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Ellen Coyne @ellenmcoyne.bsky.social · 11h

Very interesting comment from former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar

Ellen Coyne @ellenmcoyne.bsky.social · 11h

Maria Steen calls for presidential election to be cancelled over Jim Gavin’s departure

www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...

Maria Steen calls for presidential election to be cancelled over Jim Gavin’s departure

Conservative campaigner missed out on required signatures to make the ballot

www.irishtimes.com

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Ellen Coyne @ellenmcoyne.bsky.social · 1d

Known Swiftie and also finance minister Paschal Donohoe has not had a chance to listen to TLOAS yet. What is the budget if not his showgirl era.

Ellen Coyne @ellenmcoyne.bsky.social · 1d

Childcare: Will the budget make childcare more affordable?

Spoiler: no.

www.irishtimes.com/your-money/2...

Childcare: Will the budget make childcare more affordable?

Q&A: Despite earlier promises, there is no measure in this year’s budget to bring down the monthly cost of childcare

www.irishtimes.com

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Ellen Coyne @ellenmcoyne.bsky.social · 2d

Extra Inside Politics today, in the wake of the shock exit of Jim Gavin from the presidential race 🚨

open.spotify.com/episode/3KZS...

Calamity for Fianna Fáil as Jim Gavin drops out of the presidential race

open.spotify.com

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Ellen Coyne @ellenmcoyne.bsky.social · 3d

Jim Gavin withdraws from presidential election race

www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...

Jim Gavin withdraws from presidential election race

Fianna Fáil candidate ‘thought long and hard’ about impact of campaign on family and friends

www.irishtimes.com

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Ellen Coyne @ellenmcoyne.bsky.social · 5d

This part jumped out at me. We hear a lot about apparent lack of diversity of thought in Irish politics. Is the apparent othering of conservatism not partly caused by conservatives themselves, who aren't even comfortable using the word?

Ellen Coyne @ellenmcoyne.bsky.social · 5d

Steen was presented almost like "an idea whose time has come," but some analysis suggests she might represent a moment that's already passed. I took a deep dive into where the Irish conservative right goes next, after Maria Steen’s failed presidential bid

www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...

Where next for the conservative right after Maria Steen’s failed presidential bid?

There seems to be little hope of her heralding a revival of social conservatism given that her political cohort isn’t even comfortable calling itself ‘conservative’

www.irishtimes.com

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Ellen Coyne @ellenmcoyne.bsky.social · 6d

Out on the campaign trail with Heather Humphreys: courting Fianna Fáilers and invoking the spirit of Big Tom

www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...

Humphreys campaign trail: ‘Wee selfies’, spirit of Big Tom and Fianna Fáil voters

Heather Humphreys meets voters in towns in Co Louth and Co Meath on presidential election canvass

www.irishtimes.com

Ellen Coyne @ellenmcoyne.bsky.social · 6d

It is "unethical and inappropriate” for the Government to offer people in the asylum process money to leave the country, according to the Irish Refugee Council (IRC), which has “strongly” opposed the measure.

www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...

Offering asylum seekers more money to leave is ‘unethical’, says Irish Refugee Council

Irish Refugee Council opposes controversial move saying stakeholders were not forewarned

www.irishtimes.com

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Ellen Coyne @ellenmcoyne.bsky.social · 8d

Independent Ireland leader ‘not happy’ as councillor seeks to halt Bob Vylan gig

Little bit of a row emerging within the party, but more from the perspective that it's a threat to a business rather than a threat to free speech

www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...

Independent Ireland leader ‘not happy’ as councillor seeks to halt Bob Vylan gig

Linda de Courcy took legal proceedings to try to stop a Dublin concert by controversial punk-rap duo

www.irishtimes.com

Ellen Coyne @ellenmcoyne.bsky.social · 8d

‘He hit me as he passed’: councillor who is the head of Dublin City's women’s committee, and campaigns for women's safety in the city, was punched in the face in a random attack.

www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/20...

‘He hit me as he passed’: women’s safety officer punched in the face on Dublin street

Social Democrats councillor Cat O’Driscoll says nobody came to her aid after random assault on Dorset Street

www.irishtimes.com

Ellen Coyne @ellenmcoyne.bsky.social · 9d

All done! It was grand 🤷🏼‍♀️ very assured from Connolly with nice quick, clear answers. Gavin seemed hungry and assertive. Humphreys was v solid but not dazzling. Nobody should be too upset and it's early enough in the campaign for things to change. But Connolly camp will be very happy I think

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Ellen Coyne @ellenmcoyne.bsky.social · 9d

Once again: it's too late and some of us are sleepy 🌙

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Ellen Coyne @ellenmcoyne.bsky.social · 9d

Fair

Ellen Coyne @ellenmcoyne.bsky.social · 9d

Heading into the last section, in my humble opinion Connolly has emerged as the strongest, followed by a surprisingly assertive Gavin and at the moment Humphreys trails behind a little, having got a bit lost between the other two

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Ellen Coyne @ellenmcoyne.bsky.social · 9d

I think you may be correct

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Ellen Coyne @ellenmcoyne.bsky.social · 9d

Interesting - thanks for your thoughts!

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Ellen Coyne @ellenmcoyne.bsky.social · 9d

Heather Humphreys is at real risk of getting stuck in "minister mode" - though could be part of a strategy to try to float above debate and seem more presidential.

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Ellen Coyne @ellenmcoyne.bsky.social · 9d

Half way through (🥳) Catherine Connolly is easily the most confident of the three so far

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Ellen Coyne @ellenmcoyne.bsky.social · 9d

25 minutes in, the strongest debate has been between Jim Gavin and Catherine Connolly, driven by defence and neutrality issues, with Heather Humphreys fading into the background a little.

Jim Gavin has been punchier than expected and is putting himself in conflict with Connolly

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Ellen Coyne @ellenmcoyne.bsky.social · 9d

Story broken by The Irish Times on Thursday dominates the first section of the debate

Ellen Coyne @ellenmcoyne.bsky.social · 13d

Presidential candidate Catherine Connolly has said there are “parallels” between the current increase in military spending in Germany and its rearmament during the 1930s.

www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...

Catherine Connolly compares German arms build-up with 1930s

‘I don’t wish to depress you. There is hope,’ presidential candidate tells UCD event

www.irishtimes.com

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Ellen Coyne @ellenmcoyne.bsky.social · 9d

10pm is too late 😴 #speirgorm #aras2025

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Ellen Coyne @ellenmcoyne.bsky.social · 9d

My colleague Harry McGee is manning the live blog in the buildup to the first presidential debate tonight 🍿
And he'll be updating it throughout if you can't watch but want to keep up

www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...

Ivana Bacik insists Catherine Connolly is a ‘unifying force’ for Labour amid internal dissent

Independent Catherine Connolly, Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys and Fianna Fáil’s Jim Gavin to hold first debate

www.irishtimes.com

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Ellen Coyne @ellenmcoyne.bsky.social · 9d

Calleary pushes for €12 social welfare increase in budget despite Government resistance

www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...

Calleary pushes for €12 social welfare increase in budget despite Government resistance

Minister argues increase is only way to tackle child poverty and support people with disabilities

www.irishtimes.com

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