TheLittleTwentieth – Renowned Papers Edition, AI Infused

Local sources from Ireland: RTE.ie, RTE.ie.
UK coverage: RTE.ie.

The Sinn Féin Ard Fheis and a meeting of the Coalition leaders were dominated by the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the upcoming Budget 2024. At the Ard Fheis, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald outlined her party’s position, calling on the Irish government to support a Dáil motion that would refer Israel to the International Criminal Court, and expressing support for a Social Democrats motion to send the Israeli Ambassador home. McDonald also outlined domestic priorities, including addressing the housing crisis, as Sinn Féin positioned itself as a government in waiting.

At the Coalition leaders’ meeting, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Tánaiste Micheál Martin, and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan were joined by Minister for Finance Michael McGrath and Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe. The Government announced that the Budget would be in the order of at least €6.4 billion, with an additional multi-billion euro package of once-off measures to tackle the cost-of-living crisis. The Cabinet Committee on Health also met to discuss the health allocation in Budget 2024, against a projected €1 billion overspend this year.

The Sinn Féin Ard Fheis and the Coalition leaders’ meeting highlighted the stark differences between the two parties. While Sinn Féin expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people and outlined their domestic priorities, the Coalition leaders discussed the upcoming Budget and the health allocation. As the elections roll-up, the two parties will continue to make their pitches to the electorate, with Sinn Féin encouraging voters to make history and back them, and the Coalition outlining their plans to tackle the cost-of-living crisis.