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

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

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

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