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The Journal

The Candidate

A News podcast

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About the show

Podcast by The Journal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Newest episodes

The unions got their deal and Simon Harris got his row

26 min

The strike is off, the deal is done, nobody seems entirely delighted. A new public-sector pay agreement was reached at the eleventh hour, offering 10.75% over two years and nine months, but union members still have to vote on it. There are already rumblings of disquiet. Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews and Rónán Duffy look at who blinked first, whether the deal will actually pass, and how the government spent this week putting out a series of industrial-relations fires. Also: Simon Harris dusts off some Fine Gael greatest hits with his dole comments, and the government suddenly remembers it still has a 2026 Climate Action Plan to publish. In November. Whoops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

LIVE: Fine Gael wants renewal - but it has to pick a direction first

36 min

Fine Gael is doing a lot of soul-searching. Almost a whole weekend of it. Its own renewal report says voters don't really know what the party actually stands for. Grassroots members at the ard fheis are debating everything from whether it has become too detached from everyday concerns to whether it should be less “woke”. Recorded live at the party’s ard fheis in UCC, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews and Lise Hand look at Fine Gael’s identity problem, Simon Harris’s leadership, and whether years in coalition with Fianna Fáil have made the two parties blur into one. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ireland’s biggest-ever diplomatic event could get very messy

25 min

Another public-sector strike is looming. The timing leaves the government with very little room to manoeuvre: hundreds of thousands of workers are due to walk out on the same day Ireland hosts the biggest diplomatic event in its history, while talks over a pay deal drag along. Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews and Rónán Duffy look at why the unions have the upper hand, how the government allowed the dispute to reach this point, and whether the strike will even go ahead at all. Also: Jim O’Callaghan (yes, we're talking about him again) suffers a setback in the criminal legal aid dispute, and the Democrats have a huge night in the US midterms after one key move: making affordability the message. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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All episodes

The unions got their deal and Simon Harris got his row

26 min

The strike is off, the deal is done, nobody seems entirely delighted. A new public-sector pay agreement was reached at the eleventh hour, offering 10.75% over two years and nine months, but union members still have to vote on it. There are already rumblings of disquiet. Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews and Rónán Duffy look at who blinked first, whether the deal will actually pass, and how the government spent this week putting out a series of industrial-relations fires. Also: Simon Harris dusts off some Fine Gael greatest hits with his dole comments, and the government suddenly remembers it still has a 2026 Climate Action Plan to publish. In November. Whoops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

LIVE: Fine Gael wants renewal - but it has to pick a direction first

36 min

Fine Gael is doing a lot of soul-searching. Almost a whole weekend of it. Its own renewal report says voters don't really know what the party actually stands for. Grassroots members at the ard fheis are debating everything from whether it has become too detached from everyday concerns to whether it should be less “woke”. Recorded live at the party’s ard fheis in UCC, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews and Lise Hand look at Fine Gael’s identity problem, Simon Harris’s leadership, and whether years in coalition with Fianna Fáil have made the two parties blur into one. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ireland’s biggest-ever diplomatic event could get very messy

25 min

Another public-sector strike is looming. The timing leaves the government with very little room to manoeuvre: hundreds of thousands of workers are due to walk out on the same day Ireland hosts the biggest diplomatic event in its history, while talks over a pay deal drag along. Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews and Rónán Duffy look at why the unions have the upper hand, how the government allowed the dispute to reach this point, and whether the strike will even go ahead at all. Also: Jim O’Callaghan (yes, we're talking about him again) suffers a setback in the criminal legal aid dispute, and the Democrats have a huge night in the US midterms after one key move: making affordability the message. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The unsolved mystery of Simon Harris's phone call to Patrick O'Donovan

29 min

Since Simon Harris returned from paternity leave earlier this week he has been hounded with questions about a mysterious phone call Culture Minister Patrick O'Donovan received before he took ill at an EU Presidency event earlier this month. Harris admitted this week that the phone call was from him, but he has strenuously denied that it was a heated or tetchy interaction. Is it now case closed? Christine Bohan, Christina Finn and Jane Matthews discuss the circumstances that led up to O'Donovan being hospitalised and question the significance of the much reported on phone call. Also: As former president Michael D Higgins shared his view on the abolition of the triple lock this week, the team take a look at the heated debate that has surrounded the government's decision. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The culture war over grandparents and justice on trial

