Childcare is now a battleground issue ahead of general election

This week’s host Pat Leahy is joined by Harry McGee and Jack Horgan-Jones to look back on the week in politics:·      The fallout from Apple’s tax case continues with what to with decision on what to do with the €13bn plus interest expected within three weeks. The windfall won’t be available to the State until next March, but some sources in Government are saying there is already a consensus among Coalition parties that pressing infrastructure requirements and housing are at the top of the shopping list. ·      Speaking at Fine Gael’s think-in in Tullamore Taoiseach Simon Harris backed a public childcare model, moving away from a reliance on private sector care. But would this potential restructuring result in a raft of new State employees? Sinn Féin stopped short of a public childcare model, instead pledging to reduce the financial burden on parents with the introduction of €10-a-day childcare from 2025 if it is in power after general election.·      And Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald reflected this week on a trauma-filled year for her and her family, a year in which she and her husband Martin Lanigan dealt with serious issues.Plus, the panellists pick their favourite IT reads of the week:·      Corinna Hardgrave pulled no punches with her one-star review of a new eatery in Donnybrook.·      Ken Early on the gulf in class as Ireland were dismissed by England in a one-sided game at the Aviva stadium last Saturday.·      Harry McGee picked his own article looking at the farcical infighting at the National Party.Would you like to receive daily insights into world events delivered to your inbox? Sign up for Denis Staunton's Global Briefing newsletter here: irishtimes.com/newsletters/global-briefing/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.