Are Sinn Féin drifting away from an uneasy left-wing alliance?

Are Sinn Féin drifting away from an uneasy left-wing alliance?

Author: The Irish Times May 29, 2026 Duration: 53:34

Ellen Coyne and Cormac McQuinn join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:


·       The left-wing alliance that was formed during Catherine Connolly’s presidential campaign is already straining, with the Social Democrats, Labour and People Before Profit concerned with the policy direction of Sinn Féin on issues like migration and reproductive rights.


·       Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins was not impressed by left-leaning voters neglecting to supply party candidate Noel Thomas with enough transfers to prevail in the recent Galway West byelection. Perhaps those voters did not want to give Thomas a preference given his far from left-leaning stance on immigration.


·       The omission of services from the Occupied Territories Bill, which targets Israeli imports produced from Palestinian lands, came as a surprise to no one. After many months of mulling it over, the Taoiseach was accused by Opposition parties of reneging on promises to prohibit all trade with settlements. Government can expect many calls for amendments when it is brought to Oireachtas in the coming weeks.


·       And the building of one-off rural housing could become easier with plans to relax the rules for rural housing, aimed at allowing for increased supply, expected to be brought to Cabinet next month.


Would you like to receive daily insights into world events delivered to your inbox? Sign up for Denis Staunton's Global Briefing newsletter here: irishtimes.com/newsletters/global-briefing/


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Each week, Irish Times Inside Politics cuts through the noise to bring clarity to the forces shaping Ireland. Guided by host Hugh Linehan, the conversations here go beyond the headlines, offering a deeper, more considered understanding of the political landscape. You’ll hear from the newspaper’s own journalists, who provide grounded insight from the front lines, alongside a range of independent political thinkers and analysts. Occasionally, politicians themselves join the discussion, offering their perspective directly. The result is a nuanced and thoughtful examination of power, policy, and public life that values context over quick reactions. This isn't about partisan soundbites; it's about unpacking the how and why behind the day's debates and long-term shifts. For anyone looking to move past surface-level reporting and grasp the real stories unfolding in Leinster House and beyond, this podcast serves as an essential weekly briefing. The Irish Times brings its tradition of thorough journalism to the audio format, creating a space for analysis that is both accessible and substantive. Tune in for a consistently informed and engaging take on the issues that define the nation's future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Irish Times Inside Politics
Podcast Episodes
How Europe's chief negotiator sees Brexit 10 years on [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:17
Michel Barnier is best known in Ireland for his central role in the EU's negotiations with the UK over Brexit almost ten years ago. But Barnier has also played a central role in French politics for decades, including a b…
End of term: what was the biggest moment of the political season? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:37
As the Dáil shuts down for the summer it's time for Hugh, Pat and Jack to take stock of the term gone by. But the biggest political event of the year didn't happen in Leinster House. The April fuel protests left their ma…
Marine Le Pen's bid for power and the history of France's far right [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:11
Last week an appeals court opened the way for Marine Le Pen of French far-right party National Rally to stand in next year's presidential election. If the far right comes to power in Paris it will be the culmination of a…
Nigel Farage resigns triggering by-election [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:41
British MP Nigel Farage has resigned as an MP triggering a by-election in the constituency of Clacton-on-Sea which he says he will stand in.It comes amid a row over his financial support, after The Sunday Times reported…
Aughinish Alumina is proving to be a real diplomatic headache [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:05
Pat Leahy and Jack Horgan-Jones join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:· Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union got off to a slightly awkward start at the opening ceremony at Dublin Cas…
Pat Rabbitte: 'you’re not going to get a broad left alliance' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:02
Last week Pat Leahy sat down with former Labour leader Pat Rabbitte for an interview about his life in politics. Rabbitte is now retired but for decades he was one of the most recognisable faces and voices of centre left…