ELECTION DAILY - Inside Politics

In the first of a series with the leaders of the three largest political parties, Taoiseach Simon Harris sat down with Hugh Linehan to answer questions submitted by Inside Politics podcast listeners on issues including taxation, housing, threats to Ireland’s economy, why Ireland does not facilitate overseas voting, and more.He revealed that he is not in favour of forming a coalition with a left-wing alliance of more than one party, a concept proposed by Labour leader Ivana Bacik, and sees a coalition of four parties or more as unstable. He also shared the qualities he admires in political opponents Mary Lou McDonald, Micheál Martin, Holly Cairns and Ivana Bacik.

Jennifer Bray and Harry McGee join Hugh for a look at today's events on the campaign trail:Mary Lou McDonald showed how effective a campaigner and political communicator she can be while meeting students at DCU.Aontú launched its manifesto, but at first there was one thing missing - the manifesto itself.Fianna Fáil launched its plan for Dublin city, a place it has struggled to recover seats in since its 2011 nadir. Can the party make inroads in the capital?Plus Harry reminisces on that fraught 2011 election campaign.Over on irishtimes.com there are excellent resources for following the election:Constituencies - every candidate listed, every constituency analysed with a 'prediction / possible outcome'.Party Promises - compare the manifestos using this handy tool.Who should I vote for? Compare your views with parties and candidates.The Irish Times poll, current and archive.Election Daily podcast - all the episodes.Meet the Voters - our correspondents have been out and about meeting real people and discussing real issues, including taking the temperature with The Irish Times voter panel.

Pat Leahy and Cormac McQuinn join Hugh to discuss the day's political action from the campaign:As discussed in this morning's regular podcast, there is growing uncertainty over Ireland's economic model thanks to the reelection of Donald Trump. At a Cabinet meeting this morning, there were warnings over what the future could hold. Sinn Féin's manifesto included the suggestion that RTÉ's coverage of Gaza and other international conflicts should be subjected to a "peer review" of its editorial standards. But where is the idea coming from? Yesterday's podcast featured discussion of Labour leader Ivana Bacik's plan to negotiate with the big parties on government formation only in conjunction with other small parties of the left. Labour got in touch with the podcast about the item to take issue with something Hugh said...Green leader Roderic O'Gorman provided a cutting response when asked why voters should pick his party over Labour.

Thanks largely to corporation tax receipts from multinationals, the Irish state has plenty of money. And so far this election campaign has been largely about how to spend it - on capital investment, on tax cuts and on new spending on all sorts of programmes and projects.But with the threats to Ireland's economic model growing, will such spending be sustainable? Hugh is joined by Professor John McHale, Shana Cohen and Cliff Taylor to discuss Ireland's economic position and whether election spending promises could lead to yet more boom and bust.Shana Cohen is Director at Tasc, a progressive think-tank. John McHale is Professor of Economics at University of Galway's J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics and a former chair of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council. Cliff Taylor is an economics columnist with The Irish Times.

Harry McGee and Jennifer Bray join Hugh to talk about all today’s news on the election campaign trail:Standing side by side during last night’s leaders debate on RTÉ, Micheal Martin and Simon Harris countered Mary Lou McDonald’s criticisms, sometimes aggressively. The optics favoured the Sinn Féin leader.On the subject of government formation, Labour leader Ivana Bacik spoke of her intention to only negotiate with the big parties in conjunction with other parties on the left, including the Greens and Social Democrats. But will the other parties play ball?Sinn Féin has released its manifesto and, while most of the content had been trailed, there were some surprises.And Harry McGee reveals his major role in the history of this election’s most notorious candidate.

Sarah Burns and Pat Leahy join Hugh to discuss the day’s politics on the campaign trail:Today saw party leaders give their views on the behaviour of Fine Gael candidate for Louth John McGahon, who was acquitted of assault in 2022. Is he now a problem candidate for the party?Labour’s weekend manifesto launch revealed a big commitment to expanded state intervention in housing construction.The Social Democrats likewise have ambitious plans for housing, also announced at the weekend. Are differing approaches to housing becoming the major policy fault line in this campaign?

Jack Horgan-Jones and Cormac McQuinn join Hugh for our daily discussion of the election campaign:·      With the first week of the general election campaign coming to a close, Fine Gael are making a strong pitch for the law-and-order vote with their campaign promises. Policing and justice seem to be a key area for both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, but will it mobilise voters?·      Is the cost-of-living crisis being underpriced in this general election campaign? There are plans like phasing out third level fees and the double child benefit payment, but high prices are bad news for politicians, so is enough noise being made about addressing it in the next government?·      Mick Wallace has confirmed that he will run for a seat in a Wexford constituency that will be hard to predict.

Political stability is indicated by the latest Irish Times/Ipsos B&A poll, with Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil looking set to lead the next government, possibly in alliance with a smaller party or a group of Independents. Indeed, the rise in support for independent candidates is one of the most striking aspects of the poll, and some may well play a role in the formation of the next government.