As Budget day looms, we ask will cutting VAT be helpful to a struggling hospitality sector, or is it simply wasteful spending and "economically illiterate?

Plus, our panel will be forecasting other key areas in next Tuesday’s package, as households brace for no repeat of one-off supports.

And, a look ahead to tomorrow’s front pages and the Gaza Flotilla

🏛️John Lahart TD, Fianna Fáil 

🏛️Michael Fitzmaurice TD, Independent Ireland

🎓Michael Taft, research officer, SIPTU

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On The Tonight Show with Kieran Cuddihy:

What did yesterday's presidential debate reveal about the candidates, and the key issues that will dominate this election? 

Is the government's plan to splash cash at asylum applicants a "right-wing dog whistle"? 

We'll also discuss the Gaza "peace plan" along with all of tomorrow's front-page news. 

🏛️ Colm Brophy TD, Fine Gael

🏛️ Gary Gannon TD, Social Democrats

🏛️ Mary Butler TD, Fianna Fáil

📰 Fionnán Sheahan, Ireland Editor, Irish Independent

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

Ireland’s presidential election is down to just three candidates — the fewest since 1990. Is the system concentrating too much power in too few hands? Minister of State and Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae, Labour TD Marie Sherlock, and Virgin Media News Political Correspondent Gavan Reilly join the debate.

Meanwhile, fallout continues from Donald Trump’s explosive speech at the UN General Assembly, with Zara King, Virgin Media News Correspondent, reporting live from New York.

And as Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill pushes new legislation to clamp down on single-use vapes, the panel asks: will a ban really work, or just push demand underground?

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With presidential nominations closing, the election debate intensifies. Fianna Fáil TD Séamus McGrath, Sinn Féin TD Eoin Ó Broin, Fine Gael TD Joe Neville, and Aontú Leader Peadar Tóibín — backing independent hopeful Maria Steen — set out their positions as the race for the Áras heats up.

On housing, Séamus McGrath and Eoin Ó Broin are joined by Mick Clifford, Special Correspondent with the Irish Examiner, to discuss warnings from the State’s affordable housing chair that over two thirds of workers are priced out of the market.

And later, Mick Clifford returns to analyse US President Donald Trump’s address to the United Nations General Assembly.

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On The Tonight Show with Kieran Cuddihy:

The Dáil returns with the budget now firmly in sight, and opposition TDs are hitting out over the removal of energy credits amid spiralling costs.

Meanwhile, the Ceann Comhairle is calling for a cross-party legislative response to growing threats against politicians, including attacks on the Tánaiste’s family.

We unpack what measures might be proposed and what this means for both politics and public confidence.

Plus, Donald Trump's UK state visit.

🏛️ Niall Collins TD, Minister of State, Department of Justice

🏛️ Matt Carthy TD, Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson

📰 Louise Burne, Political Correspondent, Irish Examiner

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On The Tonight Show with Kieran Cuddihy:

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns faces a tough return to the office after photos emerged of deputy Eoin Hayes in blackface at a Halloween party 16 years ago.

Meanwhile, independent presidential hopeful Gareth Sheridan secures the green light in Tipperary thanks to a rogue Fine Gael councillor.

Plus, the UN releases a devastating report accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza

🏛️ Paula Butterly TD, Fine Gael

🏛️ Jennifer Whitmore TD, Social Democrats

📰 John Lee, Executive Editor, Irish Daily Mail

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

Fianna Fáil has chosen former Dublin manager Jim Gavin as its presidential candidate — but with divisions in the party and Sinn Féin yet to make their move, will Catherine Connolly emerge as the left’s choice or could a late twist change the race for the Áras?

At the same time, food and fuel costs continue to spiral as the government confirms the upcoming Budget will drop one-off cost-of-living measures. Will targeted supports be enough, or are households being left behind?

Fianna Fáil TD Shane Moynihan, Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway-Walsh, and Virgin Media Political Correspondent Gavan Reilly join the debate.

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On The Tonight Show with Kieran Cuddihy:

We discuss domestic crime issues in the New Garda Commissioner’s first week and hear from an Independent presidential hopeful who has pledged to “make crime illegal.”

Plus, we look at the debate over the Irish tricolour being used by anti-immigration campaigners – should it be raised, removed, or reclaimed?

Also, with the Gardaí now able to access evidence from Enchrochat, can organised crime finally be held to account?

📰 Nicola Tallant, Investigations Editor, Sunday World 

🏛️ Barry Ward TD, Fine Gael  

🏛️ Gary Gannon TD, Social Democrats  

🔴 Nick Delehanty, Independent Presidential Hopeful 

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On The Tonight Show with Kieran Cuddihy:

Joined in studio by former meteorologist Joanna Donnelly, who has just declared her interest in running for president, we unpack the latest developments in the race for the Áras.

🔴 Joanna Donnelly, Former Meteorologist & Presidential Hopeful

🏛️ Paul McAuliffe TD, Fianna Fáil

🏛️ Mairéad Farrell TD, Sinn Féin

📰 Fionnán Sheahan, Ireland Editor, Irish Independent

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On The Tonight Show with Kieran Cuddihy:

With rising resignations, low recruitment and a Garda hospitalised after an unprovoked stabbing in Dublin; just what lies ahead in the in-tray of the new Garda Commissioner?

