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Irish Times Inside Politics

The Irish Times

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47:50

Was Seán Lemass really Ireland's greatest taoiseach?

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2026/03/25

Seán Lemass is remembered as the man who changed Ireland.Several opinion polls have noted Lemass as the country's most admired taoiseach.He never left any papers of autobiography, but rather twenty-two hours of private interviews.Hugh speaks to Irish Times reporter Ronan McGreevy who has gathered these lost interviews and collated them into a memoir in Lemass's own words.Produced by JJ Vernon and Andrew McNair.Would you like to receive daily insights into world events delivered to your inbox? Sign

41:59

'In the pocket of US multinationals': How is Ireland...

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2026/03/23

Eoin Drea is a senior researcher at the Wilfried Martens Centre, the official think tank of the European People’s Party (of which Fine Gael is a member), and an occasional contributor to the opinion pages of The Irish Times, where he is often critical of Ireland’s approach to Europe.Recently he wrote that “Ireland’s recent hissy fit at not being invited to a pre-EUsummit meeting inBelgiumspeaks volumes as to where Dublin ranks in the minds of our fellow EU members”.On today’s podcast he talks to

30:45

The Taoiseach in the court of the mad king

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2026/03/18

Taoiseach Michel Martin has been meeting US president Donald Trump as part of the annual St Patrick’s Day pageantry.Martin once again faced the challenge of outlining Ireland’s positions on issues from tariffs to wars in Ukraine, Gaza and Iran while maintaining his personal dignity and without antagonising Trump to Ireland's detriment. It was no easy task, with the US president criticising UK prime minister Keir Starmer, attacking Europe on its migration and energy policies and misgendering

54:01

How could Donald Trump have thought war with Iran was...

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2026/03/06

Naomi O’Leary and Cormac McQuinn join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:·After six days of US-Israeli attacks on Iran, the conflict is escalating and has spread to Lebanon which has experienced sustained airstrikes from Israel. Iran has vowed to continue targeting Gulf countries having fired missile and drone attacks into Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. The US has entered into a conflict with no clear focus or potential resolution. Trump’s demands on social media for an

23:22

Why is the US blocking oil imports to Cuba?

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2026/03/04

While the world’s attention is focused on the Middle East, Inside Politics looks at the US sphere of influence on Cuba, which is facing ever tightening economic sanctions.Cuban governments have survived attempts to overthrow it by multiple US administrations going all the way back to Dwight Eisenhower following the revolution led by Fidel Castro in 1959.Over the decades, Cuban governments have managed to survive crippling economic sanctions largely because of its allies in the region, namely

32:44

Is regime change in Iran a realistic possibility?

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2026/03/02

Denis Staunton, author of The Irish Times Global Briefing newsletter on international affairs, joins Hugh to talk about the escalating war in the Middle East. They talk about how Iran gradually lost its status as a regional heavyweight, America's unchecked and unrivalled military power, the shift under Trump to a strategy of decapitation when dealing with enemies, the potential economic fallout from Iran's strikes on Gulf states, potential scenarios for a post-war Iran and Europe's timid response to

53:38

'Sorry' doesn’t seem to be the hardest word for...

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2026/02/27

Ellen Coyne and Cormac McQuinn join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:·In the Dáil on Wednesday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin issued an apology on behalf of the State to survivors of abuse in industrial and reformatory schools. Nobody doubts the sincerity of such apologies, but given the number of them over the years, perhaps their rhetoric should be matched with the practicalities and supports survivors need.·With the Residential Tenancies Bill comes into effect from March 1st, Sinn

54:38

Are we now seeing a grumpy electorate demanding action?

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2026/02/06

Pat Leahy and Ellen Coyne join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:·When it comes to the housing crisis or whether to spend the exchequer surplus, the results from the latest Irish Times/Ipsos B&A poll suggest an electorate that wants to see some action. This is despite Government’s claims that real progress has been made on housing. ·One of the most noteworthy finds of the latest Irish/Ipsos B&A opinion poll is the uptick in Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s approval rating. He is

48:40

Has the EU learned that a tougher line might work...

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2026/01/23

Ellen Coyne and Pat Leahy join Jack Horgan-Jones to look back on the week in politics:·This week saw EU-US relations shift as the near-confrontation over Greenland perhaps showed the best way to handle US President Donald Trump’s demand to take over the Arctic island. The decision by Trump to withdraw the threat of tariffs against eight European countries opposing his plan for Greenland represents a rare climbdown.·Bord Bia chairman Larrry Murrin faced calls from Sinn Féin and the Irish Farmers’

53:09

Can Government actually hold Elon Musk and Grok to...

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2026/01/16

Harry McGee, Ellen Coyne and Mark Paul join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:·The Minister with responsibility for artificial intelligence (AI), Niamh Smyth, met with executives from social media company X on Friday over concerns about their Grok app. The app has been in the headlines because of its ability to produce non-consensual intimate images. Current law bans sharing of intimate images but does not appear to criminalise generating them – what is the Government’s next

22:23

How do Greenlanders feel about Trump's...

