That interview, Fianna Fáil's review and thorny issues for the Government

That interview, Fianna Fáil's review and thorny issues for the Government

Author: The Irish Times December 12, 2025 Duration: 53:28

Ellen Coyne and Jack Horgan-Jones join Hugh to look back on the week in politics:


  • Next week Fianna Fáil will get the long-awaited review into the circumstances around Jim Gavin's disastrous presidential campaign. Has the wait taken the sting out of the issue for Micheal Martin?


  • The Government is worried about political fallout if it fails to vote against the EU's Mercosur trade deal. It argues that any such vote could be purely symbolic


  • Another thorny issue for the coalition: lengthy waiting lists for assessments of need, the process by which children with additional needs are assigned educational supports. The situation has long been untenable but the proposed solution is also controversial.


  • Hugh addresses some of the many comments that have come in about Wednesday's interview with Eoin Lenihan.


  • Minister Patrick O'Donovan wants Ireland to move ahead of the EU to restrict how younger teenagers access social media.


And finally the panel pick their favourite Irish Times journalism of the week.


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
Kelleher's rousing speech isn't enough to overcome Micheál's man [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:07
The run-in to October’s presidential election continues to pick up pace this week with the selection of Jim Gavin as Fianna Fáil’s nominee. Jack Horgan-Jones brings us behind the scenes at Fianna Fáil’s special meeting w…
Starmer's Labour in disarray as the UK's divisions deepen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:42
Keir Starmer's Labour government seems to be in big trouble, with opinion polls suggesting the possibility of a dramatic reshaping of British electoral politics in favour of Nigel Farage's Reform UK. The resignation of d…
It’s all systems go for this presidential election [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:23
Ellen Coyne and Cormac McQuinn join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:· With polling day expected to be October 24th, nominations are now open for the office of president and to close on September 24th. A…
Does the Presidency matter? Live at Electric Picnic [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:20
Today we bring you a recording of a live episode that took place yesterday in the Mindfield area of Electric Picnic. Hugh talked to Ellen Coyne, Jack Horgan-Jones and Pat Leahy about the meaning of the presidency, the pr…
Does Jim Gavin have what it takes for a presidential campaign? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:20
Jack Horgan-Jones and Pat Leahy join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics: · It seems highly likely that former Dublin football manager Jim Gavin has the blessing of Taoiseach Micheál Martin to seek a nomina…
Are we still living in De Valera's Ireland? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:26
Éamon De Valera died on August 29th, 1975. Fifty years on, the Ireland of today would hardly be recognisable to the revolutionary leader, taoiseach and president who famously extolled the simple virtues, comely maidens a…

«1...678910