22 min

Jim O’Callaghan’s stand-off with criminal solicitors just keeps on escalating. The justice minister has now accused striking solicitors of deliberately targeting rape cases. The backlash was quick, and judges are now warning about the impact the dispute is having on the courts. Neither side appears particularly close to backing down. Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews and Rónán Duffy look at how the dispute got this far. Has O’Callaghan made it harder to find a way out? Also: the same minister intervenes in the row over a consent campaign featuring grandparents, and the RSA performs another U-turn, this time over breathalysers in pubs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The politest strike that has nobody losing face...yet

19 min

The public sector strike that saw 300,000 workers on the picket lines is the dominant political story of the week, but as yet nobody is getting pilloried over it. The unions say the government could have avoided the whole mess four months ago, but the government keeps saying it's ready to do a deal once everyone talks. It seems there's a ​tentative basis for agreement, but if this drags on into the cold winter months there will be some major questions to be asked. Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews and Rónán Duffy chat through how the strike is being perceived, and then speak about the phoenix rising this week that was 'Big' Phil Hogan's UN bid. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Budget 2027: grand, we suppose

26 min

Budget 2027 has landed, and the reaction has been... well, extremely flat. There were tax changes, sure, and welfare increases too. Even a new savings scheme and plenty of measures aimed at the squeezed middle. But after months of leaks and promises, did the government spread itself too thin trying to keep everyone happy? Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews and Rónán Duffy look at who actually came out ahead, why renters and younger people may feel particularly short-changed, and whether the lack of serious help with energy costs could come back to bite the government this winter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The past is still hanging over Garvaghy Road

33 min

The Garvaghy Road standoff has dragged Northern Ireland back into a dispute many thought we left in the 1990s. A proposed way out has failed, the Orange Order still wants to complete its parade, and residents remain opposed to it passing through their community. Sinéad O’Carroll, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews and Rónán Duffy ask whether years of relative peace allowed complacency to set in, and what Dublin and London can realistically do when neither side is willing to give way. Also: Simon Harris is preparing to deliver his first budget as Finance Minister. Has the government already talked it up too much? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump's visit was grubby, weird, but apparently a success

30 min

Donald Trump came to Ireland for 36 hours, watched a lot of golf, charmed the crowds at Doonbeg, promised to scrap tariffs on Irish whiskey and unexpectedly declared that he'd love to see a united Ireland. The government thinks the visit was a success. We're a little less sure: was it smart diplomacy, uncomfortable fawning, or all just a bit grubby? Sinéad O'Carroll, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews and Rónán Duffy unpack what Trump's comments actually mean for the unity debate, why Micheál Martin is frustrated that his Shared Island work gets dismissed, and whether Ireland risks waiting too long to prepare for a referendum that could arrive faster than expected. Also: Why won’t Eoin Hayes answer questions? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jim O'Callaghan on the M9 collision, migration, and wanting to lead Fianna Fáil

47 min

Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan joins us in studio for a sit-down interview. We asked him what needs to change after the M9 collision, whether the State is failing the small group of young people its youth justice system can't reach, and why the government's approach to migration has changed. He also spoke about his stand-off with criminal legal aid solicitors and why he won't revoke the new regulations. And, when we asked about the future of Fianna Fáil, O'Callaghan was clear: he still wants to lead the party. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The politicians who thrived this term, and the ones who had a nightmare

46 min

The Dáil has risen, Leinster House is quiet, and TDs are all off doing constituency work (as they tell us every year), so it's time for our political awards. Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews and Sinéad O'Carroll analyse Christina Finn's report card naming the winners and losers of the term just gone: why Jennifer Carroll MacNeill won the term by picking fights with everyone from the Rotunda to BAM, whether Jim O'Callaghan really belongs on the losers' list, and how Holly Cairns turned the Social Democrats into the party with a buzz about them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Farage wanted a coronation. He got Count Binface.

