School SNA row teaches Government a valuable lesson

School SNA row teaches Government a valuable lesson

Author: The Irish Times February 20, 2026 Duration: 47:58

Jack Horgan-Jones and Pat Leahy join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:


·       The sharp criticism that greeted a review of allocation of special needs assistants in schools around the country prompted a hasty retreat by Government. The review has now been paused which should buy the Government some time to soothe tensions.


·       The Government are yet to act on their own voiced concerns around under-16s using social media. The problems arising from children using these platforms has been thoroughly diagnosed, but what will actually be put in place to address them?


·       Ireland’s only directly-elected mayor, Limerick mayor John Moran, is finding it difficult to achieve what he has set out to do in his role, and has questioned whether there is a strategy in place to “create sufficient pressure that I might simply walk away”.


·       The International Protection Bill is quickly working its way through the Dáil to be in place by June, in time for the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum which will take effect then.


·       And splashed across every front page on the planet this week was former British prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor who had been detained by police on suspicion of misconduct in public office.


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


·       A revolt against Microsoft in a small German state (which Hugh fully supports), doyen of the Irish business world Michael Smurfit, and the street sweepers who keep Dhaka in Bangladesh ticking over.

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 the fuel protests meant [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:31
The country is moving on from the protests that dominated the national discussion over Easter, even as what the protests actually meant continues to generate debate.Leo Varadkar poured more fuel on the fire by telling ru…
Another Fianna Fáil heave that wasn’t [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:55
Cormac McQuinn and Pat Leahy join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:· There were renewed questions about the future of Micheál Martin’s leadership in the aftermath of the fuel protests and the resignation…
Healy-Raes' departure caps a terrible week for the Government [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:10
Hugh, Pat and Ellen are joined by columnist Gerard Howlin to talk about a tumultuous day in Leinster House that capped a terrible week for the governing coalition:The Government faced down a confidence challenge, as expe…
The end of the Orbán model [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:36
All agree that the scale of Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán’s defeat in yesterday’s general election is hugely significant, for Hungary, Europe and beyond. But what exactly does the result mean? To find out Hugh ta…
How the Government bungled its response to fuel protests [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:34
Ellen Coyne and Jack Horgan-Jones join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:It was becoming clear towards the end of last week that protests over the price of fuel were coming. But the scale of what has unfo…
Pressure builds on Labour as austerity bites: Collapse, part two [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:00
Inside Politics is coming to Galway in May for a live recording. Get your tickets here.In part two of this three-part series on Labour's harrowing experience in government from 2011 to 2016, Pat Leahy and Hugh Linehan fo…
Collapse: How Labour went from boom to bust [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:16
Inside Politics is coming to Galway in May for a live recording. Get your tickets here.When Labour came to power in 2011 Ireland was in the depths of an economic crisis that had several more years to run. Their coalition…
Is Ireland taking anti-Semitism seriously enough? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:57
Oliver Sears, founder of Holocaust Awareness Ireland, joins Hugh to talk about his growing alarm at the rise of anti-Semitism in Ireland and what he sees as the failure to take it seriously. They discuss whether the poli…