Main Points After a two-month summer break the Dáil returns today. The return coincides with a busy political period with the presidential election and pre-budget planning under way, while the Eoin Hayes “blackface” controversy rumbles on. Security is very tight around Leinster House as protests often mark the return of the Dáil.Two of the big issues this term are likely to be housing and cost-of-living pressures. The action begins with Leaders’ Questions at 2pm. Best Reads
The Taoiseach did not commit to a cost-of-living package in the budget, but said the Government will prioritise efforts to tackle child poverty and health and housing issues, as well as supports for people with disabilities and their families.
“But the budget, fundamentally, is an investment in the future of the country. We are prioritising capital investment, and we do need to catch up on infrastructure,” Mr Martin said.
Labour leader Ivana Bacik is also raising Harvey Morrison Sherratt. She said she met with his parents, who went through a “dreadful, dreadful trauma”.
As well discussing long waiting lists in health, Ms Bacik brings up the cost-of-living and the housing crises, asking how the Government will address these issues in the budget next month.
She notes that Fianna Fáil “crashed the economy in 2007″ and said the current housing and health crises are “really hurting children more than anyone”.
Responding, the Taoiseach offered his “deepest condolences” to Harvey’s family.
“It is an extraordinarily traumatic thing to happen to any family but, in these circumstances, even more traumatic in terms of the experiences that the family and Harvey had.”
Mr Martin said efforts are being made to tackle waiting lists, noting ongoing engagement with the Health Service Executive, Children’s Health Ireland and other stakeholders.
He said “very significant resources have been allocated by government to CHI”.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald is now raising the case of Harvey Morrison Sherratt, who died over the summer following a sudden deterioration in his health. The nine-year-old had waited several years for spinal surgery.
Ms McDonald said Harvey’s parents, Stephen and Gillian, are “heartbroken, shattered by the loss of their beautiful little boy”.
Harvey Morrison Sherratt was just nine when he died. Photography by Morrison/Sherratt family
She said many other children remain on long waiting lists.
“The longer they wait, the more complex surgeries they will require. The risk of permanent paralysis is very real. The fear of becoming inoperable is very real.”
Ms McDonald called on Taoiseach Micheál Martin to outline what he will do to address the “neglect” of these children.
Ahead of Leaders’ Questions, Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy spoke about the “alarming rise in the serious threats and online abuse directed at a significant number of members of the houses of the Oireachtas, of all parties and none”.
“This abuse often emanates from unverified profiles on various online platforms which facilitate unsavoury discourse and foster unhealthy narratives that bear little resemblance to fact or reality,” Ms Murphy said.
“In my capacity as Ceann Comhairle I have a duty to safeguard both this assembly, its members and the wider public interest. This chamber must remain a secure environment for the conduct of parliamentary business.
“In addition to my concern for current members, I am concerned that this environment may deter decent people from entering public life.
“If we allow a culture of fear and intimidation to take root, we risk losing the very essence of democratic representation. It is incumbent upon us all to collectively defend the integrity of political debate and cultivate an environment that encourages participation without fear or reprisal.”
Ms Murphy said a recent report on the abuse faced by politicians needs to be supplemented by “concrete legislative proposals”.
She requested a meeting with all party leaders and groups with a view to formulating an “appropriate consensus response” to the issue.
She concluded her remarks by saying: “As we embark on this term, I urge all members to reflect on the tone and tenor of their deliberations.”
On Monday it was reported that violent threats against Tánaiste Simon Harris and his family are being treated as a “national security” issue by gardaí, who are employing anti-terrorism legislation to catch the perpetrators.
Gardaí now believe at least one of the threats came from overseas and have asked Interpol for assistance in coordinating with other police forces.
If you need to catch up on the Eoin Hayes ‘blackface’ controversy, the latest episode of the In the News podcast has you covered.
As we await Leaders’ Questions at 2pm, Jack Horgan-Jones has an update on Arts Council spending.
The council spent almost €1 million with outside consultancy firms in the 18 months up to this summer, new records show.
The spending included hundreds of thousands on legal advice, with €244,000 in 2024 and €320,000 in the first six months of this year, paid to Beauchamps solicitors.
Spending at the Arts Council, which administers grants and support programmes for the arts nationwide, has been under significant scrutiny since it emerged earlier this year it had spent €6.7 million on a mothballed IT project.
Across the water, US president Donald Trump has arrived at Windsor Castle to meet senior members of the British royal family on the first full day of his state visit to the United Kingdom.
