All eyes on Israel — and meanwhile the European country is getting entangled at home

A week and a half before the presentation of the 2027 budget, the Irish government is grappling with internal disputes over the cost of living, housing, taxes, and energy. At the same time, the question of Irish reunification is returning to the center of political discourse, sharpening the domestic divide, while criticism of Israel creates a broad common denominator in Irish politics.

A week and a half before the presentation of the 2027 budget, the Irish government, led by Simon Harris (Fine Gael), is facing internal disputes over the cost of living, housing, taxes, and energy. The budget is expected to total a package of approximately €8.5 billion, of which about €7 billion is for increasing public spending and about €1.5 billion for tax cuts. However, a significant portion of the money is needed to cover rising public service costs and inflation, leaving limited room for new measures. An Irish Times/Ipsos B&A survey found that assistance with energy and heating costs is the top priority for voters (23%). Within the coalition, proposals to ease the stamp duty for first-time homebuyers have created a rift between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Harris announced he does not intend to advance the abolition of the tax. In the opposition, Sinn Féin is demanding broader measures, including abolishing USC on the first €40,000 of income and eliminating the carbon tax on heating oil. Meanwhile, the question of Irish reunification is returning to the center of discourse. Micheál Martin (Fianna Fáil) supports reunification in principle but refuses to set a timeline and demands broader agreement between Dublin, London, and the communities in the North. The article notes that precisely at a time when criticism of Israel creates a broad common denominator in Irish politics, almost every domestic question reveals a divided political system.