John Halligan has a reputation for speaking his mind and on today's Inside Politics podcast he doesn't disappoint. He explains what really happened from his point of view during last years disputes with his Government colleagues. With hospital waiting times back on the agenda, he questions whether the capability exists in Ireland to reform its own health system. He calls for the abolition of the HSE and the appointment of consultants from overseas to put things right.On the Waterford Hospital is...
Jan 04, 2017•51 min
Many people old enough to remember 1986 in Ireland will tell you it was a pretty grim time and place. The economy was in the doldrums and unemployment was high. A referendum to permit divorce was voted down as Hurricane Charlie hit. In January, Phil Lynott died. The state papers from I986, released after the mandatory 30 year waiting period, reveal a country trying to deal with problems at home and in Northern Ireland, and to come to terms with a growing demand for equality and social change. El...
Dec 31, 2016•21 min
What does 2017 hold in store for Ireland and the world? We don't claim to know, but we invited Fintan O'Toole, Una Mullally and Pat Leahy in to discuss some of the possibilities on this final Inside Politics of the unforgettable year of 2016. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 28, 2016•1 hr 8 min
2016 was a good and bad year for reporters. There were plenty of stories to report on, but also plenty of challenges to traditional journalism, old and new: the continuing rise of social media, and its sometimes misleading content; Ireland's strict defamation laws that can stifle in-depth reporting; and difficult economic times for the news business. Irish Times News Editor Mark Hennessy talks to Inside Story about some of those difficulties, recaps some of the newsroom output he is most proud o...
Dec 23, 2016•25 min
It was a “bizarre year in politics” says Irish Times political reporter Sarah Bardon, who found herself with very little to report on some nights in Leinster House, as the minority government argued behind closed doors and not much got done.She joined her colleague Harry McGee and historian Diarmaid Ferriter this morning, to review the year gone by for the Irish Times Inside Politics podcast.The panel discussed opinion polls and the dreadful year they have had, with Harry McGee conceding that po...
Dec 21, 2016•1 hr 5 min
There are 21,000 vacant residences in Dublin City. This weekend activists have felt the need to appropriate an empty office block to house the homeless, as a shortage of housing sends rents soaring. How has it come to this? Our Dublin Correspondent Olivia Kelly has been investigating. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 17, 2016•20 min
To take a look back at a six month period of "new politics" that is now ending with ambitious Minister Coveney's new rental reform package, and with Taoiseach Enda Kenny still firmly at the helm, Political Editor Pat Leahy chatted with his chums Michael O'Regan, Fiach Kelly and Sarah Bardon. Will Coveney's hard work pay dividends of power down the line? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 14, 2016•39 min
When we talk about health and medicine, the immediate problems tend to crowd out the important ones, says our correspondent Paul Cullen. But this weekend he is reporting on a long-term threat that could destroy modern medical practice and jeopardise millions of lives. Antibiotic-resistant "superbugs" are becoming stronger and more prevalent, and are now entrenched in some Irish hospitals. He talked to Hugh Linehan about the story.Tweet about the podcast: @hlinehanIf you like this podcast, help u...
Dec 10, 2016•15 min
Ireland’s continual housing crisis will not be solved unless issues of affordability and security of tenure in the rental sector are addressed, according to a Trinity College academic.New legislation aimed at boosting supply in the housing market is currently going through the Seanad. It allows planning applications for large housing developments of more than 100 homes to be made directly to An Bord Pleanála rather than to local councils and forms part of the government’s “Rebuilding Ireland - A...
Dec 07, 2016•58 min
Will the report of the expert commission on water help bring this vexed issue to a conclusion at long last? Minister Simon Coveney hopes so, but AAA-PBP TD Paul Murphy says "it's not over". They both sat down with Hugh Linhan and Sarah Bardon this morning. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 30, 2016•54 min
How much do we as a society ask of those among us who have dependents in need of round-the-clock care? Last Saturday, The Irish Times published an interview by Rosita Boland with Johanne and Alan Powell, a couple in their 60s facing retirement and still caring for their profoundly disabled daughter, Siobhan, at home in Co Wexford.Exhausted and frustrated after three decades caring for Siobhan, who cannot walk, is nonverbal, does not eat solid food and has only one kidney, for the past three year...
