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Irish Times Inside Politics

The Irish Times

news & politics

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1:00:48

Leo Varadkar speaks his mind on reunification, Covid,...

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2025/09/15

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

47:40

McGuinness's shock withdrawal throws the presidential...

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2025/08/15

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

58:29

Crash, part two: "we're f*@ked", the dawn of...

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2025/08/13

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. The mood in the country darkened as recession bit. Spending cuts and tax rises were introduced in a series of hair-shirt budgets, and confidence in Cowen's government was already falling

52:35

Crash, part one: Brian Cowen and the unravelling of...

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2025/08/11

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

47:23

Is Dublin one of the most dangerous cities in Europe?...

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2025/08/08

Pat Leahy and Harry McGee join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:·Fox News and its standard of journalism were highlighted during an episode of The Will Cain Show this week that featured media commentator and author Douglas Murray talking about open bordersmigration. During the segment Murray claimed Dublin had gone from being one of the safest cities in Europe to one of its most dangerous. His basis for this was a survey conducted by the Online Betting Guide (OLBG) entitled European

52:04

What lessons does the Irish Boundary Commission hold...

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2025/08/06

In today’s episode, Hugh is joined by historian Dr Cormac Moore to discuss one of the most consequentialbut little-known episodes in modern Irish history: the Irish Boundary Commission. Based on Moore’s new book The Root of All Evil, the conversation explores the hopes, fraught negotiations, and ultimate anticlimax that defined the commission’s work 100 years ago this year.How did a clausein the Anglo-Irish Treaty come to carry the weight of nationalist aspirations and unionist fears? Why did so

50:26

Labour backs Connolly, and Flatley jumps the shark

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2025/08/01

Cormac McQuinn and Jack Horgan-Jones join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:·The Labour Party has backed Independent TD Catherine Connolly’s bid for the Áras. And there is little appetite inSinn FéinforMary Lou McDonaldto run forpresidentas party figures move closer to the idea of also backing Connolly. Elsewhere, presidential hopefulMichael Flatley had to explain why he wasn’t a threat to great white sharks everywhere.·The ongoing debate over the Occupied Territories Bill and

35:12

'Will we live to see a Taoiseach not in Fine Gael or...

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2025/07/30

It's part two of our summer Ask Me Anything, with the panel tackling questions sent to politicspodcast@irishtimes.com by listeners. Hugh, Pat, Jack, Ellen and Cormac address topics from disapora voting rights to the lack of representation of migrant communities in Dáil Eireann, the meaning of populism and the efficiency of government spending. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

33:43

'Why are there no pro-Israel voices in the Dáil?'...

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2025/07/28

It's summer holiday season and that means it's time to open the floor to questions from the Inside Politics audience. Hugh, Pat, Jack, Ellen and Cormac sift through the politicspodcast@irishtimes.com inbox and pick out questions on the presidency, Gaza, the State's struggle to solve complex problems, and more. Thanks for listening to Inside Politics throughout the political year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

40:42

Will Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin abstain from the...

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2025/07/25

Ellen Coyne and Pat Leahy join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:·With Independent TD Catherine Connolly and former MEP Mairead McGuinness having declared their candidacy, there will now be at least two names in the race for the Áras. But with no sign yet of a clear candidate for Fianna Fáil or Sinn Féin, are any of the potential names currently being discussed likely to gain party support?·Fianna Fáil's Niall Collins would be 'very uncomfortable' with a one-size-fits-all approach to

38:36

Do Sinn Féin need to change tack after slump in the...

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2025/07/18

Cormac McQuinn and Jack Horgan-Jones join Pat Leahy to look back on the week in politics:·The latest Irish Times/Ipsos B&A opinion poll shows Sinn Féin on 22 per cent (down four), with Fianna Fáil on 22 per cent (no change) and Fine Gael on 17 per cent (up one). Given just 14% of voters feel Government is successfully tackling the country’s problems, do Sinn Féin need to find a new strategy in order to stimulate support?·One of the most notable findings of the poll is the clear growth potential

39:42

Srebrenica genocide: Why Bosnia is still divided 30...