27 min

Nigel Farage resigned as an MP on Tuesday to trigger a byelection in which he's going to run in, and waited for the establishment to line up against him. They didn't. A handful of minor parties have put their names forward, but the candidate getting all the headlines is Count Binface, an Oxford graduate in a bin costume who has previously stood against Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak and Theresa May. It would be funny if there wasn't so much riding on it (and even at that... it is still pretty funny). Christine Bohan, Christina Finn and Sinéad O'Carroll dig into why the stunt hasn't gone to plan, why the five million pound "unconditional gift" is following Farage around, and what a Reform UK prime minister would mean for Ireland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More houses in rural Ireland sounds great until you ask about the buses

20 min

Housing Minister James Browne has announced the biggest shake-up to rural planning rules in two decades. It should be easier for people to build homes in the countryside, but there's no target for how many new homes this will deliver and no new transport or services to go with it. These changes were "imminent" in 2021. Now, five years and one Green Party exit later, here they are. Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews and Rónán Duffy ask whether this is real policy or vibes-based housing. Also: Ireland took over the EU Council presidency this week and most of the country barely noticed. The ceremony at Dublin Castle was lovely but it was Zelensky who made the headlines. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Parking Wars and parking the War on Drugs

23 min

An Oireachtas committee spent years researching drug policy in Ireland and came back with a clear recommendation: decriminalise possession of all drugs for personal use, a shift from treating drug use as a criminal justice issue to treating it as a health one. The committee was cross-party and had extensive evidence to draw from. The government's response? Lukewarm at best. Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews and Rónán Duffy unpack what could be next for this proposal - and also the Citizens Assembly process that it originated from. Also: the parking crisis in new housing estates is making people's lives miserable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The surprise abortion vote that broke government ranks

25 min

Something unusual happened in the Dáil this week when a Sinn Féin proposal to scrap the three-day waiting period for abortion passed. An opposition bill getting through is rare enough, but this one came with a free vote that split the government parties wide open. Micheál Martin and Simon Harris both voted in favour. Most of their TDs voted against. Senior ministers like Jim O'Callaghan, Norma Foley and James Browne all voted no (and said nothing during the debate before doing so). Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews, Christina Finn and Rónán Duffy unpack how a waiting period that was never recommended by the Citizens' Assembly or the Oireachtas committee survived for eight years, and whether scrapping it is the beginning of a bigger conversation about abortion legislation the government doesn't want to have. Also: Ireland is getting a derelict property tax. Again. The government announced it in October's budget and announced it again this week. They love doing that. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We sat down with Tánaiste Simon Harris

43 min

The Tánaiste and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris joins us in studio for a sit-down interview. We asked him why a man on a doorstep in Dublin Central called him the minister for press releases, about how Ireland is a country that's never been richer but has never felt poorer, and what his guiding philosophy is as finance minister He told Christine Bohan, Christina Finn and Jane Matthews that childcare at €200 a month is "entirely doable", that the tax system is "screwing people", and that there will be no stamp duty relief for first-time buyers. Harris also spoke about the online abuse that nearly drove him out of politics, describing the "bomb that goes off in your home" when someone threatens to kill your children. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael Healy-Rae follows the Donald Trump playbook

27 min

When Michael Healy-Rae resigned as minister in April, he walked out of the Dáil, put his fist in the air outside the gates, and told reporters he was standing with the people of Kerry. This week, he told a different story, that it was his brother Danny's surprise interview calling on the Taoiseach and Tánaiste to resign that cost him his job. Two versions, two months apart... and Michael somehow making both of them work for him. Christine Bohan, Christina Finn and Jane Matthews unpack the most public split in the Healy-Rae dynasty, and ask whether this is really about what happened in April, or about what comes next. Also: consultants at the Rotunda are seeing private patients despite being on public-only contracts, and the government isn't happy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just how big could the Social Democrats get?

