Inside Leinster House: The unspoken rules of a really odd place to work
It’s the country’s most high-profile workplace, but is Leinster House actually designed to get anything done? What does a week in Irish politics actually look like? This week, we examine what life in the Dáil is really like, and the heady mix of routine, power, and pantomime that make it a dysfunctional place to work.Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, and Jane Matthews are joined by someone who is a familiar face on television these days, but was also once a familiar byline on The Journal: Gavan Reilly, political correspondent with Virgin Media News. He pays a visit to the people who taught him everything to share insights from his new book, The Secret Life of Leinster House.Also: why do some politicians not know when to step down? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
--------
38:13
James Browne: struggling with housing, excelling at celebrating the Normans
Minister James Browne has been in the housing hot seat for four months — and with not much to show for it, he's now facing intense criticism. Is it justified, or just a symptom of political impatience with the biggest crisis in government? Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy debate his performance so far and whether he’s being given a fair chance.Also: Should 16-year-olds be allowed to vote? A new Social Democrats bill proposes just that. Why are some ideas like this popular in theory but dead on arrival in Irish politics? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
--------
31:10
The big difference between Keir and Jim on immigration
This week, we look across the Irish Sea to Keir Starmer's decision to lean Labour into much blunter rhetoric around immigration. Back home, a similar policy shift is happening, but behind a much quieter tone. How are both countries are handling political pressure on migration, and is Ireland is heading in the same direction, just with fewer dog whistles?Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Rónán Duffy contrast the differing strategies and look at how language and tone are shaping the conversation.Also: The cost of living crisis won't go away. Can Ireland fix the underlying systemic issues? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
--------
31:42
Ireland has a voice on Gaza, but no real power
Ireland’s position on Israel and Gaza is clearer than ever, with strong condemnation and urgent calls for action. Although the country remains at the forefront of calls for the destruction to end, the actual impact of all this is harder to spot. How can the government be more effective? Or is it too late, and some of its best chances have already passed by? Sinéad O'Carroll, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy look at whether Ireland’s soft power is actually making a difference.The team also assess the government's first 100 days in office, and how in most areas —from childcare to housing — it's making a slow start at home. The new Taoiseach might still be stuck in first gear.... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
--------
35:48
Kneecap get the scrutiny Netanyahu doesn't
Kneecap have never been strangers to controversy, but they have now been pushed firmly into the political spotlight. The Belfast rap group's Coachella protest, resurfaced footage of older live performances, and a call to “urgently clarify” from the Taoiseach have triggered a row that now spans Westminster, the Dáil, and is even making a mark on the other side of the Atlantic. Sinéad O'Carroll, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy unpack the spectacle — and ask why some politicians seem more comfortable focusing on musicians than Gaza.Also: the government’s housing plan is due any day now (we think), and there’s a €430,000 job on offer to help get it over the line. Is a housing czar the radical fix we’ve been waiting for, or a plan to launch and quietly shelve before the summer break? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ireland