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PODCAST

Path to Power

In Path to Power, experienced broadcaster Matt Cooper and guests bring their individual points of view to a lively weekly discussion that sets the agenda and examines all the political and current issues. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

news politics

All Episodes

56:18

How Protest Should Be Done - The Expert’s View

Path to Power ·

2026/04/25

Long-time protest activist Brendan Ogle takes issue with the conduct of the diesel protests and the government’s capitulation to unlicensed protesters. He details his own experiences with the Locomotive Drivers' Association, the Right2Water campaign, and the Apollo House protest against homelessness.PTP+To enjoy early access, ad-free listening and weekly bonus episodes, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.comGet in touch: mail@pathtopowerpodcast.comFollow

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1:01:43

Leo's Rural-Urban Divide

Path to Power ·

2026/04/25

Shane Coleman and Lise Hand join Matt, and they start with the suggested split in the Healy-Rae dynasty. They discuss all the issues related to the rural-urban divide, with particular emphasis on deprivation in urban areas. What would the public reaction be if people living in the inner cities did what the farmers did? Could the protesters bring us towards having an Irish Trump? Is the government, awash with cash, going to be a soft touch to further protests? A debate on the merits of bringing back

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1:01:53

PTP America: J. Edgar Boozer, Pulp Fiction, and a...

Path to Power ·

2026/04/24

As Trump continues his suspension of the assault on Iran, Matt and Marion divert to the case of Kash Patel's sobriety, Pete Hegseth's use of a Pulp Fiction script as scripture, and RFK Jr.'s interest in the penises of raccoons. They discuss the sincerity of Tucker Carlson recanting his support for Trump, and how Marjorie Taylor Greene brings it all back to the Epstein files. Why MAGA is losing faith in the story it believed about the Trump assassination attempt. Trump's Fed nominee, Kevin Warsh and

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1:04:25

Powder keg Politics and Protests

Path to Power ·

2026/04/18

Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and former political correspondent Áine Kerr join Matt to analyse the politics of the past fortnight, dominated by the diesel protests. They look at Jim O’Callaghan’s use of the army, Patrick O’Donovan’s aborted assault on the media, and what the protests tell us about the rural-urban divide. The resignation of Junior Minister Michael Healy-Rae. How the opposition parties behaved during the protests. The Fianna Fáil youthful backbencher revolt. Dáil member behaviour

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55:19

Fuelling the (Ire)land

Path to Power ·

2026/04/11

Driving the protesters off the blocked roads: Brenda Power and John Deasy join Matt to discuss how the government has to confront threatened anarchy. Carbon tax increases debated, and is the future Nuclear? Why objections to IPAS Centres won't be bypassed. Why the Department of Education can't get its budget sums right, the problem with voluntary contributions, and paying teachers appropriately. Also, Mary Lou McDonald's belief that a united Ireland is the pressing political issue, will she campaign

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57:44

Everything Goes Off the Rails

Path to Power ·

2026/04/04

Lise Hand and John Lee join Matt to discuss if the MetroLink project may be derailed by the untimely departure of its boss, Seán Sweeney, and if the government finances become shredded, will MetroLink become a victim again? How the attack on Iran continues to affect the Irish economy and the impact on the government's decision-making. Super saver Simon Harris: What does he want you to do with your money (if you have any)? Is Trump responsible for the increased sales of EV cars? Where would Ireland

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55:35

How Many TDs to Change a Lightbulb?

Path to Power ·

2026/03/28

Danny McConnell and John Lee join Matt and open with a discussion on the proposal to limit the number of TDs. They discuss the 18th delay to the handing over of a National Children's Hospital by BAM. Do we need more Robert Watts running our Civil Service? The politics of excise cuts and fiscal discipline. How can overruns at the Department of Education happen annually? Have they learnt nothing? The impact of Jim O'Callaghan in Justice and who is responsible for increased Garda visibility.Brought to

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1:05:18

The Price Donald Trump Makes Us Pay

Path to Power ·

2026/03/21

Matt is joined by Brendan Ogle and Larry Donnelly to look at Irish reactions to Trump's Iranian assault. They rate and review Micheál Martin's Oval Office visit as much for what it signified as what he said. They discuss whether it is safe for Irish people to go to America, especially for the World Cup. Brendan, a regular visitor to Cuba, explains why we should continue to monitor the situation there while all the tension and focus are on the Middle East. They return home to discuss the many price

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57:48

Micheál Martin's Mission: Impossible

Path to Power ·

2026/03/14

Lise Hand and Shane Coleman join Matt to assess the perilous nature of Micheál Martin's visit to the Oval Office: what sort of Trump will he find, can he safeguard Irish interests, and is it right to be dealing with the increasingly erratic president at all at a time of war? Was Catherine Connolly out of line to make statements about violations of international law, and in doing so, was she putting it up to the government? Lise and Shane disagree vehemently. Matt defends the Moriarty Tribunal from

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52:05

How the Iranian War Impacts Ireland

Path to Power ·

2026/03/07

Brenda Power and John Deasy join Matt to discuss America's assault on Iran and what Ireland's position on it should be. They assess what Micheál Martin should do in Washington the week after next, and how a prolonged war would prompt a cost-of-living crisis. They debate whether the government should be paying for people to return from the Gulf states. They also discuss the Fáilte Ireland attempt to get us all to take more short holiday breaks in Ireland. And they focus on Phil Hogan's bid for a new

