"After months of rising tensions between Washington and Beijing amid talk of economic decoupling and a new cold war, Joe Biden and Xi Jinping sought in Bali to turn down the heat" wrote Irish Times China Correspondent Denis Staunton about this week's G20 summit. Denis joins Hugh to talk about how the relationship between China and the West is evolving. But first Denis gives his early impressions of life in China, having taken up the role of China Correspondent this autumn. Hosted on Acast. See a...
Nov 16, 2022•39 min
The world’s most powerful media and technology companies use their market power to lock their customers into a relationship they can’t escape, while immiserating the creative people whose work the customers are paying for. Companies like Amazon, Google, Facebook, Spotify, Clear Channel, Live Nation and Ticketmaster have generated enormous revenues for their shareholders while slashing the incomes of writers, journalists and musicians. But it doesn’t have to be this way, say Cory Doctorow and Reb...
Nov 12, 2022•45 min
Jack Horgan-Jones and Pat Leahy join Hugh to look at the week's politics: A Supreme Court ruling creates a headache for Government How a stricken tech sector could change the political landscape Still searching for that Brexit / Protocol "landing spot" Do US midterm results spell the end for Trumpism? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 11, 2022•29 min
In the run up to the US midterm elections, polls and political spectators forecast a landslide for the Republicans, but as the results continue to pour in, a different picture is beginning to emerge. The red wave that was expected on the back of the cost of living crisis, failed to materialise, with the Democrats performing far better than anticipated. To go through the winners and losers so far and to discuss what the results will mean for the Biden administration, Hugh is joined by Washington ...
Nov 09, 2022•32 min
New legislation will give extra protection to members of groups affected by crimes motivated by hatred. But critics say the law will be an unacceptable infringement on freedom of speech. To dig into a thorny subject Hugh talks to speech rights expert Eoin O'Dell, a Fellow and Associate Professor at Trinity College Dublin's School of Law. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 02, 2022•43 min
The latest Irish Times/Ipsos opinion poll shows that despite a strong desire to support Ukraine, 61 per cent of voters are concerned that “too many refugees” are coming here. And more than half of voters also disagree that Ireland should continue to accept refugees from Ukraine “no matter how many arrive”. To discuss this and more of the findings from the poll, including an unexpected rebound in support for the government and a slightly more optimistic outlook for the country in terms of the cos...
Oct 28, 2022•22 min
“Time to look at the big picture; what does it mean for me?” Pat Leahy and Harry McGee join Hugh Linehan on this week’s Inside Politics to discuss Rishi Sunak’s elevation to PM, his appointments to cabinet and what the changes might mean for relations with Ireland. This week saw another heated row between Sinn Fein’s Mary Lou McDonald and the Taoiseach in the Dáil; this time over the Ukrainian accommodation crisis. Plus, after McDonald’s husband, Martin Lanigan, threatened legal proceedings agai...
Oct 26, 2022•38 min
The debacle of Liz Truss's short premiership has cast the entire UK political system into crisis. Not least the system used by the Tory party leadership to select its leader, which is now being accelerated to wrap up within a week. Pat Leahy and Jennifer Bray join Hugh to talk about an extraordinary week and what comes next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 21, 2022•32 min
Many Irish Times readers were talking this week about Fintan O'Toole's column on the subject of the IRA and the appropriateness of chanting "Up the 'Ra'. Hugh talks to Fintan about his column, the debate around the chant and how the history of the Troubles is understood today. Plus, a look at what's happening in Westminster following an extremely turbulent week for prime minister Liz Truss. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Oct 19, 2022•47 min
"A grim agenda" of recession, UK bond crisis and global energy crisis awaits later in today's podcast, so first the team enjoy a relatively light topic: The mini-controversy over Shane Ross's axing from RTÉ radio. The former minister had been due on air to discuss his new biography of Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald. Censorship, or run-of-the-mill editorial decision? Plus: Is a u-turn on the controversial concrete block levy imminent? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informatio...
Oct 12, 2022•42 min
The European Political Community, a new forum for European leaders including wannabe EU members and Brexit Britain, met for the first time yesterday at a summit in Prague. The brainchild of French president Emmanuel Macron, the EPC seems to be going well so far, says political editor Pat Leahy - but what is it actually doing? Plus, how far is the UK really willing to go to secure agreement with the EU on the Northern Ireland protocol? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Oct 07, 2022•20 min
Gerard Howlin, Pat Leahy and Jennifer Bray join Hugh to talk about this week's politics: Who is satisfied or dissatisfied with last week's budget Irish politics and the generational divide The complications that will come with the imminent swapping of jobs between coalition partners Steve Baker's unexpected apology Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 05, 2022•50 min
Follow-up analysis of Budget 2023 including childcare measures and the concrete levy, plus a look at the difficult political choices facing UK prime minister Liz Truss after a week of turmoil on the markets. Pat Leahy talks to Jack Horgan-Jones and Cormac McQuinn. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 30, 2022•26 min
Now that the dust is beginning to settle on Budget 2023, it’s time to pick it all apart. With €11 billion to dish out, it was by all means “a budget day bonanza”, but will it go far enough? Will it work economically or politically and is there more to come? To discuss this and more, this week’s host Pat Leahy is joined by director of TASC Shana Cohen, economics columnist Cliff Taylor and political reporter Jack Horgan-Jones. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Sep 28, 2022•37 min
For a quick catchup on the political news of the week, Harry McGee and Pat Leahy join Hugh Linehan. Topics include: Sinn Féin holds a pre-budget press conference Census in Northern Ireland shows Catholics outnumber Protestants for the first time Government announced its plan for pensions Our panel's favourite reads from the week Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Sep 23, 2022•23 min
Europe correspondent Naomi O'Leary talks to Hugh about forthcoming elections in Italy that look likely to return a government led by the far-right. What will that mean for the rest of Europe? They also discuss the recent victory of the far-right Sweden Democrats and the EU's ongoing dispute with Hungarian PM Viktor Orban. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 21, 2022•40 min
In a new book Kevin Rafter explores how art and artists have been treated by our taoisigh, from W.T. Cosgrave to Micheál Martin, and how those men have been portrayed by artists in turn. The book is a history of the relationships between well-known artists and the taoisigh of their day, such as that between Brendan Behan and Sean Lemass . Kevin Rafter is a professor of political communications at DCU and currently serves as chair of the Arts Council. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mo...
