Inside Politics / Inside Story

Ellen Coyne and Cormac McQuinn join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics: ·       Catherine Connolly, Heather Humphreys and Jim Gavin got their campaigns into full swing this week as they got out and about to meet voters and give their pitch ahead of voting day on October 25th. And while Connolly made headlines this week when she told a fireside chat with the UCD Politics Society that she believed Germany’s rearmament was like the 1930s, it will be next Monday’s televised debate that will give voters a better idea of each candidate. ·       While the presidential election takes all the attention, it can be easy to forget that Budget 2026 is less than two weeks away. Perhaps Paschal Donohoe and Jack Chambers are enjoying the lack of scrutiny?·       And Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan has not ruled out Ireland using deportation hubs outside EU borders, something that would h

Ellen Coyne and Pat Leahy join Hugh to talk about how independent candidate Maria Steen came close but ultimately failed to secure a nomination to run for the presidency. Why did the coalition that supported her take so long to decisively swing behind her? And what does it mean for the race? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last year The Irish Times Inside Politics podcast released a three-part series looking back at the political rivalry between Charles Haughey and Garret Fitzgerald.That series helped to inspire DCU’s Eoin O’Malley as he set out to write a book on the same subject.Eoin talks to Hugh and Pat about the two men and what he wanted to add to the story: how their perceptions of one another influenced the decisions they made and the kind of leaders they became.Charlie Vs Garret by Eoin O’Malley is published by Eriu.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pat Leahy and Jack Horgan-Jones join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:The nomination process for presidential candidates rumbles on. At the time of recording independent Gareth Sheridan has the best chance, needing two more local councils to back him. A report today looking at Sheridan’s business partner’s links with Russia may not be welcomed by his campaign as councillors around the country weigh up their decision.Meanwhile social conservative Maria Steen is gathering nominations in the Oireachtas. Can she get over the line before next Wednesday’s deadline?Mary Lou McDonald continues to be coy about who will get Sinn Féin’s backing, perhaps enjoying an opportunity to toy with the media. But who will it be - Catherine Connolly, or one of their own?Budget 2026 is drawing near. So far the focus of political debate has been on the withdrawal of one-off payments. It is an issue that cuts through, as Opposition parties well know.Plus the panelists pick their favourite Irish Times pieces of the we

Hugh talks to Michael Brendan Dougherty, senior writer at National Review, about the murder of right wing activist and Christian nationalist Charlie Kirk and the vociferous reaction that has exposed and deepened America's political divides. Michael talks about Kirk's significant influence on young conservatives, the media's portrayal of Kirk before and after his killing and the impact on U.S. political discourse. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leo Varadkar's new memoir promises readers an insight into what the former taoiseach really thought about the monumental events - Covid, Brexit, the housing crisis - that he was centrally involved in. He talks to Hugh Linehan and Irish Times Britain and Ireland editor Mark Hennessy about the book and his life and times in politics. He explains why Eoghan Murphy may have been suited to a government role other than Housing Minister, why he and Phil Hogan still don't speak, why a Covid inquiry still hasn't happened and why the question of reunification may need serious consideration more quickly than we think. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Harry McGee and Cormac McQuinn join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics: ·       The assassination of the conservative activist and influencer Charlie Kirk on stage at a college campus in Utah on Wednesday is the latest chapter in America’s increasingly toxic political climate. A Donald Trump loyalist, Kirk was instrumental in mobilising younger voters during last year’s US presidential race. Unfortunately, the threat of violence is present in Irish politics too, with Tánaiste Simon Harris outspoken on the intimidation and bomb threats directed at him and his family.·       The urgency with which aspiring independent presidential candidates have sought support is ramping up, with ten Oireachtas members now said to have given commitments to conservative campaigner Maria Steen to nominate her to enter the presidential election. Council nominations are also a viable route for independents but one that is