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2026/01/12

US president Donald Trump wants to acquire Greenland, asserting strategic and security needs but also a 'psychological need' to take over the vast, frozen island from Denmark. So how do Greenlanders themselves feel about this idea? Derek Scally is in Greenland's capital Nuuk to find out. He talks to Hugh Linehan about a people whose passion for total independence may have been catalysed by Trump's covetousness.Would you like to receive daily insights into world events delivered to your inbox? Sign

34:25

What are the chances of a border poll in the next ten...

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2025/12/31

For part two of our festive ‘Ask Me Anything’ episode Hugh Linehan is joined on today’s Inside Politics podcast by Jack Horgan Jones, Cormac McQuinn and Ellen Coyne. In this round they tackle listener questions on a border poll, citizen’s assemblies and why we keep on calling our country ‘the State’.Thanks to everyone who listened to the podcast in 2025. From all of us on the Inside Politics team we wish you a very happy new year.Would you like to receive daily insights into world events delivered

39:07

Is there any such thing as a political genius? With...

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2025/12/29

This episode was first published in July 2025. You can tell an awful lot about a society by who it labels a genius. You can also learn from who it excludes from that category, who it enables and what it is prepared to tolerate from them. The tortured poet, the rebellious scientist, the monstrous artist, or indeed the tech disruptor.All of these archetypes feature in The Genius Myth, the new book by the journalist, author and podcaster Helen Lewis. She joins Hugh to talk about so-called geniuses,

26:59

Ask us anything: presidential nominations, a Minister...

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2025/12/24

Hugh is joined by Jack Horgan Jones, Cormac McQuinn and Ellen Coyne for part one of our traditional festive AMA. This year listeners asked about the presidential nomination process, the influence of party leaders, the need for a dedicated Minister for Defence and the stability of centrist politics. Wishing all our listeners a very Happy Christmas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

20:38

What do Irish voters really want? Live at the IFI...

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2025/12/22

Dr Kevin Cunningham of TUD is one of Ireland’s most insightful political scientists and pollsters. At the Inside Politics live show in early December he joined Hugh, Pat, Cormac and Ellen on stage at the IFI to talk about Irish voters. What are the issues that really motivate them? Are they driven more by pragmatism or ideology? Today's episode is an excerpt of that conversation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

48:05

Is Simon Harris fit for the role of Minister for...

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2025/11/21

Ellen Coyne and Pat Leahy join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:·As Paschal Donohoe departs for pastures new at the World Bank, will his absence weaken Government? And does Simon Harris possess the right skillset for the role of Minister for Finance? It might not matter if the qualified doctors who have run the Department of Health are anything to go by.·Paschal leaving has led to a Cabinet reshuffle with Fine Gael deputy leader Helen McEntee becoming the first woman to serve as the

57:34

Paschal Donohoe’s last interview

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2025/11/19

In his final interview as an Irish politician before leaving for a new role at the World Bank, Paschal Donohoe talks to Hugh and Pat about his decision to leave politics and his record as Minister for Finance and Minister for Public Expenditure, both roles he has held since 2016. The wide-ranging discussion looks at:The circumstances that have led to Donohoe's departure, including his decision to run again in the 2025 electionThe area "we have really not done well enough" in during his tenureThe

34:10

Donohoe's departure leaves the Government and Fine...

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2025/11/18

After 14 years in Dáil Éireann and a decade in ministerial office, Fine Gael's Paschal Donohoe today announced his resignation. He leaves to take up a senior role at the World Bank in Washington, D.C.Why did Paschal Donohoe decide to go now, and where is he going?How important and consequential was Donohoe, as a politician and a minister? And just how prudent was 'Prudent Paschal'?Where does the move leave Fine Gael and the Government?They also look at the 'mini-reshuffle' precipitated by Donohoe's

47:03

‘A hot mess of uncoordinated gibberish’

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2025/11/14

Harry McGee and Pat Leahy join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:·The inauguration of Ireland’s 10th president in in St Patrick’s Hall, Dublin Castle, on Tuesday, saw Catherine Connolly deliver a stirring address, amid a real testament to the health of democracy in this country, with all sides coming together after an at times brutal election campaign. Perhaps this is something our immediate neighbours and those across the Atlantic could one day emulate.·The Government’s long-awaited

54:54

What is wrong with Ireland’s housing and planning...

Irish Times Inside Politics ·

2025/11/12

The government has come under increasing intense criticism of its record on housing, and the sluggishness with which its addressed the need to build more affordable homes.Today on Inside Politics, Hugh Linehan discusses the issues with the planning and regulatory system that some argue is slowing down the process of boosting housing supply in Ireland.In an essay published in The Irish Times last month, the tech billionaire and founder of Stripe John Collison argued construction, and infrastructure

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