The Irish Question

Why is Ireland on strike — and is the taxpayer getting value for money?
This week on The Irish Question, Nick Delehanty, Elaine Mullally and Paul Treyvaud debate public-sector pay, trade unions, council performance and whether better pay should come with greater accountability.
We also discuss the confrontation with Ray D’Arcy, politicians’ salaries, court backlogs, RTÉ funding, social housing and the pressures on Ireland’s welfare state. Brendan Courtney’s comments spark a debate about double standards, while Brian Dowling and Arthur’s documentary raises questions about public scrutiny.
Plus: Elaine’s new eyebrows, the hosts’ Instagram follower stats — and Paul’s popularity with older women!
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Welcome to The Irish Question
00:56 Public-sector strikes: pay demands and council performance
05:13 Trade unions, spending priorities and the taxpayer
08:49 The pay dispute: inflation and frontline workers
14:43 Government waste, benchmarking and spending transparency
17:25 The future of unions and working from home during strikes
19:58 Ray D’Arcy: questioning public figures or harassment?
25:51 Should politicians be paid more?
29:49 Elaine’s new eyebrows!
31:05 Instagram follower stats: who’s watching each host?
31:53 Court delays, overcrowded prisons and struggling services
36:21 Patrick O’Donovan, the culture card and RTÉ funding
37:52 The children’s hospital and political accountability
39:08 Ben Scallan, Gript and independent journalism
41:36 Social housing: who should qualify?
44:27 Welfare benefits and the incentive to work
47:56 Britain, France and Ireland’s reliance on corporation tax
51:09 Brendan Courtney’s comments and the double-standards debate
53:08 What is misandry? The Trinity College discussion
55:27 Brian Dowling and Arthur: parenting, surrogacy and public scrutiny
1:00:44 Global instability and emergency preparedness
1:03:38 Final thoughts and thanks to our listeners
Subscribe, share the episode and tell us what you think: should public-sector pay increases be linked to performance?
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Are Ireland’s workers and small businesses paying more—and getting less?
Eddie Punch returns to The Irish Question with Paul Treyvaud, Elaine Mullally and Nick Delehanty for a lively debate about citizenship, the cost of living and Ireland’s political direction.
Recorded ahead of the Budget 2027 announcement, the panel discusses minimum wage increases, employer PRSI, rising business costs and whether government spending is delivering value. Eddie makes the case for lower taxes, a longer-term economic plan and stronger leadership on EU fuel taxes.
Also up for discussion: multilingual housing and election guides, proposed citizenship changes, Garvaghy Road tensions, gender recognition proposals, developments in France and Spain, and Russian plague claims circulating online.
Is Ireland rewarding hard work? Let us know in the comments.
Subscribe to The Irish Question, share the episode and join the debate.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Welcome back, Eddie Punch
01:02 Housing, welfare and multilingual election guides
05:41 Citizenship: should the waiting period increase?
13:32 Garvaghy Road and the United Ireland debate
17:10 Budget 2027: will workers actually be better off?
21:33 Minimum wage, employer PRSI and rising prices
24:55 Eddie Punch: tax, spending and Ireland’s missing strategy
34:26 Why do voters keep backing the same parties?
37:30 Small businesses under pressure—and why Nick closed his
39:17 Gender recognition and political priorities
45:18 France, Spain and Europe’s political divisions
51:55 EU rules, carbon taxes and the cost of energy
58:28 Russian plague claims: concern or hype?
1:01:26 Paul’s closing conspiracy theory and sign-off
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The Irish Question Mini Podcast Series — No. 2Who is being allocated social and affordable housing in Louth?In this episode, Elaine is joined by Fianna Fáil Councillor Shane McGuinness to discuss his request for a breakdown, by nationality, of people allocated social and affordable housing by Louth County Council.We discuss why this information matters, the need for transparency, and how elected councillors can hold the council accountable on behalf of the communities they represent.We also examine the powers of local councillors. Have they lost influence over the decisions affecting their constituents? Where does decision making power now sit and can councillors get the information they need to do their jobs?Shane outlines his efforts to get answers for the people he represents. Whatever our political differences, asking questions and seeking clear, reliable figures is an essential part of public accountability.Watch the conversation and share your thoughts below. Should every council publish a breakdown of housing allocations based on nationality ?Subscribe to The Irish Question for more conversations about the issues affecting Ireland and our communities.#TheIrishQuestion #ElaineMullally #ShaneMcGuinness #SocialHousing #AffordableHousing #Louth #Transparency #LocalGovernment 00:00 Meet Fianna Fáil Councillor Shane03:38 Who Really Controls Planning and Housing?09:45 Who’s Getting Social Housing? The Data Debate14:58 Immigration, Citizenship and Housing Priority20:53 Speaking Out: Would Shane Leave Fianna Fáil?25:38 The Presidential Election and Maria Steen

Is Ireland making it impossible to run a small business—and giving its young people every reason to leave?
Declan Ganley joins Nick Delehanty, Paul Treyvaud and Elaine Mullally for a fiery discussion about the pressure on Irish businesses, the cost of living and the future facing the next generation.
Nick speaks candidly about closing his dog daycare business and responds to The Irish Times’ coverage. The panel debates minimum wage increases, VAT, employer costs and Ireland’s dependence on multinational tax revenues. Declan makes the case for rewarding hard work, entrepreneurship and risk-taking.
Also on the agenda: the Ireland–Israel football controversy, pressure on players, the Garvaghy Road dispute and prospects for a united Ireland. The episode closes with a discussion of the developing RAF Fairford story and the questions surrounding it.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Opening highlights
00:22 Welcome back, Declan Ganley
00:53 Ireland v Israel: should politics dictate sport?
04:02 Declan on political pressure and virtue signalling
10:21 Netanyahu, the UN and separating sport from government
12:58 Garvaghy Road: tensions and a united Ireland
19:45 Declan on reconciliation and common ground
25:50 Viewer support and the cost-of-living debate
27:13 Heating bills, budget promises and rising business costs
31:47 Why small businesses are running out of room
33:40 Nick on closing his business and The Irish Times’ coverage
38:34 Declan: “We need heroic risk taking”
43:27 Media coverage, housing statistics and business pressures
47:00 A message to business owners who are struggling
47:39 Young people, housing and emigration
53:40 Nick: where is Ireland’s vision for the future?
56:42 Rewarding work and giving young people reasons to stay
58:33 Home ownership and the broken social contract
59:22 Final topic: introducing the RAF Fairford story
1:00:05 RAF Fairford: reports, unanswered questions and speculation
1:01:52 Final thoughts and goodbye
What would you change first to make Ireland a better place to build a business, own a home and raise a family? Let us know in the comments.
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Political scientist and author Eoin O’Malley joins Paul Treyvaud, Elaine Mullally and Nick Delehanty for a lively debate about Ireland’s media, political leadership and the issues dividing the country.The panel tackles the Ed Sheeran and Macklemore controversy, the backlash against Robbie Keane, coverage of Dublin’s housing statistics, rising fuel prices and whether carbon taxes are achieving anything.Eoin also discusses Ireland’s leadership problem, the Garda whistleblower controversy involving Helen McEntee, and whether Aontú and Independent Ireland could offer a credible alternative. Plus, a discussion on detransition, political consensus and what young people really think.