32 min

Byelection fallout continues for Sinn Féin as Labour says Mary Lou's party is left-wing no more. And while Holly Cairns says a left-wing government is within 'touching distance', the question being asked now is just how big could the Social Democrats get and could they end up eating everyone's lunch? Aside from the opposition benches, the government is in a spin over its climate targets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Byelection results! What we know so far

18 min

It's count day and we have the latest analysis live. In Dublin Central, Daniel Ennis of the Social Democrats has opened up a comfortable lead in what could potentially be a big moment for the party. Sinn Féin's Janice Boylan is in second but the transfers don't look like they'll save her, meaning the party could miss out on a crucial seat. And yes - Gerry Hutch is in the mix. In Galway West, it's a nailbiter between Independent Ireland's Noel Thomas and Fine Gael's Sean Kyne. Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy break down the tallies, the transfers, and what it all means. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What a byelection silver medal would mean for Sinn Féin

29 min

Polls open on Friday in Dublin Central and Galway West, and both races are still wide open. The cost of living is the dominant issue on the doorsteps, rents have just hit record levels, and the fuel protests are still fresh. But that anger hasn't settled neatly behind any one party or candidate. Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews and Rónán Duffy make their (reluctant) predictions, look at how Fine Gael have outrun Fianna Fáil in both races, and ask whether the change vote has somewhere else to go now (including a Hutch campaign that's been surprisingly active this time round). Also: One sister in London meeting King Charles, the other being detained by Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

British psychodrama and Bertie's big blunder

23 min

The vultures are circling Keir Starmer in a way that just doesn't happen in Irish politics. We ask why, and whether the difference between a prime minister on 19% approval and a Taoiseach on 38% is less about likability and more about having an economy on performance enhancing drugs. Christine Bohan, Christina Finn and Rónán Duffy compare the Starmer psychodrama with Micheál Martin's version of the same problem. What Ireland can learn from a country that's about to get its sixth prime minister in seven years, and vice versa? Also: Bertie Ahern was secretly recorded on a canvas saying he worries about immigrants, which is very awkward timing given the Fianna Fáil ard fheis is on this weekend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Charles wants to visit but we're not sure what to do with him

20 min

Reports suggest Britain's King Charles is likely to visit Ireland on an official trip, possibly as soon as next year. His mother's visit in 2011 was a landmark moment, but it had a clear purpose along the lines of healing and 'turning a new page'. This one doesn't have a script yet.  Christine Bohan, Christina Finn and Rónán Duffy discuss what kind of visit this should be, and whether Ireland has moved on enough that it's just another head of state dropping by. Also: the byelections are two weeks out and the team have been out on the doors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two byelections, three weeks out, and nobody can call either of them

30 min

In Dublin Central, Sinn Féin should be the favourites but the Social Democrats are quietly eating into their vote, and Gerry Hutch is back with a first-preference base that nobody should be ignoring. In Galway West, Catherine Connolly's seat is up for grabs and the left parties that united to get her into the Áras have gone straight back to fighting each other. Sinéad O'Carroll, Christina Finn, and Jane Matthews walk through both constituencies Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who is the former TD who gave a controversial character reference?

30 min

It's been nine days since a court heard that a former TD gave a character reference for a man convicted of sexually exploiting a 13-year-old boy at a children's camp. We still don't know their name, their party, or why they wrote it. The Tánaiste has called on them to come forward, but there is no law, no mechanism, no compulsion that can make them reveal themselves. The legislation that was supposed to prevent this has not done so. Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews, Christina Finn and Rónán Duffy unpack the gap in the law. Also: We're already talking about Budget 2027, and Sinn Féin head to Belfast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fianna Fáil Always Chickens Out

25 min

The fuel protests may be over but the fallout inside Fianna Fáil is only getting started. Young TDs are issuing statements about the need for radical change. Malcolm Byrne is on television saying Micheál Martin is a good Taoiseach but a bad party leader. There was a four-hour marathon meeting on Monday. Yet nobody is actually willing to do anything about it. A lot of grumbling and then walking back down the hill. Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews, Christina Finn and Rónán Duffy ask why Fianna Fáil keeps flirting with a heave it never has the nerve to follow through on, and whether the party has managed to a national crisis into a party crisis. Also: If some lads with tractors can cause such chaos, what happens when the EU presidency rolls around in July? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The fuel protests escalated faster than anyone expected

