Dealing with the apparent collapse of the transatlantic alliance is an urgent task for Friedrich Merz, while bold steps are also needed to tackle economic decline

Ireland faces immediate diplomatic challenges, but must also focus on improving the things that are under its own control

Former ECB president Mario Draghi has underlined the need for the EU to act quickly to support growth

The latest proposal by the regulator is an effort to balance support for AI development with the need to protect the supply of electricity

While most of them will long for the war to end, Ukrainians will be right to fear betrayal

Our forecasters’ preferred circumlocution of ‘unsettled' can cover a multitude

A key focus will be the vote of the far-right, while it is also unclear whether a majority government will be formed after the vote

The past four weeks were about the bereaved, the maimed and injured, and the police and fire officers and others present telling their terrible stories

How well the new Minister fares will be a major contributory factor in how this Government is ultimately judged

While the scale of take-up is unpredictable, there are potential gains for families

This week’s EU summit discussions on security, defence and Ukraine are the first of many to come on how European states should protect their distinctive interests and values

It is difficult to focus tax incentives to achieve the desired result and all-too-often they have damaging unintended consequences

The publication of new figures showing that the number of knives seized by the Garda each year has risen by almost 60 per cent over the last 10 years will do little to put the public’s mind at ease

Donald Trump has in a few weeks moved to remake the state without the say-so of Congress or the courts

The Government cannot control what Trump will do, but it has a large agenda at home and what is happening must be a wake-up call to get on with it

Unless the EU’s middle ground parties take control of the narrative on migration, the political centre will come under further pressure

A key priority for the Cabinet must be the completion of the new National Planning Framework, which is a key document underlying housing strategy

What will have dismayed most European leaders was Trump’s insouciant concessions before negotiations had even begun

The current cycle of stories about the spending of State money leads to concerns about systemic failings

Negotiations on the formation of a coalition government have collapsed and a fresh general election may be in prospect