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58:18

Sinn Féin Under the Microscope

Path to Power ·

2026/02/28

Matt is joined by John Lee and Danny McConnell to discuss Sinn Féin's prospects in the Dublin Central by-election, its position on Ukraine, Mary Lou McDonald's memories of Brendan 'Bik' McFarlane, and how cost-of-living issues may give SF its strongest opportunity to make a mark on the government politically. Also, rent reforms and house building, Ireland's defence readiness for the EU presidency, and reaction to the Greens victory in the British by-election.Brought to you by The Greenman

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57:29

Children and Babies and Providing for Them

Path to Power ·

2026/02/21

Matt is joined by Áine Kerr and Shane Coleman to discuss the importance of SNAs in our schools and our government's mishandling of potential changes. Why is the government finding it so hard to come up with ways of protecting our children from harmful social media? Outrage at the planning refusal for a new building for the Rotunda Hospital on Parnell Square, is there anything to be said in favour of the planning board's decision? Was Sinn Féin invited to the White House or not before it said it

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1:02:19

Banged Up Abroad

Path to Power ·

2026/02/14

Former Fine Gael TD John Deasy and Irish Daily Mail Columnist Brenda Power join Matt to discuss the wider implications for Irish emigrants to the US of the Seamus Culleton case. Why is Ireland soft on the murderous Iranian Regime? Sinn Féin's positions on Iran and Ukraine assessed. The rise of the Social Democrats: Is it sustainable and at whose expense? Michael Healy Rae and his Airbnb victory. Is the IFA biting off more than it can chew with its Bord Bia campaign? The latest Garda Scandal: Is

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50:11

The Rain Blame Game

Path to Power ·

2026/02/07

Danny McConnell and John Lee examine the consequences of Ireland’s repeated failure to deliver flood defences and critical infrastructure. They ask whether the Social Democrats under Holly Cairns are emerging as a credible alternative to Sinn Féin on the left, assess the runners and riders in the upcoming Dublin by-election, the continued fallout from the government’s ‘incoherent’ stance on Mercosur, and the performance of social media executives at the Oireachtas.Brought to you by The Greenman

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45:46

Get the Fliuch Out of Here

Path to Power ·

2026/01/31

As Storm Chandra wreaked havoc on the country, Shane Coleman and Lise Hand discuss who is really responsible for making sure appropriate weather warnings are given. Fianna Fáil's slump in the polls and the threat to Micheál Martin's leadership. Ivana Bacik's calls for the Taoiseach not to visit the White House on St. Patrick's Day. The soapbox politics of the Bord Bia and Brazilian beef situation. A salute to Mary Robinson and other leading Irish women for St. Brigid's Day. And the resurgence of

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58:17

A Bowl of Shamrock and a Billion Dollars for Trump

Path to Power ·

2026/01/24

As Donald Trump pushes his Board of Peace idea, would it be wise for Ireland to join and if we say no, could the squeeze be put on us? John Deasy and Brenda Power join Matt, and John outlines his personal dealings with the US President during his time as an Irish government envoy. Is Ireland ready for a 'MIGA' movement, and why would the US Ambassador to Ireland go to a fringe conference? Is the Mercosur European Parliament vote something that Trump would have wanted? The Board of Peace: Is it a

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1:09:51

Naughty Micheál, Nudie Grok, & Paschal's Silence

Path to Power ·

2026/01/17

Matt is joined by Danny McConnell and John Lee to unpack the continuing Mercosur fallout inside the government and with the EU. The foreign challenges for Micheál Martin in 2026. All talk but what action about Grok AI? The politics and economics of the data centres. Paschal Donohoe, the World Bank, and the question of an additional €10 million. The merits of politicians reading books. Jim O'Callaghan's immigration crackdown. And the protection of sources by journalists from the courts.Brought to you

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1:04:40

The Guns of January

Path to Power ·

2026/01/10

Brenda Power and Larry Donnelly join Matt for a wide-ranging discussion starting with the Irish government's position on the Mercosur deal. What Micheál Martin was up to in China, and how the Chinese relationship will impact our existing relationships with the US and the EU. Why we need to worry about more people than Trump. What is our government going to do about Elon Musk's Grok and the 'nudification' of photos? Jim O'Callaghan's sneaky and dangerous attack on journalism. Political action on road

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1:02:28

Simon Harris & His Many Opinions

Path to Power ·

2026/01/03

Lise Hand and Shane Coleman join Matt to assess the many newspaper interviews given by Tánaiste and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris over the Christmas period. They discuss the threats to his family's safety, his likely tax and spend position as finance minister, the controversies caused by his comments on homelessness and migration, and his plans for a possible crackdown on social media anonymity. They look at MAGA monster Steve Bannon's threats to establish a political movement in Ireland, and they

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1:01:16

Tally-Ho to 2025 & Tales of Trump

Path to Power ·

2025/12/27

Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and Sinn Féin coalesce to save fox hunting. Danny McConnell and John Lee join Matt to discuss left unity and who Sinn Féin will really end up in government with. Also, what Simon Harris's replacement of Paschal Donohoe in Finance really means. The impact of tariffs and the IDA's success in still attracting investment to Ireland. Will the UK ever rejoin the European Union in a reverse Brexit? And John tells tales of a private dinner in Doonbeg with Donald Trump.Brought to you

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125 results

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