Mooney on Irish Politics

In this 6 minute long episode Derek sets out why the government response was wrong to focus primarily on a security solution to a political problem... a political problem which its own senior members had flagged weeks ahead.

I have revised the opening 5 minutes of this previously published podcast to include clips from that March 2017 interview - after some extra research I found an audio recording of the full interview. see link below.
In this Mooney on Politics podcast episode I consider how Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s stance on Irish unity has shifted since 2017. From promising a detailed white paper and “blueprint” for reunification to today’s emphasis on Shared Island, reconciliation and keeping constitutional questions at arm’s length.
Link to that 2017 interview via YouTube:
Link to print RTÉ March 2017 news report

In this episode I look at Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s unsurprisingly solid Oval Office performance with Donald Trump.
I express regret that opposition parties here took such a overwhelmingly negative stance on his performance. But... even more... I regret that Martin fails to communicate as well on domestic issues as he does when in the White House.
I also ask why, with government satisfaction on the floor, Sinn Féin still isn’t breaking through... and look to the Gerald Barry rule of politics... at some point every opposition leader is the worst ever opposition leader.

In this podcast episode I argue that Fianna Fáil TDs can’t afford to sleepwalk into 2027. Three Taoisigh in one year (2027) would make the party (and government) look ridiculous.
There are several simple truths that must be faced:
Micheál Martin’s time as leader is naturally running out
2026 is the year for renewal, not 2027
Fianna Fáil must decide what it stands for, and who best conveys that
The alternative, the default position is just to continue with Micheál Martin... and wander meekly into the darkness

In this episode I argues for reforming Ireland's Triple Lock military deployment system by updating... not scrapping... multilateral criteria to include UN General Assembly resolutions and regional organisations.
Indeed the whole Triple Lock debate is meaningless without addressing recruitment crises and investment shortfalls of the past decade and a half. Ireland's defence capability crisis was government made... it will not be sorted by Triple Lock three-card-chicanery.
You can read the core script from this podcast on my website.