Mary Lou, Mairead and Catherine would be the election we've been waiting for
Mary Lou McDonald is finally sailing us out of the presidential election doldrums... without saying much at all, really. Her non-denial that she would be throwing her hat in the ring has ramped up speculation around her being Sinn Féin's candidate. But could she actually win? And why are all the other parties playing it so coy?Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy look at this continued quiet, cautious election tip-toeing that is continued.Also: could Leo's post-taoiseach persona win over former sceptics? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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36:08
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36:08
The government brought this student fees mess on itself
As Micheál Martin woos Japan with harp performances and pints of Guinness, back home the government is floundering over student fees. Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews and Rónán Duffy dig into the communications mess that’s dominating headlines and angering parents (and is it simply a communications mess, or something more?). Also: what Rachel Reeves’ tears in the UK parliament say about the intensity of media scrutiny brought by the British press. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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29:14
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29:14
How to talk to Trump: call him daddy, apparently
It was already going to be a tense Nato summit, but when the alliance's secretary general referred to Donald Trump as “daddy”, and the White House embraced it, it shifted the tone from awkward diplomacy to something closer to humiliation... but did the move actually work?Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy unpack the daddy text and what it says about Europe’s willingness to placate Trump. They also ask whether the EU’s inability to act on Gaza and its quiet deference to US policy is becoming a liability for the whole project.Also: The cost of living remains high, and the government says it won’t bring back broad supports. Is “targeted help” going to be enough? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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25:39
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25:39
The housing crisis needs a movement, not a moment
Is Ireland on the brink of another wave of public protest, or will it fizzle out, as so often before? Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews and Rónán Duffy explore why movements like water charges and Repeal caught fire, and why complex crises like housing still struggle to spark mass mobilisation. They also examine the blurred line between protest and personal abuse, and what rising tensions mean for political tone.Also: Ursula von der Leyen’s latest comments on Israel spark backlash from Irish MEPs and reignite questions about who the EU really speaks for. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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28:19
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28:19
A long-term bet on housing that renters can’t afford
Anticipation had been growing for months over what the government's new rent plan would deliver. Could it bring about solutions that really help renters and ease the pressure they are under? Could it keep landlords happy at the same time? Housing Minister James Browne rolled out his reform of rent pressure zones yesterday — but what he says it will deliver and what it actually does don't exactly line up.Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy unpack what the new “rent pressure zone for the whole country” actually means, whether it will do anything to help renters in the short term, and why this may be less about impact than impression. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ireland