Is it possible to have a coherent debate on immigration?

Is it possible to have a coherent debate on immigration?

Author: The Irish Times November 7, 2025 Duration: 48:09

Harry McGee and Cormac McQuinn join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:


·      With renewed criticism from left-wing Opposition leaders of Tánaiste Simon Harris, over remarks he made about migration numbers in Ireland being too high, has it become almost impossible to have an honest discussion around immigration?

 

·      Taoiseach Micheál Martin is currently away at the Cop30 climate summit in Brazil, but the fallout from Fianna Fáil’s disastrous presidential campaign shows little sign of ebbing away. Could a potential heave against the party leader be gathering momentum?  

 

·      Could the controversy surrounding Ivan Yates and his admission that he advised Fianna Fáil's presidential candidate Jim Gavin, and the subsequent conflict of interest that created, all have been avoided if he highlighted it early on in the presidential campaign?

 

·      And Mayor-elect of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, has been branded a ‘commie’, among other things, by US President Donald Trump and various members of the Republican Party, but has Mamdani shown the way forward for politicians mounting an election campaign?


Plus, the panel picks their favourite Irish Times pieces of the week:


·      The annual British search for Irish poppy refuseniks, the $20,000 AI home robot butler, and Westmeath footballer Luke Loughlin on the issue of recreational drug use and the GAA. 

Would you like to receive daily insights into world events delivered to your inbox? Sign up for Denis Staunton's Global Briefing newsletter here: irishtimes.com/newsletters/global-briefing/


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Each week, Irish Times Inside Politics cuts through the noise to bring clarity to the forces shaping Ireland. Guided by host Hugh Linehan, the conversations here go beyond the headlines, offering a deeper, more considered understanding of the political landscape. You’ll hear from the newspaper’s own journalists, who provide grounded insight from the front lines, alongside a range of independent political thinkers and analysts. Occasionally, politicians themselves join the discussion, offering their perspective directly. The result is a nuanced and thoughtful examination of power, policy, and public life that values context over quick reactions. This isn't about partisan soundbites; it's about unpacking the how and why behind the day's debates and long-term shifts. For anyone looking to move past surface-level reporting and grasp the real stories unfolding in Leinster House and beyond, this podcast serves as an essential weekly briefing. The Irish Times brings its tradition of thorough journalism to the audio format, creating a space for analysis that is both accessible and substantive. Tune in for a consistently informed and engaging take on the issues that define the nation's future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Irish Times Inside Politics
Podcast Episodes
What is wrong with Ireland’s housing and planning system? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:54
The government has come under increasing intense criticism of its record on housing, and the sluggishness with which its addressed the need to build more affordable homes.Today on Inside Politics, Hugh Linehan discusses…
How is Catherine Connolly viewed in Europe? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:05
As Catherine Connolly is inaugurated as Ireland’s 10th President on Tuesday, Inside Politics asks how the country’s European partners will be preparing for her presidency.What issues from the Connolly campaign may have r…
How does Micheál Martin quieten dissenting voices in Fianna Fáil? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:29
Ellen Coyne and Naomi O’Leary join Pat Leahy to look back on the week in politics:· In the wake of Catherine Connolly’s emphatic presidential election win, could there now be a legitimate prospect of a left-wing governme…
What would a united Ireland actually involve? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:28
This week’s Inside Politics podcast with Hugh Linehan explores what a united Ireland would actually involve, Irish Times columnist Fintan O’Toole and Belfast Telegraph journalist Sam McBride have written a new book that…
How outspoken will Connolly be as president? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:04
Pat Leahy joins Hugh Linehan for the final episode of Election Daily for this campaign. They look at the impact of Connolly's victory on left-wing politics, wonder if Ireland is about to have a more outspoken president t…
Election Daily: The highs and lows of a strange campaign [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:24
Cormac McQuinn and Jack Horgan Jones join Hugh Linehan to talk about the final day of campaigning before voters go to the polls.They look at how the Connolly campaign has managed to create momentum that sustained her pus…
Election Daily: Will the 'spoil the vote' campaign be felt on Friday? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:04
What does a two-horse race look like in our PR-STV electoral system? What happens when you throw a zombie candidate and a 'spoil your vote' campaign into the mix? And what about turnout? Pat Leahy and Hugh Linehan nerd o…
Election Daily: Who came out on top in the final debate? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:40
The two remaining candidates in the presidential election came into the final televised debate of the campaign needing different things.Well behind in the polls, Heather Humphreys needed to come across convincingly while…