Irish political week sees UN speech, union march breakthrough and Reform UK setbacks

The Irish political team spent much of the week in New York, where Taoiseach Micheál Martin addressed the United Nations and received a standing ovation for his comments on Palestine, followed by a light-hearted appearance with NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani at a bingo event. Unionist parties in Northern Ireland celebrated a breakthrough as the Parades Commission allowed an Orange Order march down Garvaghy Road for the first time in nearly three decades, prompting praise from DUP leader Gavin Robinson and UUP leader Jon Burrows.

At the same time, Reform UK’s fortunes waned; undercover footage and large crypto donations have hurt the party’s image, and a YouGov poll now places it in third place behind the Conservatives and Labour. Helen McEntee, Ireland’s foreign minister, was pressed on a protected-disclosure issue from her tenure as justice minister, insisting she followed the law. Junior Sports Minister Charlie McConalogue faced criticism from Fianna Fáil colleagues after a sports-capital funding portal opened without clear government approval, leading to internal frustration in Leinster House.