Election Daily: O’Learygate gets Fine Gael off to a bumpy start

Plus: does Gerry Hutch have a chance?

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Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary's comments about teachers have been roundly criticised . Photograph: Sam Boal/Collins Photos.
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary's comments about teachers have been roundly criticised . Photograph: Sam Boal/Collins Photos.

Hugh Linehan is joined by Pat Leahy and Cormac McQuinn to discuss today’s events in the 2024 general election campaign:

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary’s comments about teachers at a Fine Gael TD’s campaign launch event have got the party off to a bad start.

Fine Gael’s proposal to change a VAT rate in order to help the hospitality industry has some downsides, not least for the other industries who will actually come out of the change taxed more heavily.

Another Fine Gael proposal, to use some of the Apple tax bonaza to boost Help to Buy, a scheme aimed at first-time buyers, also has its critics.

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And the confirmation that Gerry Hutch will be a candidate means Dublin Central looks set to be 2024′s most colourful constituency. But does he have a chance?