{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/6155db9059a3fa00137f30a9/6a47c5a704fac73b24bb9280?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Aughinish Alumina is proving to be a real diplomatic headache","description":"<p>Pat Leahy and Jack Horgan-Jones join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:</p><p><br></p><p>·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union got off to a slightly awkward start at the opening ceremony at Dublin Castle on Wednesday when guest Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned against “material emanating from a plant in Ireland” being used in Russia’s war effort. The Ukrainian president didn’t name Aughinish Alumina, but his feelings were clear.</p><p><br></p><p>·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Dozens of solicitors walked out of District Court rooms on Wednesday in protest against a new pay system for legal aid. This marked an escalation in tensions with Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan who has pushed the reform through.</p><p><br></p><p>·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Government are not going to act on Oireachtas committee recommendations on the decriminalisation of the possession of drugs for personal use.</p><p><br></p><p>·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And as the United States celebrates its 250th birthday, how has the country lived up to the principals and aspirations of its founding fathers? </p><p><br></p><p><br></p>","author_name":"The Irish Times"}