And, with more than 9 out of 10 Irish people worried about the daily cost of living, and no one-off lump sums expected; are we heading for an austerity Budget for 2026?

🏛️ Regina Doherty MEP, Fine Gael 

📰 Cormac O'Keeffe, Security Correspondent, Irish Examiner

🔴 Michael Taft, Research Officer, SIPTU  

📰 John Lee, Political Editor, Irish Mail on Sunday

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On The Tonight Show with Kieran Cuddihy:

The government seeks to overhaul planning laws in order to boost housing supply, but should garden cabins really be exempt? 

Plus, Europe capitulates to Trump over tariffs, but what does the trade deal mean for budget planning and Irish jobs? 

And should the Irish hospitality sector still get its tax cut? 

🏛️Billy Kelleher MEP, Fianna Fáil

🏛️Ciaran Mullooly MEP, Independent Ireland

🏠 Robin Mandal, former president, Royal Institute of Architects Ireland

🎓Martina Lawless, Director, ESRI

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On The Tonight Show with Kieran Cuddihy:

The Government unveils its big investment plan for the next decade, with new funding earmarked for housing, water and Metrolink.

But where's the detail to match the ambition? 

And what tariffs? Despite dire warnings over trade and FDI, today's budget projections present a "business as usual" tax and spending plan. 

🏛️ Emer Higgins TD, Minister of State, Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform

🏛️ Mairéad Farrell TD, Sinn Féin spokesperson on Public Expenditure

📰 Daniel Murray, Policy Editor, Business Post

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It’s been a stormy first six months for the newly-formed coalition — from bitter rows over speaking rights to growing pressure on healthcare and housing. Has the government weathered the storm, or are cracks already showing?

In this episode of The Tonight Show, Bríd Smith, John Lee, and Gabija Gataveckaite hand out gold stars (and some red cards) as they dissect a turbulent political term and what it signals for the months ahead.

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The government has ruled out any new cost of living supports in the upcoming budget, citing falling inflation and a shift toward infrastructure investment. Taoiseach Micheál Martin defended the move in Leaders’ Questions, while Tanaiste Simon Harris confirmed one-off measures will be scrapped. But with reduced VAT for hospitality still costing over €700 million annually, has the government prepared for the political fallout?

Also on the show: the Tanaiste warns of serious risks from potential US tariffs, and Fine Gael confirms Mairead McGuinness as its presidential candidate.

Joining Kieran Cuddihy tonight were Fianna Fáil TD Malcolm Byrne, Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney, and Fionnán Sheahan, Ireland Editor with the Irish Independent.

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On The Tonight Show with Kieran Cuddihy:

Is it finally time to copy other countries and introduce a ‘tourist tax’ in Ireland? 

Will Trump pose 200% tariffs on pharmaceuticals, or will he chicken-out?

And Elon Musk’s Grok AI sparks social media outrage with Hitler praise.

📰 Louise Burne, Political Correspondent, Irish Mirror 

📰 Thomas Hubert, Editor, The Currency 

📈 David W. Higgins, Economist 

📰 Mick Clifford, Irish Examiner 

🏨 Michael Magner, President, Irish Hotels Federation

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On The Tonight Show with Kieran Cuddihy

Cabinet agrees to ease apartment size rules in an effort to reduce costs and increase supply. But will the plan do either? 

Plus, pressure mounts on government over lack of cost of living supports in the next budget, after Barnardos survey reveals scale of families pushed to brink by rising costs.

And the race for the Aras finally gets interesting, after Mary Lou McDonald refuses to rule herself out as a presidential candidate.

🏛️ James Geoghegan TD, Fine Gael

🏛️ Eoin O Broin TD, Sinn Féin Housing Spokesperson

📰 Sarah McGuinness, Political Correspondent, Irish Daily Mail 

🔴 Gerard Howlin, Public Affairs Consultant

🏠 Robin Mandal, Architect and former RIAI president

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With U.S. tariffs looming and EU trade policy at a crossroads, Tánaiste Simon Harris hints at a 10% rate becoming the "new normal." Lucinda Creighton, Kevin Doyle, and Dr. Nora Strecker unpack what this means for Ireland and beyond.

Then, President Trump’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill” clears the Senate — but what’s in it, and who wins or loses? Niall Stanage of The Hill joins the panel for a fiery breakdown.

Finally, as President Michael D. Higgins prepares to step down, Ireland braces for its first presidential race in over a decade. The panel asks if Ireland really needs a President?

It’s tariffs, Trump, and a turning point in Irish politics — all on The Tonight Show.

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On The Tonight Show, we marked 160 days of the new coalition by asking: where are the bold solutions to the housing crisis?

We also examined the shock news that student fees are rising again—despite previous government pledges to reduce them.

Plus, as Europe swelters under extreme heat, with schools shut in France and bans on outdoor work in Italy, we ask: is this the new normal, and are we ready for it?

Catch the full debate and analysis now.

#TonightVMTV

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