Nov 24, 2016•24 min
Paul Murphy's election at Sinn Féin's expense in the 2014 Tallaght by-election marked the start of a populist "race to the bottom" in Irish politics, says Labour's Alan Kelly on today's Inside Politics podcast. But how can Labour counter this trend and reverse its own electoral fortunes? "Populism is what's foremost in many deputies' minds" says Deputy Kelly. "The only way you can fight that is putting out arguments that are better, real and truthful". With phrases like "support for people who a...
Nov 23, 2016•31 min
The limits of life have shifted dramatically at the National Maternity Hospital on Holles Street in Dublin, where a baby born at 28 weeks now has a 90 per cent chance of survival, while those born at 24 weeks have a 50/50 chance . In the first episode of our new podcast series Inside Story, Conor Pope tells Hugh Linehan about the continuing advances being made in premature natal care and what it means for the parents and families. Conor’s article about Holles Street can be read at http://www.iri...
Nov 18, 2016•15 min
New and old media are themselves in the firing line as liberals point the finger at fake news, Facebook algorithms and social media bubbles to help explain the painful reality of President Donald Trump. David Cochrane, Harry McGee, and Laura Slattery join Hugh Linehan to discuss the trends that are undermining many people's faith in media's ability to present the truth. After that Hugh talks with U.S. journalist and author John B. Judis, who in his timely book The Populist Explosion explains how...
Nov 16, 2016•59 min
Donald Trump has pulled off one of the greatest upsets in political history by beating Hillary Clinton to the White House. How did he do it, and how did the pundits get it so wrong? And what can we expect from the unpredictable president-elect? Hugh Linehan talks to Simon Carswell and Ruadhan Mac Cormaic, who are in New York at the Trump and Clinton HQs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 09, 2016•24 min
On this week's politics podcast, Political Editor Stephen Collins talks to Fiach Kelly about the looming garda strike action and Taoiseach Enda Kenny's all-Ireland Brexit forum. And down at Leinster House, Harry McGee talks to TDs and senators about their experiences of how the press covers them and their activities, how they deal with the growing number of social media trolls and the problem of populism in the Dáil chamber. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Nov 02, 2016•27 min
We face the prospect of the most disruptive period of industrial unrest the country has seen in over a decade. Planned strike actions by teachers and gardaí are expected to sorely test the resilience of recession-era pay agreements. To understand how we got to this point, Industry Correspondent Martin Wall and Education Editor Carl O'Brien join podcast regulars Fiach Kelly and Hugh Linehan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Oct 26, 2016•42 min
Who are the under-represented "squeezed middle" in Ireland and how do they vote? Minister for Finance Michael Noonan defined them as "those earning between €30,000 and €70,000", when in fact the truth is far more complex. To crunch the numbers and get a clearer idea of what the term means, Hugh Linehan is joined by Dr Kevin Cunningham of irelandthinks.ie, economics columnist Chris Johns and political correspondent Sarah Bardon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Oct 19, 2016•42 min
"One of the most poisonous debates witnessed in twentieth century Ireland" is how historian Diarmaid Ferriter described the run-up to the passing of the 8th Amendment in 1983. Against a backdrop of intense political division, moral outrage and conflicting understandings of how a brand new right, that of life to the unborn, would play out in public courts and private lives, the referendum passed with a two to one majority. With the Citizens' Assembly poised to once again examine the abortion ques...
Oct 14, 2016•33 min
Eoghan Murphy of Fine Gael, Dara Calleary of Fianna Fáil and David Cullinane of Sinn Féin are in studio with Pat Leahy and Hugh Linehan to debate the worth of the measures outlined in yesterday's budget. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 12, 2016•40 min
On Tuesday we will find out what is in Paschal Donohoe’s first budget, and possibly Michael Noonan’s last. But, given the fiscal and political realities, hopes are not high for a day of landmark announcements. Pat Leahy and Fiach Kelly join Hugh to discuss what can we expect on Tuesday, where Minister Noonan found an extra €200 million to spend, and what effect this "dog's dinner" of a budget will have on your bottom line and the minority Government's chances of surviving the winter. Hosted on A...
