Here, we have a look at the issue likely to dominate political discourse in the week to come.
McDonald labels questioning of immigration policy 'extremely rude'
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald attempted to present her party's new immigration policy, but the RTÉ interview raised more questions than answers.
She accused RTÉ's Philip Boucher Hayes has of being "extremely rude" in his questioning, but the reasonable questions simply asked about how the proposed policy would be funded.
It is largely seen as Sinn Féin's attempt to bring back former supporters who aren't happy with their migration policy.
Sinn Féin has proposed tripling the numbers of International Protection officers. When asked by the presenter about the costs, Ms McDonald said it would not be "enormous", but that she did not have the exact figures.
When he asked how “1,000 new civil servants is not an enormous cost”, Ms McDonald replied: “Are you actually interested in hearing the policy or simply nit-picking with me? Whatever it costs it needs to be done.”
As the exhange went on, a clearly annoyed Ms McDonald said: "I have to say your tone with me in this interview is extremely rude. But be that as it may. I’m less interested, and I would have thought that as a journalist and a broadcaster, you would be far more inquisitive around what the Government is saying which you’re very happy to repeat ad nauseam."
Afterwards, both Ms McDonald and her colleague Pearse Doherty accused RTÉ of taking a harder stance with them than Government politicians, despite providing no examples.
The central recommendation in Sinn Féin's proposed policy is that disadvantaged areas should not be asked to accommodate asylum seekers, with better-off areas taking in more refugees.
It also suggests faster processing times, and designating certain areas of war-torn countries like Ukraine safe, so that migrants can be returned if they are denied asylum in Ireland. It is unclear how these designations would be made.
Sinn Féin's policy was aimed at gaining back some of the support lost in the local and European elections, but it highlights the difficulties surrounding migration.
It has been a huge issue for Government, and will be central to the next general election.
Ongoing protests at a site earmarked for refugees in Coolock, Dublin, are just the latest issue and they are showing no signs of slowing down despite a strong Garda presence.
Drones may have been used to deliver unlit petrol bombs to the former Crown Paints warehouse in Coolock, the High Court heard this week.
Since Simon Harris became Taoiseach, Government has attempted a more hands on approach with the migration issue but the results haven't arrived.
Moving the tent encampment at the International Protection Office on Dublin's Mount Street only saw tents spring up on the Grand Canal, and the ugly fencing at the canal where these people were moved on is just a reminder of the problem.
Rising homeless figures
The number of homeless people in Ireland exceeds the capacity of Hill 16 in Croke Park, after a record number of people living in emergency accommodation was recorded yet again.
According to the Department of Housing, 14,303 people were living in emergency accommodation in June, including 9,899 adults and 4,404 children.
The number is 13 per cent higher than a year ago, and is an increase of 144 people since May.
This is likely to be highlighted by opposition politicians.
Taoiseach Simon Harris has pointed to increases in social housing, but this will do little to reassure people amid the stark homeless figures.
Ireland heading for clash with von der Leyen?
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has insisted she wants a male and female candidate from each member state for a European commissioner role.
This is a headache for Government as Michael McGrath stood down from Cabinet to be nominated, with Jack Chambers replacing him as Minister for Finance.
Mr Harris was asked about the issue at the Paris Olympics, and insisted Mr McGrath would be Ireland's only nominee.
Abroad
In the UK, Keir Starmer's government got off to a rocky start as the new prime minster suspended seven MPs from his Labour party after they voted to scrap the two-child benefit cap in Britain.
In the US, all eyes are on November 5th with Kamala Harris now set to go up against Donald Trump in the presidential election after Joe Biden withdrew from the race.
In an interview with BreakingNews.ie this week, former Irish Ambassador to the US Daniel Mulhall said Mr Trump will still be the favourite, but that Ms Harris gives the Democratic Party a much better chance in the November vote.
"It's still a 50/50 call I would say. In fact, if the election were held tomorrow, Donald Trump would almost certainly win. But the election is not being held for three and a half months and in that time Kamala Harris has to convince people that the vice president, not very highly regarded by the public at times, that Kamala Harris has been replaced by a much more vigorous, dynamic and forceful person.
"Kamala Harris the presidential candidate. I still think this campaign will come down to Kamala Harris persuading people, particularly suburban Republican-leaning people who voted for Joe Biden last time. She needs them to vote for her this time, and we will see if she has the ability to convince these people to vote for her as they did for Joe Biden four years ago.
"It's going to also be a case of her persuading people that Donald Trump is too big of a risk, a threat to the republic, reproductive healthcare. All these things are vulnerabilities for Trump."
