The Dáil resumed on Wednesday and there will be no shortage of items on the political agenda in the coming week.
Here, BreakingNews.ie has a look at what to expect.
Dáil demonstration
It was known in advance that there would be a protest as the Dáil resumed on Wednesday, September 20th.
However, the aggressive demonstration that unfolded was a surprise to many.
Far-right agitators gathered with a mock gallows, featuring images of people across the political divide including Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald and People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy.
Politicians, journalists and Leinster House staff were prevented from leaving the building for two hours.
Footage went viral of people shoving and shouting abuse at a visibly shaken Michael Healy-Rae, with the Independent TD protected by two members of An Garda Síochána.
There have been 13 arrests so far as abuse and death threats were made to politicians and others attempting to leave Leinster House.
This is undoubtedly going to be a topic of Dáil debate as concerns over the safety of politicians have been expressed in the last few years.
An exclusion zone around Leinster House has been one suggestion.
However, politicians are unlikely to support this as accessibility for their constituents is one of the cornerstones of Irish politics.
In an interview with BreakingNews.ie on the demonstration, Fianna Fáil TD Jim O'Callaghan and Fine Gael Senator Barry Ward were both against this idea.
The demonstration's motive was unclear but the proposed hate crime legislation was one of the issues among those who gathered, so that will likely be at the forefront of Dáil discussion as well.
Temple Street scandal
An investigation into the use of uncertified springs in spinal surgeries at Temple Street Children's Hospital will examine if senior management was aware of their use, how many people knew, and when.
The clinical director of Children's Health Ireland (CHI) confirmed on Thursday that a number of clinicians and others within CHI were aware that the uncertified implants were being used.
The controversy has been a national talking point, so expect it to be one of the first issues raised in the Dáil this week.
Budget 2024
October 10th is fast approaching, so the Budget discussion will be one of the big talking points in Leinster House.
Opposition politicians will push for extra measures for housing and the cost-of-living crisis.
However, ministers have sounded a note of caution about what will be delivered in the budget as they flagged the consequences of fuelling inflation.
Minister for Finance Michael McGrath and Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe both moved to dampen expectations around the spending and taxation commitments that will be unveiled in the Budget.
Return of Coalition leaders
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Tánaiste Micheál Martin and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan have all been in New York for the UN General Assembly.
They won't enjoy an easy return, with opposition TDs undoubtedly set to attack them for being absent on the first week of business.
While attendance at the UN is hugely important, this won't stop TDs looking to score political points.
Abroad
In the United States, government services would be disrupted and hundreds of thousands of federal workers furloughed without pay if Congress fails to provide funding for the fiscal year starting on October 1st.
This is looking increasingly likely due to deadlock between Republicans and Democrats. Leaders will try to avert this in the coming week, but recent developments suggest this may prove impossible.
US House speaker Kevin McCarthy has launched an impeachment inquiry against US president Joe Biden, over the business dealings of his son Hunter. Mr McCarthy was reluctant to do so, but forced into the move by pressure from far-right Republicans.
This suggests any of his moves to prevent a government shutdown could also be blocked.
In the UK, battlelines appear to be being drawn ahead of the next general election, which is scheduled for January 2025 but likely to be called in 2024.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is being accused of undermining Brexit following meetings with French president Emmanuel Macron. Meanwhile, Labour politicians will likely claim this is an effort by Conservatives to draw attention away from their waning popularity.