The run-in to October’s presidential election continues to pick up pace this week with the selection of Jim Gavin as Fianna Fáil’s nominee. Jack Horgan-Jones brings us behind the scenes at Fianna Fáil’s special meeting where members had to choose between newcomer Gavin and party stalwart Billy Kelleher. Could the manoeuvring that took place around this vote foreshadow leadership contests to come? Jack, Pat Leahy and Hugh Linehan also discuss Sinn Féin's stance in the presidential race now that Mary Lou McDonald has stated definitively she will not run. Does the party now clearly favour throwing in behind Catherine Connolly? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keir Starmer's Labour government seems to be in big trouble, with opinion polls suggesting the possibility of a dramatic reshaping of British electoral politics in favour of Nigel Farage's Reform UK. The resignation of deputy prime minister Angela Rayner last week has shown yet more Labour weakness for Farage to eagerly exploit. It's all happening against a backdrop of deepening divisions over subjects including immigration, taxation, the economy, Gaza and freedom of speech. London correspondent Mark Paul has been trying to keep up with it all. He talks to Hugh on today's podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ellen Coyne and Cormac McQuinn join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:·       With polling day expected to be October 24th, nominations are now open for the office of president and to close on September 24th.  Another date to keep in mind is next Tuesday September 9th which will see a vote among Fianna Fáil’s 71-strong parliamentary party to select its presidential candidate from former Dublin football manager Jim Gavin and MEP Billy Kelleher. ·       And with nominations closing on September 24th, that leaves just three weeks for Independent candidates, including Gareth Sheridan, Nick Delehanty and Maria Steen, to secure nominations from local authorities. ·       September 20th could be a red-letter day for Sinn Féin. The party will either confirm support for Independent TD Catherine Connolly or select a candidate of their own choosing. Will questions be asked of Mary Lou McDonald if

The absence of a coherent international response to the crises in Gaza and Ukraine has raised questions about what used to be called the international rules-based order. Does it still exist at all, or has the reality of raw military and economic power trumped every other consideration?Against that backdrop, what role, if any, does the United Nations have to play? And what is Ireland's role within the UN?On today's podcast Niall McCann, who recently left the United Nations Development Programme after more than a decade working throughout the UN system in positions in Africa, Europe and the Middle East, talks to Hugh about what he found at the UN, why it isn't working and how he thinks it should be reformed.He also explains why Ireland's standing within the UN is lower than is sometimes suggested. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we bring you a recording of a live episode that took place yesterday in the Mindfield area of Electric Picnic. Hugh talked to Ellen Coyne, Jack Horgan-Jones and Pat Leahy about the meaning of the presidency, the prospects of all the potential candidates and the political calculations being made by the big parties as the race begins. Thanks to everyone who attended and to Electric Picnic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jack Horgan-Jones and Pat Leahy join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics: ·      It seems highly likely that former Dublin football manager Jim Gavin has the blessing of Taoiseach Micheál Martin to seek a nomination to contest the presidential election for Fianna Fáil. Cork MEP Billy Kelleher is also seeking support for a nomination through parliamentary party colleagues. Kelleher is a seasoned and formidable vote-getter, but how would Gavin perform should be find himself on the campaign trail? ·      Catherine Connolly is already well and truly on the campaign trail, with fundraising and volunteer recruitment ramping up. Connolly is very much the anti-establishment candidate, but will she be able to build a vote beyond that?  ·      And Sinn Féin are the missing piece in this presidential race jigsaw – will they put forward their own candidate in the form of Mary Lou McDonald or Pearse