24 min

It started on Tuesday with tractors and trucks on major roads. Dublin city centre ground to a half. By Thursday, protesters were blockading Ireland's only oil refinery, the army had been called in, and the Taoiseach was calling it an act of national sabotage. Three days! That's how fast this has escalated, and nobody seems to know how it ends because nobody's entirely sure who's leading it. Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews, Christina Finn and Rónán Duffy dig into why the government came out with the strongest language we've heard in years, and whether they've boxed themselves into a corner by refusing to talk to the protesters. Also, on a lighter note: would you like another bank holiday? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does Simon Harris want to create a nation of investment bros?

26 min

Finance Minister Simon Harris has outlined (again) what his much-flagged personal savings and investment scheme is going to going to look like. Well, kind of. We still don't know the exact details but we have the broad strokes: it'll encourage people to put money into a government-run investment account, rather than letting it languish in a savings account. The Social Democrats aren't impressed so far, though. They say the scheme is basically a "tax break for millionaires". Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Rónán Duffy and Jane Matthews look at whether this might finally be the thing that moves Irish people away from savings accounts and buying property to make money. Also: Do we have enough TDs? Michael McDowell thinks so. The Senator has called for a referendum to cap the number of TDs, saying if the population continues to grow, it'll cost a lot more money to accommodate them all in Leinster House. Should this happen? And more importantly: will it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The government treats the Children's Hospital like someone else's problem

32 min

The National Children's Hospital has just missed its 18th deadline, and when an Oireachtas committee asked when it would actually be ready, the answer was: we'll need another 15 days to come up with a new date. Meanwhile, 570 staff still need to be hired in a city where nurses struggle to afford to live. Christine Bohan, Christina Finn and Rónán Duffy ask why the government keeps treating its most expensive project like something that's happening to someone else. Also: the excise cuts on fuel have landed and barely made a dent, and Michael Healy-Rae got very annoyed about fox hunting on the radio,  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The bar for the White House visit is on the floor

32 min

The reviews are in from the Oval Office, and the verdict is... it wasn't a disaster? Martin met Trump, defended Starmer, stifled a grin during a rant about windmills, and told the US president he's doing his bit for peace in the Middle East (gulp). The bar for success remains firmly on the floor: don't poke the bear, don't make headlines, get out alive. Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews and Rónán Duffy debrief on the visit, with Christina reporting on her experience in Oval Office and Jane from Boston, where Joe Biden made a surprise appearance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The government can't keep ignoring fuel prices

29 min

Fuel prices have been climbing higher, and higher... and higher. The government's response? We're monitoring it. Wait and see. Let's not make any knee-jerk decisions. But as one of our team puts it: everyone can see what's happening in Iran, everyone can see what's happening at the pumps, so how much more evidence do you need that this isn't going to blow over? Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews, Christina Finn and Rónán Duffy ask why the same government that cut excise within two weeks of the Ukraine war is dragging its feet now, and whether the real problem with Irish fuel prices started long before the first bomb dropped. Also: James Browne wants to loosen the rules on one-off rural housing. Is it a genuine fix or populism now the Greens are gone? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ireland can't say two words: illegal war

19 min

It's day six of the US-led war on Iran and Ireland's government still can't bring itself to say two crucial words. With the White House visit just weeks away, Micheál Martin is leaning hard on phrases like "rules-based international order" - but what rules do we need to actually pay attention to? The government called out genocide in Gaza, but has suddenly gone quiet. Christine Bohan, Christina Finn and Rónán Duffy ask what's happened to Ireland's moral voice, and whether the St Patrick's Day trip is already dictating the Taoiseach's response. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dublin Central didn't want a parachute candidate (even a popular one)

34 min

Sinn Féin's Dublin Central selection convention was meant to be a formality. Campaigner Gillian Sherratt was widely tipped to get the nod. Instead, the party's own members backed long-standing local councillor Janice Boylan. Was it a grassroots revolt against a parachute candidate? Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews, Christina Finn and Rónán Duffy dig into why Irish politics keeps rejecting outsiders, what it means for the Dublin Central by-election, Also: 'Gougers’, ‘hooligans' and a plague on all our rents. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The SNA own goal everyone saw coming

