Inside Politics

Washington correspondent Keith Duggan joins this week's wrap to discuss what could turn out to be one of the year's most consequential political developments: US president Joe Biden's disastrous performance at Thursday's debate with former president and Republican candidate Donald Trump. In a debate format that accentuated Biden's weaknesses, he handed the momentum to his rival and prompted intense debate about whether he should remain the Democratic candidate. After that Jennifer Bray looks at the big Irish political stories of the week, including the outcome of a mini Fianna Fáil reshuffle that saw junior ministries assigned, the latest from the Green party leadership contest and the fallout from the Cathal Crotty sentencing controversy.

Pat Leahy is joined by Harry McGee and Cormac McQuinn to look back at the week in politics:The latest in the race to succeed Eamon Ryan as Green party leader.What is behind Micheal Martin's decision to name Jack Chambers deputy leader of Fianna Fail?Industrial action at Aer Lingus means holidaymakers face a summer of discontent. Will it bounce back on the Government?Plus the panel pick their favourite Irish Times pieces of the week:Jack Power's profile of the young leader of France's far-rightWhat should be an unnecessary warning: do not feed fizzy drinks to deerA piece by Diane Ihirwe highlighting the importance of inclusion.

First we focus on political upheaval following the announcement that Eamon Ryan is stepping down as leader of the Greens. Political correspondent Cormac McQuinn provides updates on the frontrunners to succeed him, including Minister for Children Roderic O'Gorman and Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Pippa Hackett. Then we turn to Northern Ireland, where voters will select their 18 Westminster MPs next month. Can the DUP hold onto its seats in the aftermath of the crisis surrounding Jeffrey Donaldson? Mark Hennessy and Freya McClements look at what really matters to voters in these elections and whether the issue of Irish unity is on the radar.

Hugh Linehan is joined by Pat Leahy and Harry McGee to look back at the week in politics. With our recent obsession on the local and European elections winding down, today we take a look at the week's Dáil debates and at the "guillotining through" of the huge piece of legislation that is the Planning Bill into its final stage. The panel also discuss whether Dáil vacancies arising as a result of TDs becoming MEPs will ever be filled in the lifetime of this Government. The panel also pick their Irish Times articles of the week.

With some European seats still to be filled but the overall picture of these elections now fairly clear, Pat Leahy joins Hugh for a final episode of Election Daily to answer some outstanding questions. How did small parties including the Greens, the Social Democrats and Labour do in the end? And with counts dragging on, is it too easy for unserious candidates to get on the European ballot?

Citizens of the EU used their votes in last week's elections to maintain centre-right control of the European Parliament, while shifting the overall makeup of the legislature a little further to the right. Brussels correspondent Jack Power joins Hugh to explore how the EU parliament has just changed, whether the new right will be able to form a voting bloc, and what the new Parliament means for EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen's hope's of a second term. And Berlin correspondent Derek Scally looks at the success of formerly fringe parties like the far-right AfD in Germany's European election. Could the taboo of far-right involvement in German national governance be nearing an end?

Hugh Linehan is joined by Jennifer Bray and Cormac McQuinn on day four of the count.Only a handful of seats remain unfilled in the local elections with Fianna Fáil slightly ahead of Fine Gael for the majority of seats. Sinn Féin now has 100 seats which is an improvement on its disastrous 2019 election, however Jennifer Bray has reported on the growing unease within the party over Mary Lou McDonald’s leadership after their poor election results. The Dublin count is nearing its moment of truth with Barry Andrews and Regina Doherty looking comfortably in, and the final two seats still to play for. The team discuss the latest results, the possibility of an autumn election and they answer some listener questions. Minutes after recording the podcast, it was announced that outgoing MEP Clare Daly was eliminated following the 17th count of votes in the Dublin constituency.

Hugh Linehan is joined by Pat Leahy and Cormac McQuinn to discuss the latest developments:It is day three of the local and European election count and seats in all four MEP constituencies are still in play. In Dublin, much will depend on where votes from soon-to-be-eliminated candidates end up. Will Independent Ireland's Niall Boylan be able to capitalise, or will Sinn Féin's Lynn Boylan fare better?There is no shortage of analysis of Sinn Féin's disappointing election and what it means. Fintan O'Toole thinks the era of the party acting as a buffer against right wing politics is over.Meanwhile many other EU member states are experiencing a surge in support for far-right parties and candidates, but not enough to displace the centrist coalition from control of the European Parliament.