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Path to Power

Matt Cooper
Path to Power
Latest episode

146 episodes

  • Path to Power

    An Orange Republican

    19/09/2026 | 1h 3 mins.
    Lise Hand and Shane Coleman join Matt to discuss the fallout of Donald Trump's visit to Ireland and how he unexpectedly emerged as a United Irelander. They discuss his responsibility for the fuel prices and whether the protesters should blame him rather than our government. They discuss Sinn Féin’s tactics in achieving a United Ireland and why Micheál Martin thinks it’s all ráiméis. In light of Gary Murphy's new biography of Brian Cowan, the trio add their own recollections and assessments. The alleged assault of Michael Healy-Rae and the growing dangers to our politicians. The politics of the Ireland-Israel football game, and whether the government should have stopped it from going ahead (with a nod to Ed Sheeran). And do we just need to get on with the MetroLink no matter what the cost?

    Brought to you by The Greenman Group.

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    Brought to you by The Greenman Group.

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    Get in touch: mail@pathtopowerpodcast.com

    Follow Matt:

    https://twitter.com/cooper_m
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317
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    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • Path to Power

    Budget Dilemmas Shaped by Trump’s Iran War

    12/09/2026 | 54 mins.
    Daniel McConnell and John Lee join Matt to look ahead to the budget and discuss the options and how they will be influenced by the economic upheaval caused by Trump's Iran war. They talk about carbon tax, excise duties on fuel, stamp duty for first-time house buyers, and Harris’ special investment accounts. The politics of the GAA integration row: what was Iar-Uachtarán Mary McAleese playing at, and what role can or should Patrick O'Donovan, the sports minister, take? The extraordinary security operation for Donald Trump's visit, and how President Catherine Connolly is going to have to grin and bear it.

    Brought to you by The Greenman Group.

    PTP+
    To enjoy early access, ad-free listening, and weekly bonus episodes, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.com

    Get in touch: mail@pathtopowerpodcast.com

    Follow Matt:

    https://twitter.com/cooper_m
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317
    https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/
    Brought to you by The Greenman Group.

    PTP+
    To enjoy early access, ad-free listening, and weekly bonus episodes, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.com

    Get in touch: mail@pathtopowerpodcast.com

    Follow Matt:

    https://twitter.com/cooper_m
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317
    https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • Path to Power

    Carbon, Commuting, and Corruption

    05/09/2026 | 58 mins.
    Matt is joined by former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Áine Kerr to discuss carbon taxes, whether they should go up in the budget and whether they should be there at all. They assess the public transport fare hikes and ask will the new buses ever leave the garage? They turn to pay for public-sector workers and wonder how we have reached a situation where there might be strikes. They examine the bad blood between Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and hospital consultants over weekend working. They debate the merits of the Simon Harris Savings and Investment Accounts. They assess President Catherine Connolly’s dilemma when her American counterpart, Donald Trump, comes to visit next weekend. And they ask if the latest grift scandal involving Nigel Farage will really have any impact at all.

    Brought to you by The Greenman Group.

    PTP+
    To enjoy early access, ad-free listening, and weekly bonus episodes, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.com

    Get in touch: mail@pathtopowerpodcast.com

    Follow Matt:

    https://twitter.com/cooper_m
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317
    https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/
    Brought to you by The Greenman Group.

    PTP+
    To enjoy early access, ad-free listening, and weekly bonus episodes, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.com

    Get in touch: mail@pathtopowerpodcast.com

    Follow Matt:

    https://twitter.com/cooper_m
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317
    https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • Path to Power

    Bananas and Nuts

    29/08/2026 | 49 mins.
    British Prime Minister Andy Burnham rules out a United Ireland referendum; John Deasy and Lise Hand join Matt to discuss the Sinn Féin reaction, how happy Taoiseach Micheál Martin is likely to be at the development - given that he recently described the idea of a border poll as driving him bananas - and how much interest there genuinely is amongst Southern Irish voters in the prospects of a referendum. Also, they discuss the Dáil's recall to deal with the issue of excise on fuels and ask whether the deferral will be extended in November. They look at the political implications and reasons for doing this, as well as the budgetary implications.

    Brought to you by The Greenman Group.

    PTP+
    To enjoy early access, ad-free listening, and weekly bonus episodes, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.com

    Get in touch: mail@pathtopowerpodcast.com

    Follow Matt:

    https://twitter.com/cooper_m
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317
    https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/
    Brought to you by The Greenman Group.

    PTP+
    To enjoy early access, ad-free listening, and weekly bonus episodes, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.com

    Get in touch: mail@pathtopowerpodcast.com

    Follow Matt:

    https://twitter.com/cooper_m
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317
    https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
  • Path to Power

    Our Crime and Punishment Crisis

    22/08/2026 | 57 mins.
    Daniel McConnell and John Lee join Matt to discuss the political response to the outrageous and horrific crash on the M9. They focus on Jim O'Callaghan’s pronouncements and the likely implementation of new laws and Garda measures. The Healy-Rae documentary and what it revealed about the extent of the split in the Kerry dynasty. Autumn's political dilemma: how does the government deal with reducing fuel excise duties? And the Fianna Fáil TD objecting to a major new housing development in his constituency.

    Brought to you by The Greenman Group.

    PTP+
    To enjoy early access, ad-free listening and weekly bonus episodes, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.com

    Get in touch: mail@pathtopowerpodcast.com

    Follow Matt:

    https://twitter.com/cooper_m
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317
    https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/
    Brought to you by The Greenman Group.

    PTP+
    To enjoy early access, ad-free listening, and weekly bonus episodes, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.com

    Get in touch: mail@pathtopowerpodcast.com

    Follow Matt:

    https://twitter.com/cooper_m
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317
    https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/
    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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About 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.
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