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2025/07/09

This month marks 30 years since the Srebrenica genocide, when more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys were massacred by Serb forces in Bosnia. In today’s episode, Irish Times Eastern Europe Correspondent Daniel McLaughlin joins Hugh to reflect on his recent visit to eastern Bosnia. They discuss the enduring legacy of the atrocity, how the town is preparing to commemorate the 30th anniversary and the political deadlock that still grips the country. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more

35:27

What's gone wrong for Keir Starmer - and can he get...

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2025/07/07

It is just over a year since Keir Starmer’s Labour Party won a huge majority and took power in London, but Starmer’s political capital is already at a low ebb.It hasn’t all been bad: most noticeably here, he has managed to repair the UK’s relationship with Ireland after the fractious Brexit years. But he has also handled the Trump administration and the EU with skill.It’s at home where he hasn’t done so well. Some notable successes - on reducing NHS waiting times - have been overshadowed by a series

49:01

Could the Israel-Iran war completely destabilise the...

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2025/06/20

Sally Hayden and Harry McGee join Jack Horgan-Jones to look back on the week in politics:·Sally Hayden joins the pod on the line from Beirut where missiles flying overhead have become a fact of daily life despite the ceasefire agreement Lebanon signed with Israel last November. With Israel’s attention now firmly on Iran, the rising death toll and continuing aerial attacks from both sides show no signs of abating. And is the US on the verge of joining Israel’s attack on Iran? What could that mean for

35:51

Opposition smells blood in the water over RPZ changes

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2025/06/18

Ellen Coyne and Jack Horgan-Jones join Harry McGee to talk about the ongoing fallout from the Government's proposed changes to the rights of tenants and landlords. They look at growing criticism of the finer points of the policy. Will the delay in rolling out RPZs to the whole country incentivise landlords to raise rents while they can? Do the new rules effectively prohibit short-term lets in tourism areas? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

42:33

Why Europe needs to realise the truth about America -...

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2025/06/09

Where does Europe fit into the 21st century? Political scientist Professor Helen Thompson returns to the podcast to talk about the big picture for the global economy and international relations in the age of Trump's second term, China's rise and Europe's relative decline. She talks to Hugh about the real significance of America's debt pile, Silicon Valley's shift to Trump, the future of NATO, the growing interest in controlling the Arctic and China's economic and technological rise. And she argues

47:59

Gavan Reilly: The Secret Life of Leinster House

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2025/05/26

Leinster House is more than a place of work - it's a way of life for the politicians and other professionals who spend their days there. Journalist and broadcaster Gavan Reilly has written a book about the inner-workings of our parliament building and its inhabitants. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

35:17

'The people who voted no are expected to go under a...

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2025/05/19

The tenth anniversary of the marriage equality referendum has prompted some reminiscing about how the vote was the first of two pinnacles for progressivism in Ireland, the other being the abortion referendum three years later. For women and members of the LGBT community, the successful campaigns were pivotal moments for an Ireland escaping its oppressive past. But what about those on the losing side? Senator Ronán Mullen, who campaigned for a no vote, joins Hugh and Pat to talk about how those

58:40

Simon Harris: my style of politics is not a problem

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2025/05/12

Simon Harris had a difficult general election campaign as Fine Gael leader and has since faced criticism that he has not learned from mistakes in his new roles as Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs. On today's podcast he tells Jack Horgan-Jones and Hugh Linehan that his style of politics won't change. He also answers questions about policy issues including housing, the Occupied Territories Bill, a proposed levy on streamers like Netflix and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for

37:16

Conclave: why this papal election is the hardest to...

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2025/05/07

The death of Pope Francis has set in train one of the most unique contests in world politics: the Papal conclave. Cardinals will vote again and again until one name achieves a two-thirds majority and becomes pope. Voting is not the conclave's only similarity to secular politics. The prospects of victory for frontrunners Antonio Tagle from the Philippines and currentVaticansecretary of state Pietro Parolin have declined in recent days, thanks to the emergence of negative stories about the two

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