Here, we take a look at the issues likely to dominate political discourse in the week to come.<\/p>\n
\u201cJesus, he really is a tosser.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sinn F\u00e9in leader Mary Lou McDonald and Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin are no stranges to bitter exchanges in the D\u00e1il, that often descend into shouting matches.<\/p>\n
The latest incident saw McDonald label the Taoiseach a “tosser”.<\/p>\n
The incident occurred after she questioned Martin on the Dublin MetroLink project.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After refusing to be drawn on the cost, Martin said the \u201cfocus is on getting the metro built. Again, I presume that is something the Deputy supports”.<\/p>\n
McDonald could be heard commenting: \u201cJesus, he really is a tosser.\u201d<\/p>\n
She has since confirmed she will not withdraw the remark.<\/p>\n
With both the Government and Sinn F\u00e9in facing their own issues, these D\u00e1il exchanges are likely to continue in an adversarial and ugly manner.<\/p>\n
McDonald and her party continue to slide in the polls, with some suggesting the Social Democrats<\/a>, who are on the rise under Holly Cairns, present a better opposition.<\/p>\n In an interview with BreakingNews.ie<\/a>, Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore described this as “positive politics”.<\/p>\n Israeli bonds<\/p>\n It is \u201csort of bizarre\u201d for Israel to have Ireland as the home state for its bonds in the EU, the Governor of the Central Bank<\/a> said, noting they are not marketed in the country \u201cat all\u201d.<\/p>\n However, Governor Gabriel Makhlouf said the EU would need to update its regulations for that to change \u2013 as he committed to continuing to \u201cfollow the law\u201d when carrying out its duties in relation to the bonds.<\/p>\n He indicated the Central Bank may again have a role in approving Israel bonds upon their potential renewal in September or in moving that process to another country \u2013 similar to what happened last year.<\/p>\n He said the authority is keeping its compliance with international law in handling prospectuses for Israel bonds \u201cunder review\u201d, but added it was in \u201cno doubt\u201d that it complied with its obligations thus far.<\/p>\n Makhlouf also told the Oireachtas Finance Committee on Wednesday that T\u00e1naiste Simon Harris had written to the European Commission on potential changes to EU prospectus regulations.<\/p>\n Gavin Pepper on Fox News<\/p>\n Independent Dublin City councillor Gavin Pepper<\/a> has been criticised over comments he made relating to the Jamey Carney murder investigation on American news outlet Fox News.<\/p>\n Ballymun-Finglas councillor Pepper, who frequently posts anti-immigration content on social media, was referring to a suspect in the investigation fleeing the country. Garda\u00ed believe he travelled to Dublin and caught a flight to the Middle East before Carney’s body was discovered in Killarney.<\/p>\n Appearing on Fox, Pepper said: “My appeal to the American citizens watching is: don’t come to Ireland, it’s not safe. How could you class Ireland as a safe country when they don’t even release the identity of an individual who is wanted in relation to the death of one of your own citizens?<\/p>\n “It’s very disheartening… the Irish people are upset about it… but at the end of the day, the man got a head start, he’s out of the country.<\/p>\n “Do I believe they’ll ever find him? It’s very unlikely, I hope they do… but at the end of the day, now they’re relying on overseas police to do their job. Their job was to do a manhunt… you couldn’t script it.”<\/p>\n Pepper’s comments are contradicted by established Garda practice during an investigation. An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na generally does not publicly release the names or identities of suspects before they are formally charged.<\/p>\n This is primarily to protect the integrity of the investigation and any subsequent legal proceedings, despite Pepper’s suggestion that this was an isolated situation.<\/p>\n Pepper also suggested garda\u00ed did not launch a manhunt. Garda\u00ed said ports and airports were alerted after the discovery of Carney’s body, although the person of interest is believed to have already left the State.<\/p>\n Former Irish ambassador to the US Daniel Mulhall and Minister of State Neale Richmond were among those who have criticised Pepper.<\/p>\n Mulhall wrote: “Dear @FoxNews, as a former Ambassador of Ireland to the USA, I respectfully request an opportunity to set the record straight about Ireland. Your interviewee has given a distorted picture. In the interests of balance, you need to hear alternative views.”<\/p>\n Richmond wrote “Ah lads\u2026”, and shared a chart from the Global Peace Index which ranked Ireland second only to Iceland in terms of safety.<\/p>\n BreakingNews.ie has contacted Gavin Pepper and An Garda S\u00edoch\u00e1na for comment.<\/p>\n Bill Kenneally victims<\/p>\n Victims of Bill Kenneally<\/a> are to receive compensation for the abuse they suffered, the Minister for Justice said, after the Taoiseach apologised \u201cunreservedly\u201d for a State \u201cdereliction of duty\u201d.<\/p>\n Kenneally, formerly of Summerville Avenue, Waterford city, died last month while serving a prison term after pleading guilty to 10 sample counts of indecently assaulting 10 boys at various locations in Waterford in the 1980s.<\/p>\n Abroad<\/p>\n