Sep 16, 2022•53 min
Party think-ins have been happening, a cost of living crisis is raging and the Dáil is back today - so there is lots to discuss. Harry McGee and Pat Leahy join Hugh to talk about Sinn Féin's positioning, the cost of living package being prepared by the government, failing to meet climate commitments and the opportunity for Liz Truss to take control presented by the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Sep 14, 2022•41 min
London editor Denis Staunton and political editor Pat Leahy join Hugh to discuss the dawning UK premiership of Liz Truss. How will she govern, and what approach is will she take on the Northern Ireland protocol? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 07, 2022•46 min
Professor Brendan O'Leary returns to the show to talk about his new book Making Sense of a United Ireland, in which he explores the issues around a possible future reunification in an accessible way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 03, 2022•58 min
This winter, thousands of Irish households will be pushed into energy poverty, as the price of oil and gas continues to skyrocket. So, what options do politicians have to protect consumers and what trade-offs will have to be made along the way? On today’s Inside Politics Podcast, Cormac McQuinn and Jack Horgan-Jones join Hugh Linehan to discuss how the government will mitigate the energy crisis over the coming months. They also tackle the other political stories making waves this week including ...
Aug 31, 2022•46 min
On Wednesday Fianna Fáil TD Robert Troy stepped down from his role as Minister of State after weeks of controversy over his failure to properly declare business interests, including rental properties and company directorships. To discuss the affair and what's been learned from it, Hugh is joined by Fintan O'Toole, Jennifer Bray and Pat Leahy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 26, 2022•29 min
Religious belief has declined in Europe, but the strength of people's political views is stronger than ever - or at least, it often seems so online. Has political identity replaced religion in people's lives? British journalist and Atlantic magazine staff writer Helen Lewis explores this question in The Church of Social Justice, a new radio documentary for the BBC. She talks to Hugh about where political identity and religion overlap, the value and limitations of each, and the influence of Ameri...
Aug 24, 2022•38 min
Jack Horgan-Jones and Jennifer Bray emerge from the misty miasma of August political coverage to tell Hugh what's going on in a number of stories: controversies over Fianna Fáil TD and Minister of State Robert Troy's declaration of property interests, problems at An Bord Pleanála, early speculation about potential budget measures and coping with the growing number of Ukrainian refugees in need of accommodation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Aug 17, 2022•46 min
Patrick Radden Keefe is an American writer and investigative journalist. His book Empire of Pain is a detailed history of the Sackler dynasty and their role in the American opioid epidemic. Known for their dedication to cultural philanthropy, the family built their wealth on pharmaceuticals, starting with tranquillisers like Librium and Valium, before eventually moving on to the highly addictive painkiller OxyContin. In this episode, the award-winning author talks to Hugh about the origins of th...
Aug 10, 2022•51 min
"It is not a question of whether, but when and how Ireland will be united", is the provocative opening argument made by author and journalist Frank Connolly in his recent book United Nation: The Case for Integrating Ireland . But he concedes it won't be easy. The book explores the steps that would be necessary in advance of a border poll and the changes that unity would bring, North and South. He talked to Hugh Linehan about his book recently. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more info...
Aug 03, 2022•43 min
Jack Horgan Jones, Jennifer Bray and Pat Leahy join Hugh Linehan, back after a two-month absence, to talk about the week's politics including tension within the the Government coalition over climate measures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 27, 2022•45 min
The Government this week moved swiftly to tighten Ireland's immigration and asylum regime, when it revoked automatic permission to enter Ireland for people granted asylum in other European countries. It comes as the system struggles to deal with the number of refugees arriving each week from Ukraine. Will it make a difference to a system that is in danger of toppling over? And, is it a sign of a greater shake up of Ireland’s immigration policy to come? Also in this episode of The Irish Times Ins...
Jul 20, 2022•44 min
Pat Leahy talks to guest host Mary Minihan about the results of this week's series of Ipsos opinion poll results. Read about the poll here: https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/poll/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 16, 2022•27 min
Jennifer Bray and Cormac McQuinn join Pat Leahy to discuss the confidence debate and vote that the Government handily won yesterday. Plus, a look ahead to the autumn and beyond when Leo Vaaradkar's return to the Taoiseach's office will coincide with a winter of discontent over the cost of living. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 13, 2022•35 min