Éamon De Valera died on August 29th, 1975. Fifty years on, the Ireland of today would hardly be recognisable to the revolutionary leader, taoiseach and president who famously extolled the simple virtues, comely maidens and frugal comforts of the traditional Ireland he wished to see. But in many ways, argues Irish Times reporter and historian Ronan McGreevy, we are still living in De Valera's Ireland. He talks to Pat Leahy about Dev's unexpected legacy in Irish politics, society, diplomacy and academia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Harry McGee and Ellen Coyne look back on the week in politics:·       The presidential race is the only show in town with Fine Gael recovering remarkably well from the news last week that Mairead McGuinness was dropping out for health reasons. Within days of that bombshell, Heather Humphreys and Seán Kelly emerged as rivals for the party candidacy, but Humphreys’ momentum and popularity across party lines makes her a strong favourite to win the race for the nomination. ·       And while Fine Gael can count three legitimate potential candidates, Taoiseach Micheál Martin is playing his cards close to his chest with Fianna Fáil yet to put anyone forward. Perhaps former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will eventually get the nod?  ·       Will Sinn Féin throw their support behind Catherine Connolly in the absence of an obvious candidate in their own ranks? Mary Lou McDonald aside of course. Plus, th

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy welcomed Monday’s summit at the White House with US president Donald Trump as a “major step forward” towards ending Europe’s deadliest conflict in 80 years and towards setting up a trilateral meeting with Russia’s president Vladimir Putin and Trump in the coming weeks.The meeting, attended by European leaders as well as Zelenskiy and Trump, resulted in one potentially major win for Ukraine: Trump's suggestion the US could play a role in providing security guarantees for Ukraine in a post-war era.But how reliable is Trump’s support, and what would such security guarantees look like?Eastern Europe correspondent Dan McLaughlin and Europe correspondent Jack Power join Hugh to talk about the details of the discussions and why the path towards any sort of peace deal remains difficult and unpredictable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pat Leahy and Hugh Linehan bring the story of Brian Cowen’s ill-fated 2008-2011 government to its conclusion.Following Cowen’s embarrassing appearance on Morning Ireland in late 2010, many in the country and within his own party gave up on him. For Cowen and Fianna Fáil, the writing was on the wall.But first, the country’s worsening fiscal situation would lead to one of the lowest moments in Ireland’s modern history. The events of November 2010 and the subsequent general election in 2011 would reshape Irish society and politics forever.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The surprise withdrawal from the presidential election race of Fine Gael candidate Mairead McGuinness on health grounds has introduced even more uncertainty to an already unpredictable contest. On today's podcast Ellen Coyne and Cormac McQuinn join Hugh to assess the state of the campaign. Who will Fine Gael choose to replace McGuinness on their ticket? When will Fianna Fáil nominate a candidate? Would Dr Tony Holohan's Covid record be an asset or a liability if he decided to run? Could McGuinness's withdrawal carry downsides for independent candidate Catherine Connolly? And who exactly is Gareth Sheridan? The panel also pick their favourite Irish Times articles of the week, including an emotional preview of Oasis at Croke Park, a review of the pro golfers appearing in Happy Gilmore 2 and a dispatch from a small Welsh town that hit the jackpot. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part two of a three-part series on Brian Cowen’s ill-fated 2008-2011 government, Pat Leahy and Hugh Linehan continue the story.After the fateful 2008 decision to bail out Ireland’s banks, Cowen and his Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan spent the next year struggling to shore up Ireland’s worsening finances.Throughout 2009 and 2010 the mood in the country darkened as recession bit. Spending cuts and tax rises were introduced in a series of hair-shirt budgets.As a result, confidence in the government was already on the floor when Cowen made an infamous appearance on Morning Ireland in September 2009. But what did Cowen actually say in the interview, and what impact did it have?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brian Cowen became Taoiseach in 2008, just as Ireland’s economy was going into free-fall. For the next three years he struggled to lead the country through some of its darkest days, with public opinion quickly souring against him and Fianna Fáil. In a new three-part series from The Irish Times Inside Politics podcast, Hugh Linehan and Pat Leahy look back at how Cowen became Taoiseach and his short, turbulent time in power. The podcast follows his early promise as the heir to an Offaly Fianna Fáil dynasty, through his rise to power and his doomed attempts to fix the banking crisis and the chaotic end of his political career. Parts two and three will be published on Wednesday August 13th and Monday August 18th.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.