Oct 08, 2016•25 min
The backdrop to Fatherland author Robert Harris' new thriller is the papal enclave, which he calls "the world's most secretive election". He sits down with Hugh to talk about power and populism in modern politics, the passing of Brexit and the rise of Trump - but first he explains the byzantine process of voting in a new Pope. Conclave is available now from Penguin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 05, 2016•29 min
On this installment of Inside Politics, Hugh Linehan is joined by Labour TD for Limerick City Jan O'Sullivan, Political Correspondent Harry McGee and Deputy Political Editor Pat Leahy. With some figures already leaked, is the upcoming budget already being treated as something of a damp squib? The panel discuss it's somewhat populist slant. And how can the Labour Party rebuild it's reputation following a disastrous performance in the general election, Jan O'Sullivan speaks on the party's aims for...
Sep 28, 2016•36 min
After Michael Noonan and Paschal Donohoe deliver their budget in a few weeks' time, which party - Fianna Fáil or Sinn Féin - will stand up to provide the real opposition? Mary Lou McDonald of Sinn Féin and Jim O'Callaghan of Fianna Fáil are in studio to discuss this with Irish Times Deputy Political Editor Pat Leahy and host Hugh Linehan. But first they talk about the claim, made last night on a BBC Spotlight programme, that Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams approved the murder of Denis Donaldson in ...
Sep 21, 2016•52 min
Fintan O'Toole visited Áras an Uachtaráin to interview President Michael D. Higgins this week. They talked about President Higgins' tumultuous upbringing, how poverty influenced his education and outlook, and his views on society, the free market and Europe. In this special episode of Inside Politics, Fintan presents excerpts from their discussion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 17, 2016•17 min
Enda Kenny has rediscovered his Mojo, and along with it his desire to stay on as Taoiseach for the foreseeable future. But not everyone in Fine Gael is happy about that, including TD for Carlow-Kilkenny John Paul Phelan, who joins Fiach Kelly, Sarah Bardon and Hugh Linehan to discuss Fine Gael's leadership on today's Inside Politics Podcast. The panel also discuss the NAMA controversy, rebel Minister of State John Halligan's future in Government and the prospect of a boring Budget. The Inside Po...
Sep 14, 2016•48 min
Inside Politics takes a welcome break from discussing the goings-on inside Leinster House and instead takes a peek inside The Four Courts, courtesy of Ruadhan Mac Cormaic, whose new book "The Supreme Court" is out now. Pat Leahy and barrister Tony McGillycuddy are also in studio to talk about the fascinating history of our highest court. But first Pat gives us an update on the latest political news: Junior Minister John Halligan's apparent threat to resign from Government over services in Waterf...
Sep 07, 2016•45 min
As the dust settles on the EU's historic tax decision, it's becoming clear that the move threatens our economic model, our international reputation and the stability of our current Government. It's not just a thorny technical and political issue to be thrashed out, says Fintan O'Toole - it's an important moment in modern Irish history.Political Correspondent Harry McGee says the Dáil should be recalled to debate the issue before Cabinet makes a decision on whether to appeal - but doesn't think i...
Aug 31, 2016•49 min
Today we broaden our podcast's horizons with a discussion of the challenges facing traditional 'conservative' politics around the world. Jay Cost, a Washington-based pundit with Republican-leaning (but Trump-fearing)magazine The Weekly Standard, explains the fissures within the party that have allowed Trump's rise. We also have Dr Jane Suiter of DCU's school of politics and Eamon Delaney of The Hibernia Forum in studio to talk about the ebbs and flows of conservative thought and practice in Irel...
Aug 17, 2016•1 hr 1 min