US president Donald Trump speaks with Britain’s Prince William upon arrival at the grounds of Windsor Castle on Wednesday. Photograph by Aaron Chown/Pool/AFP via Getty Images
In his column, Michael McDowell writes about the moral emptiness of the visit.
“The grotesque charade of Trump paying his second state visit to London, this time to meet King Charles, underlines the fact that no other western government wants to host any such event.”
Read the full article here.
Independent Ireland requests a minute’s silence in Dáil for Charlie Kirk
Independent Ireland has written to Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy asking for a minute’s silence to be observed in the Dáil on Wednesday afternoon in memory of the assassinated US right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk, Harry McGee reports.
Party leader Michael Collins said the request was in the name of Mr Kirk but would include all people who have been either killed or hurt by political violence.
A photograph of Charlie Kirk is seen in a makeshift memorial outside the headquarters of Turning Point USA on Tuesday. Photograph by Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Asked if such a motion would be viewed as contentious and might rub people the wrong way, Mr Collins said it was not only for him but for everybody who has been affected by, or threatened with, violence.
“We’ve seen tourists in this country continuously being threatened, which had to be condemned in some way. We are standing here today for Charlie Kirk, because that was an absolutely atrocious murder of a human being, regardless of his political views.”
He added: “We certainly feel that this is sending a clear message that you don’t attack people whether you are a politician or anything else.
“The anger and violence towards politicians since I was elected in 2016 have gone to very high and dangerous levels.”
Presidential election
Looking at the presidential election, a fourth candidate is halfway there in terms of securing a nomination.
With the support of Tipperary County Council and Kerry County Council, businessman Gareth Sheridan might make it on to the presidential ballot paper come October 24th.
There are a few lessons to take away from this and the votes cast so far, Jack Horgan-Jones reports.
Eoin Hayes controversy rumbles on
On Monday evening, Social Democrats TD Eoin Hayes issued an apology for wearing brown make-up on his face and hands while dressed up as former US president Barack Obama for a Halloween party some 16 years ago.
In a statement, Mr Hayes said: “What I did was completely inappropriate and a huge mistake. I condemn racism in all its forms and do not condone that behaviour under any circumstances.”
He’s still in the party – for now – but two Soc Dems members in Dublin have quit the party, in part citing the controversy.
Local election candidate and chairman of the party’s branch in Dublin West, Luke Daly, and his partner and party secretary in the constituency, Jack O’Reilly, have bowed out.
Conor Pope breaks down the origins of blackface and why it is so offensive.
Presidential candidates Heather Humphreys and Jim Gavin speak to each other while canvassing at the National Ploughing Championships in Co Offaly on Tuesday. Photograph by Niall Carson/PA Wire
National Ploughing Championships
The three confirmed presidential candidates – Heather Humphreys (Fine Gael), Jim Gavin (Fianna Fáil) and Catherine Connolly (Independent) – were all canvassing at the National Ploughing Championships on Tuesday.
Independent TD and presidential candidate Catherine Connolly with Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik at the National Ploughing Championships on Tuesday. Photograph: Dan Dennison
Some 78,500 people attended the opening day of the three-day event.
A glimpse of what lies in store for the successful candidate was apparent when President Michael D Higgins arrived in a five-car entourage led by two gardaí on horseback, Ronan McGreevy reports.
Bob Geldof has said being president of Ireland would be interesting “up to a point”, but that he doesn’t have the time.
The Boomtown Rats singer was linked to a possible Áras bid after it emerged he discussed the issue with Taoiseach Micheál Martin over the phone late last month.
Speaking to Sky News, Mr Geldof (73) said “fairly high-powered” people rang him to see whether he was seriously considering a run, to which he responded no, as: “Literally, I have no time.”
He said they pushed further, asking him to talk to the Taoiseach about it. “He got the same lobby saying: ‘Will you talk to Geldof?’ … So Micheál called me.”
Read about what they discussed here.
Outside of Leinster House, the hunt for another presidential candidate continues apace with a small number of hopeful Independents making pleas to councils across the State.
Meanwhile, the other big political set piece of the autumn – the National Ploughing Championships – continues apace in Screggan, Co Offaly.
Aside from that, we can look forward to a three-week period of pre-leaking about what’s in the budget ahead of October 7th, reports Harry McGee.
There is tight security around Leinster House as members of the Oireachtas return for a new term on Wednesday.
Committees began their work earlier today but the Dáil itself doesn’t resume until Leaders’ Questions at 2pm.
After a two-month break, some fireworks are expected.
Welcome to today’s politics live story where we will be updating you on all the big stories of the day as the Oireachtas returns after the summer break.
We’ll also bring you all the latest developments in the lead-up to the presidential election.