Last year 2025
White smoke: Regional Independents secure four government roles as deal emerges
Fianna Fáil is to hold a special Ard Fheis in Dublin on Sunday to ratify the new programme for government.
Regional Independents agree to begin 'intensive' government negotiations with FF and FG
It is expected that the Independent TDs will have individual constituency asks along with national policy ideas.
Split views over whether to move 'hugely important' Energy brief to Dept of Enterprise
Meanwhile Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael look likely to swap the Health and Justice ministries.
Are the Healy-Raes credible partners for government formation? Micheál Martin says they are
Micheál Martin says he has had substantive talks with Michael and Danny Healy Rae.
Getting a government up and running by 22 January increasingly viewed as unrealistic
Taoiseach Simon Harris says a government should be in place by the end of the month.
All time
- This year, The Journal team announced its political awards via The Candidate podcast.
- We hand out a number of gongs for awards such as the Minister Who Gets Shit Done, the Must Try Harder Merit and chat about the Ah Here Moment of the Year and Whoopsie of the Year.
- The top award, Politician of the Year, was put to a vote which was counted by PR-STV.
Mary Lou McDonald: 'I can safely say 2024 was the toughest year of my life'
Apart from her party not performing as she would have wanted in the election, McDonald has experienced personal challenges this year.
McDonald says 'multiple people' capable of leading Sinn Féin as she rules out presidential bid
A run for the presidency is not on the horizon for McDonald, she tells The Journal.
Regional Independents pivot towards power while rotating Taoiseach now a certainty
The term time for the rotating Taoiseach is yet to be decided.
Suspicious package sent to Social Democrats HQ in Dublin found not credible, say gardaí
Hayes, a TD elected to Dublin Bay South, was suspended with immediate effect from the Social Democrats parliamentary party this week.
FF and FG deputy leaders meet as big question mark hangs over 'parity of esteem'
Who will be the third wheel of government is yet to be decided.
FF and FG to debate next moves today - as possible Independent Alliance 2.0 waits in the wings
- Galway East TD Sean Canney says there is a myth out there that Independents only deal in parish pump politics.
- Wexford TD Verona Murphy says she has no bad blood with Fine Gael.
Who's going into this government, then? And who gets to be Taoiseach - and for how long?
Sources say Fine Gael will push for a rotating Taoiseach deal, while Labour are viewed as a preferred option, but option still open for independents.
Who's 'jiving' into Government? No clear answer as gloves fail to come off in final TV debate
McDonald says FF and FG can’t be allowed ‘jive’ their way back into Government Buildings.