29 min

The government's plan to review how SNAs are allocated lead to a U-turn that was almost as sharp as the backlash. Letters landing in principals' inboxes triggered a political firestorm, TDs lined up to call it an own goal, and the plan was shelved. Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy ask: how did the government walk into this one? Also: is there a snobbery problem with how we talk about hot school meals? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The illusion of safety for 'undocumented Irish'

29 min

Another St Patrick's Day trip to the White House, another thorny issue to navigate. This time, it's the detention of an Irish citizen in a US immigration centre. Despite reports of grim conditions and rising concerns for other undocumented Irish people, Micheál Martin seems reluctant to put it front and centre with Donald Trump. Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews, Rónán Duffy and Christina Finn unpack whether the Taoiseach can really afford to sidestep it. Also: Once again tourists trump renters in the eyes of the government. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The political culture war over cycling

32 min

The government wants e-bike and e-scooter users to wear helmets and high-vis gear, but critics say that’s missing the point. Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews and Rónán Duffy dig into the backlash to this latest safety proposal and why the cycling debate in Ireland seems to hit a nerve every time. Also: Should politicians be using AI to write speeches? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Met Éíreann issues Status Yellow politics warning

24 min

The most powerful political force in Ireland? Flooding. Storm Chandra has kicked off a public row between Housing Minister James Browne and Met Éireann. After Browne suggested Met Éireann 'guarded' information and should change how it issues warnings, question are now being asked: is the warning system fit for purpose, and who is accountable when flooding hits? Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews and Rónán Duffy examine what this tells us about Ireland’s preparedness for more extreme weather - and if politicians are able to handle the fallout themselves. Also: why are defections a running drama in UK politics, but not in Ireland? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Only an invasion will stop Ireland's day at the White House

33 min

The annual St Patrick’s Day trip to the White House used to be a low-stakes photo op. Now? It's a perennial (somewhat tiresome, perhaps) news story and moral dilemma: will we, or won't we? Should Micheál Martin go, and if he does, what does Ireland actually gain and risk? Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews, Rónán Duffy and Christina Finn unpack the political calculations around this, whether there's a 'red line' which we need to accept has been crossed, and how much leverage Ireland really has during Trump's second term Also: why are most political parties still posting on X? And what could the government’s planned digital wallet could mean for kids’ safety and civil liberties? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If this doesn't lead to action on Big Tech, nothing will

27 min

It's a new Dáil term and a new season of The Candidate, but issues at home are taking a back seat right now. Non-consensual, AI-generated sexual imagery has become the flashpoint after X’s Grok tool made it easier to create and share this content. With gardaí investigating suspected child sexual abuse material, and ministers floating half-formed calls to ban the AI chatbot completely, the government is under pressure to explain what it can and will actually do. Sinéad O'Carroll, Rónán Duffy and Jane Matthews unpack the political response, the muddled messaging, and the question Ireland keeps avoiding: how do you regulate powerful tech firms when the State also relies on them? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our picks for the political dramas to binge during Twixmas

17 min

Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy share their favourite political shows - the ones that helped them escape (or make sense of) real-life Leinster House drama. From The West Wing to Veep, The Thick of It to Borgen, they offer recommendations for what to binge over Twixmas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Candies: Our political awards for 2025

38 min

Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy hand out their now-traditional end-of-year political awards, from the Michael Myers Award for Hanging On In There to the MGMT Difficult Second Album Award. The team reflect on the wins, flops, scandals, and surprises of 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What not to say to adults forced to move home

23 min

A video aimed at young people moving back in with their parents, shared by the Department of Housing, was meant to be helpful... but it didn't land like that. At all. No sir.  Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews and Rónán Duffy unpick why the backlash was so immediate and the lessons needed for the government on talking about the housing crisis. Do decision makers really understand just how hard things have become for an entire generation of renters? Also: If you don't understand why Ireland’s nitrates derogation is controversial, you will after this episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A careful visit with an even more careful message

