Burnham's electricity VAT cut could put pressure on Martin amid cost-of-living pressures
James Cox
Here, we take a look at the issues likely to dominate political discourse in the week to come.
Burnham's VAT cut, Martin's response?
What happens across the water normally has a ripple effect before long.
New UK prime minister Andy Burnham is trying to hit the ground running and his first move has been an £850 million (€997 million) tax cut on electricity bills.
From October 1st electricity bills will be VAT free, saving households around £45 (€52) per year. It's Burnham's first action to try to cut cost-of-living pressures in the UK.
While it might not be much, it is something, and symbolically it is a big move.
Meanwhile, last month Irish electricity prices were named the highest in Europe.
Eurostat data confirmed Ireland has the most expensive electricity in the EU. Irish households pay roughly €0.40 per kilowatt-hour, which is nearly 40 per cent above the EU average of €0.29. This costs the average Irish family about €480 more each year than their European neighbours.
Housing and rental costs remain high, while grocery bills are soaring.
While a cut like Burnham made wouldn't address many issues, it could be a good move for Taoiseach Micheál Martin as people continue to struggle with bills.
The in April were a nightmare for the Government and similar events could take place as people's unhappiness with the cost-of-living grows.
E-scooters
The Government is planning new legislation around e-scooters.
New regulations that will come into effect from June will extend the existing ban for under-16s to a ban for under-18s, and it will make it mandatory for everyone using an e-scooter to wear a high-vis vest and a helmet.
Penalties for breaking the rules will include fines, starting at €50 per offence.
The Government is also planning to give gardaí greater legal clarity on when and how they can pursue someone on an e-scooter or scrambler. This will likely be modelled on the situation in the UK. As some have already pointed out, this will require more training for gardaí on how to safely pursue someone who is breaking the law.
From September, new legislation will be brought forward that is intended to create a national register of e-scooters and to put new pressures on retailers who sell them. Selling e-scooters to children and selling e-scooters that are illegal on Irish roads - that go over the 20 km/h set speed - will be banned.
Under the same law, e-scooters will be treated like any other “mechanically propelled vehicles”, which means you will need a licence and registration for them.
Tánaiste Simon Harris said on Tuesday that registration would either be run through a new system managed by retailers, or by the Revenue Commissioners.
TD helps disarm man attempting to harm himself outside Dáil
A Fine Gael TD assisted gardaí in disarming a man who was attempting to harm himself with a knife outside the Dáil on Wednesday evening.
Wicklow Wexford TD Brian Brennan came across the man, who was in a distressed state.
Along with Mark Darmody, the father of 15-year-old disability rights activist Cara Darmody, who was staging a protest outside Leinster House, Brennan assisted gardaí and emergency services in disarming the man and keeping him safe.
Brennan told BreakingNews.ie: "Eventually medical services arrived, and thankfully he is now getting the help he needs.
"Instinct just came in, and my thoughts and prayers are with the man. I also have to give huge credit to Mark [Darmody], the gardaí, and emergency services."
Leo Varadkar wades into World Cup final half-time show controversy
Former taoiseach Leo Varadkar has been widely criticised over his promotion of the World Cup final half-time show.
Varadkar has worked in a number of different areas since leaving politics, including at US universities.
He was appointed to the Europe board of directors for the international advocacy organization Global Citizen in September 2025.
Through this role, he actively supports initiatives like the Fifa Global Citizen Education Fund.
Some of the proceeds from the half-time show will go to this fund, and Varadkar was speaking about this in a post about the show.
He wrote: "The first ever FIFA World Cup half-time show airs tonight. It's only 11 minutes long but it's going to be super special. There'll still be time for half-time commentary and ads (and a toilet break) depending on the network or platform you watch. $60 million raised already for the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund."
Fans were already unhappy with the half-time show, with some arguing it is an attempt from Fifa to move football more towards the commercialism of American Football.
The show featured performances from the likes of Madonna, BTS and Justin Bieber.
Varadkar's post has received a hugely negative reaction online. Some told him to stay out of football, while others accused him of taking money from Fifa.
While the half-time show received mixed reviews, the game itself was disappointing as Spain triumphed 1-0 against a very negative Argentina side.
Abroad
In the UK, new prime minister Andy Burnham named his Cabinet including John Healey as chancellor and Ed Miliban as foreign secretary.
The US-Iran war appears to be moving towards a full-scale conflict.
Iran will pay for the killing of US troops “many times over”, president Donald Trump has said following the deaths of three service personnel in recent days.