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<\/p>\nHere, we take a look at the topics likely to dominate political discourse in the week to come.<\/p>\n
Dark clouds for Fianna F\u00e1il and Sinn F\u00e9in in byelections<\/p>\n
It’s safe to say that both Fianna F\u00e1il and Sinn F\u00e9in were very unhappy with their showings in the Dublin Central and Galway West byelections last week.<\/p>\n
Sources in both parties indicate that the results have worsened unrest at the leadership of Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin and Sinn F\u00e9in leader Mary Lou McDonald.<\/p>\n
With this in mind, there’s little surprise at the pair’s fiery exchanges over issues such as the Occupied Territories Bill in the D\u00e1il this week. Attention on anything but the byelections.<\/p>\n
For McDonald, the pressure is more intense.<\/p>\n
Whispers about her leadership have been constant recently, and her failure to successfully bring in a Dublin Central running mate does not bode well for future elections.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Sinn F\u00e9in leader Mary Lou McDonald is under intense pressure after the party’s poor showing in Dublin Central and Galway West. Photo: Niall Carson\/PA Images<\/p>\n
The party put all its resources behind Janice Boylan, but this did not prove to be enough. She polled well in first-preference votes, but transfers were not as kind to Boylan, and in the end it was a convincing win for Daniel Ennis of the Social Democrats<\/a>.<\/p>\n In Galway-West, Mark Lohan, a former Sinn F\u00e9in councillor, was never really in contention.<\/p>\n Fianna F\u00e1il fared no better. Even on the first count, neither of the Fianna F\u00e1il candidates received double digits. The party tried to portray the emergence of Cillian Keane, 24, in Galway as one for the future.<\/p>\n However, sources within the party hinted at more unrest at Martin’s leadership.<\/p>\n He will get his wish to be in office during Ireland’s EU Presidency, which starts on July 1st.<\/p>\n The odds of Martin being party leader when the taoiseach rotation takes place on November 27th, 2027 are not in his favour, despite his continued insistence that he will lead Fianna F\u00e1il into the next general election.<\/p>\n Boost for the Social Democrats<\/p>\n Daniel Ennis’ convincing win in Dublin Central was a huge boost for the Social Democrats. They are now in a very strong position with 12 TDs in the D\u00e1il.<\/p>\n They suffered with the Eoin Hayes\/Palantir scandal, and certainly missed party leader Holly Cairns during her maternity leave, but the future looks bright for the Social Democrats.<\/p>\n Daniel Ennis’ Dublin Central victory was a huge boost for the Social Democrats. Photo: Conor O Mearain\/PA Images<\/p>\n With Sinn F\u00e9in floundering, Ennis’ result shows the party is well positioned to take up a more prominent position to the left in Irish politics.<\/p>\n Cairns’ popularity is showing no signs of slowing down, and she regularly comes out in opinion polls on political leaders.<\/p>\n A welcome win for Fine Gael<\/p>\n Se\u00e1n Kyne’s win for Fine Gael<\/a> will be a very welcome win for the party. He defied the usual norm of government parties doing badly in byelections.<\/p>\n T\u00e1naiste and party leader Simon Harris called Kyne’s win \u201ca victory for centrist politics\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat I take from this is a small sense of encouragement that people will respond to politics that is about trying to deliver solutions, politics that is trying to not be angry or loud or shouty but actually trying to work hard to deliver,\u201d Harris said in Galway on Sunday.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that\u2019s a victory for centrist politics. I want to lead the centre in Irish politics, I want to make sure the centre holds.\u201d<\/p>\n T\u00e1naiste and party leader Simon Harris (L) called Se\u00e1n Kyne’s (R) win \u201ca victory for centrist politics\u201d. Photo: Niall Carson\/PA Images<\/p>\n Martin and McDonald clash in D\u00e1il<\/p>\n Now to the aforementioned exchange between Martin and McDonald in the D\u00e1il.<\/p>\n During Leaders\u2019 Questions<\/a> on Wednesday, the Sinn F\u00e9in leader claimed the Government had made a \u201ccruel decision\u201d in October\u2019s budget that left disabled people 1,400 euro \u201cworse off\u201d.<\/p>\n The party on Tuesday brought forward a motion calling for two financial measures for people with disabilities; an emergency \u20ac500 payment and the immediate introduction of a permanent Cost of Disability scheme.<\/p>\n She said: \u201cIt is consultation after consultation for you, report after report, when you know exactly what the issues are, what needs to be done, and yet you tell disabled people to wait.\u201d<\/p>\n Martin responded saying the last budget saw one of the \u201clargest ever in disability services, up to 20 per cent of an increase\u201d.<\/p>\n He called Sinn F\u00e9in’s argument \u201cdisingenuous\u201d.<\/p>\n He added: \u201cIt is not that simple. We are looking at a potential one million people who identify with a disability in the census, that\u2019s about 22 per cent of the population.\u201d<\/p>\n Mainly positive messages to Taoiseach after Trump meeting<\/p>\n Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin<\/a> was told he “did Ireland proud” in messages from the public after his St Patrick’s Day meeting with US president Donald Trump at the White House.<\/p>\n Martin’s meeting with Trump came at a dangerous times in international relations.<\/p>\n Trump had recently attacked EU allies in meetings, including an extremely awkward exchange with German chancellor Friedrich Merz. The US had also recently launched its war on Iran.<\/p>\n However, Martin stood up to the diplomatic test and managed to push back on Trump’s criticism of migration into the EU, while he also defended UK prime ministe Keir Starmer.<\/p>\n The majority of messages to the Taoiseach after the meeting, seen by BreakingNews.ie following a Freedom of Information request, were complimentary.<\/p>\n On the evening of St Patrick’s Day, one person thanked Martin for his “professionalism and dignity”.<\/p>\n “I would like to sincerely thank Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin for his recent visit to the White House and for representing Ireland with such professionalism and dignity. The relationship between Ireland and the United States is incredibly important \u2014 not only culturally, but also economically \u2014 and his presence there underscored just how vital that connection remains.”<\/p>\n Abroad Ireland<\/p>\n ‘You were outstanding’: Mainly positive messages to Taoiseach after Trump meeting<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779916155_508_dark-clouds-for-fianna-fail-and-sinn-fein-in-byelections.jpg\")
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