24 min

Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s first visit to Ireland was smooth, symbolic, and tightly stage-managed. Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, and Jane Matthews unpack the carefully curated optics of the visit, and examine what was said vs what wasn't. Also: how we are still talking about the Occupied Territories Bill? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Twenty people stall a €9.5 billion project

28 min

A judicial review filed against the long awaited MetroLink has sparked a backlash from both government and a public fed up with delays. Ministers are treading carefully, defending the right to object while clearly hoping the residents of Dublin's leafiest of leafy suburbs back down. Will this be a short planning skirmish or a defining infrastructure war? Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, and Jane Matthews look at why this case has touched a nerve and what comes next. Also: a shift in tone and policy on migration raises questions about what’s driving the government’s tougher stance. Public pressure or EU alignment? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Simon Harris keeps Finance for himself

29 min

In a move that has raised some eyebrows across Leinster House, Simon Harris has made himself the country's new Minister for Finance. This meant skipping over the entire Fine Gael front bench team in his search to fill the gap left by Paschal Donohoe’s high-profile exit to the World Bank. Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy unpack why Harris did it, and how this could shape the next two years of government. The team also examines what Donohoe’s departure will actually mean for the Fine Gael party, and whether the upcoming by-election means a certain Monk might make another surprise appearance... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The presidential inauguration needs an overhaul

25 min

Catherine Connolly’s first speech as president was careful, critical, calm, with just a few pointed lines that hinted at how she’ll approach the role. But for such a major democratic moment, it felt stilted and oddly empty. Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy examine why the inauguration itself felt so disconnected from the public, in contrast with Connolly's people-first outlook. Also: Fianna Fáil eagerly await Micheál Martin's promised review of the election campaign. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When political training becomes a political problem

27 min

Fianna Fáil’s hiring of Ivan Yates to help prep Jim Gavin for grillings during the presidential election rate has sparked (or perhaps fanned) tensions with Fine Gael. Then there's the broader questions about media transparency and political training (and let's not forget: who Matt Cooper's new podcast co-host will be?). Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy unpack the past few days. Also: Simon Harris poorly timed, vaguely worded remarks on migration were not what the country needed right now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Collison’s tech-bro idea: be a little more Haughey

25 min

John Collison, billionaire Stripe co-founder, lobbed a political bombshell in the direction of Kildare Street with a 2,500-word Irish Times think piece (manifesto, perhaps). Is it a bold vision or simply Silicon Valley naivety? Sinead O’Carroll, Christina Finn, and Rónán Duffy break down the response to Collison’s 'Make Politicians Powerful Again' call, from ministers nodding along to critics pointing out all the things he left out. They also ask: why can Irish governments deliver for the Ryder Cup, but not for housing? What does that say about leadership, blame, and priorities? Also: will we have a new taoiseach this time next week? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A landslide for Connolly - but the story of this election is protest

38 min

Catherine Connolly’s presidential victory was more than decisive (but we're not going to call it stonking because Christine hates that word). In this post-election episode, the team unpack what went so right for Connolly, and but where to even begin about where it went wrong for Heather Humphreys? Between Fine Gael’s incoherent campaign and the truly remarkable scale of spoiled votes, this race was far more revealing that anyone expected. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We sit down with Catherine Connolly

45 min

With just days to go before the public go to the polls, we sit down with presidential candidate Catherine Connolly. She joins Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy in studio for a wide-ranging conversation. We delve into her campaign so far - its origins, its controversies, and its future. We look ahead to after the election, and whether the movement she has built up has the strength to continue. The team also unpicks her views on the role of the media, and look back on her time as a barrister. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can Heather catch Catherine?

37 min

We're turning the corner into the final stretch of the presidential election. Catherine Connolly is pulling ahead in the polls, and it's starting to look a lot like Heather Humphrey's campaign just hasn't landed - and she's running out of time to change that. Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews and Rónán Duffy unpack a (somewhat) turbulent week of resignations and pointed remarks, from the Green Party’s internal backlash to Labour’s at times reluctant support. Is this what unity on the Left really looks like? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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