & the three developer tax relief options www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...

Fact To Fiction: behind the making of the book cover, the pre-order world and the early reviews. If you’re interested in the path to publication sign up here: open.substack.com/pub/brayjenn...

Beyond excited to reveal the stunning cover for The Lies Between Us, now available for pre-order at this link. Blown away by the early reviews for the book, a mystery and thriller about warring sisters, set by the Irish coast. Coming Feb 26th 2026 from Penguin Sandycove 📚 linktr.ee/TheLiesBetwe...

My interview with Catherine Connolly may have had an unexpected start, but what followed was fascinating as she opened up on life in a big family, the shock death of her mother and those presidential controversies www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...

Interview with Mary Lou McDonald: her presidential ambitions (or not), lessons learned from elections, Irish unity and legal cases on a border poll, the legacy act, and her letters with King Charles www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...

Presidential election latest: Jim Gavin storms into early lead in FF race, numbers reveal, but Kelleher camp work the phones. Mary Lou McDonald tells Sunday Times she is near a decision, Sean Kelly yet to back out of FG race www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...

Behind the scenes of the Fianna Fáil presidential race: the late night calls, the acrimony and the numbers ahead of a secret ballot www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...

New: completion date for the new national children’s hospital to be pushed out for the 15th time to the end of November, amid fresh war of words www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...

Jim Gavin finally breaks silence on Fianna Fáil presidency. In an email to the party today, he says: “I believe that, in these turbulent times, Ireland needs a President who can bring people together and promote and represent our shared values and interests at home and abroad.”

Beyond the ongoing row between BAM and Children's Hospital Board is a growing headache for CHI about the dangers of moving kids in winter if there's a further lengthy delay which pushes opening beyond next summer. Details here from our report August 9th www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...

My latest post is up on Fact to Fiction, on what happens when you go “on submission”, to auction, and life with Book 2 📚 brayjennifercatherine.substack.com/p/the-anatom...

Interview with Gareth Sheridan on why he wants to be president, where he sits on the political spectrum, his business dealings and finances and racism against his young daughter www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...

Fresh row erupts in national children’s hospital saga, as Bam say completion date is now significantly threatened and board say rooms are not up to standard needed in contract www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...

Investigation: How a new row exploded between children’s hospital builder & board. Bam say design changes represent significant threat to completion date; board say rooms not up to scratch. Details of private govt oversight meetings and internal reports reveal issues www.thetimes.com/article/e8c0...

New: Major doubts emerge about next summer’s opening of children’s hospital amid new row; threat of delay forces ­officials to examine if patients can be moved in winter, despite fears of “high clinical risk”. CHI yet to obtain vital early access to site www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...

A great read from Claire Scott on the ongoing ructions in, and fresh exits from, the Soc Dems over the Eoin Hayes controversy www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...

In full detail: What does the EU-US trade deal mean for you? Your taxes, your budget, your job, your welfare, your shopping basket www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...

Homeowners, renters expected to be winners in the Budget 2026 - ministers resisting pressure to cut spending after President Trump’s tariff deal. Inside govt predictions on economy, budget and worst affected sectors www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...

The Department of Health was told the new name for the national children’s hospital was “boring” and “basic” — but an options paper compiled by CHI argued it would “transcend mere words” and show an “unwavering belief in the power of healing” www.thetimes.com/article/5f6e...

The Harrogate Diary: my honest thoughts and feelings about the legendary crime writers festival brayjennifercatherine.substack.com/p/the-harrog...

Plus: Ministers are set to agree a €100 billion plan for spending across roads, housing and energy projects with significant extra funding found after “tense” negotiations www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...

Also in our political coverage this weekend: Public pays €1.25m college fees for civil servants as student costs rise, and Oireachtas to seek fresh legal advice on Angela Kerins apology and payout amid pushback from politicians. Pick up a paper or head over to www.thetimes.com/world/ireland

Mary Lou McDonald or Catherine Connolly for president? Sinn Fein can’t decide. As the Ard Comhairle prepares to discuss a potential decision, we look at how the debate is playing out in the party www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...

My latest heatwave-coded post is up on Fact to Fiction, on breaking through writing despair with bonus Q&A 🔥☀️ brayjennifercatherine.substack.com/p/hello-from...

Gardai are investigating after protesters allegedly chanted “death to the IDF [Israel Defence Forces]” outside the US ambassador’s residence - while Ireland is on a collision course with the EU over hate speech laws. Read full details here www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...

New immigration clampdown will limit access to social housing to people with strong, long-term connections to Ireland, and emergency homeless accommodation will also be restricted. Plans being discussed by ministers and expected before cabinet shortly www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...

New: concern sparked by plans to appoint three new special advisers to Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy and two other office holders following "heated" private meeting of group that runs Oireachtas www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...

In-depth: Inside Mary Lou McDonald’s plan to shake up Sinn Fein. We reveal internal memos that detail plans to address last year’s controversies; the party’s presidential plans; why the Ard Fheis has been cancelled, new strategies & the mood in the camp www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...

Full picture of hospital trolley crisis revealed in cabinet memo www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...

The latest on the Evan Fitzgerald case, as the Garda ombudsman moves to clarify that there was not an investigation. Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan urged to make public statement www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...

My latest post is live over on Fact to Fiction, with an update on the book 📕 brayjennifercatherine.substack.com/p/the-lies-b...

Lots of backlash to proposed rent pressure zone changes - opposition parties say it will lead to multi-tier rent system, with fears of an increase in evictions. Read more here: www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...

SCOOP!

A big political decision is coming on Tuesday: Landlords will be allowed to raise rents between tenancies and the rent pressure zone cap of 2 pc will be lifted for newly built apartments. Gov working on ban to no-fault evictions for large landlords. Read: www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...

"On a political knife-edge": Inside the Children's Health Ireland scandal as shock, anger and paranoia take hold. Long read: www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...

A spokesman for the Department of Defence has now said that the secretary general of the Dept Social Protection will be contacted this week to explore options to help John McNeela

RTE stars’ tax cases could cost up to €11m www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...

Sweeping new powers for Land Development Agency to be considered by ministers at key cabinet housing meeting - agency to move from public housing provision on state land to private and other tenures on non state land www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...

New: The father of a soldier who was killed on duty in Lebanon has said he has been left “poor” after a special allowance that was being paid to his family was discontinued - “my son gave his life for the country” says John McNeela. Read full report here www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...

Might be worth noting that this recommendation to place an exceptional non-jury court on a permanent footing was made by four members of a six-member review group with two members dissenting. Minority report available here: oasareview.ie/wp-content/upl…

The letter puts forward cogent arguments against tariffs, but is there anyone in Washington willing to listen to sense?

Simon Harris warns Howard Lutnick against pharma tariffs in new letter, stating health of Americans is supported by pharma supply chains www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...

New: Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan set to overhaul special criminal court - he will tell Cabinet that he accepts in principle the recommendations of a government- appointed review to replace special criminal court with standing non jury court www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...

New: Housing Minister James Browne is the latest minister to be added to the Michael Lowry RIG “rota of ministers”. Sinn Fein call for special Dáil debate and questions to Taoiseach and Tanaiste on nature of deal with Regional Independents www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...

New: Michael Lowry has revealed that his Regional Independent Group (RIG) has access to a “rota of ministers” who appear before meetings he chairs in Leinster House, as he warns govt parties to “respect” role of Independents www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...

The CEO of the Camogie Association has come under pressure after it emerged she took annual leave at a time when politicians and players were calling for leadership around the contentious “skorts” issue www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...