Pat Leahy and Jack Horgan-Jones join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:

· Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union got off to a slightly awkward start at the opening ceremony at Dublin Castle on Wednesday when guest Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned against “material emanating from a plant in Ireland” being used in Russia’s war effort. The Ukrainian president didn’t name Aughinish Alumina, but his feelings were clear.

· Dozens of solicitors walked out of District Court rooms on Wednesday in protest against a new pay system for legal aid. This marked an escalation in tensions with Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan who has pushed the reform through.

· The Government are not going to act on Oireachtas committee recommendations on the decriminalisation of the possession of drugs for personal use.

· And as the United States celebrates its 250th birthday, how has the country lived up to the principals and aspirations of its founding fathers?

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