What to expect from Aughinish Alumina report and the call to ban e-scooters

What to expect from Aughinish Alumina report and the call to ban e-scooters

Author: The Irish Times July 17, 2026 Duration: 39:56

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


  • The Government’s report into Aughinish Alumina is expected to say that material produced there may or may not have been used in Russia’s war machine, citing a lack of evidence either way. Half of the alumina produced in the plant in the first quarter of this year went to Russia, up from 43 per cent last year. Will the Limerick plant’s days be numbered eventually?


  • The calls to ban e-scooters grew louder this week with Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly saying society would be “better off” without them. On Tuesday Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he is “leaning towards” a total ban on e-scooters as the Dáil discussed the issue following incidents resulting in deaths and serious injuries.

 

  • The high cost of deportation flights was laid out in figures supplied by the Department of Justice to the Public Accounts Committee. They showed that the State paid more than €1 million for a single deportation flight when returning 42 adults and children from Ireland to South Africa in June.


  • Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan shows no sign of backing down in the row over legal aid solicitor fees. Now more than 100 solicitors have made it known that they intend to resign from the criminal legal aid panel, with solicitors continuing to refuse to provide advice to suspects detained for questioning in Garda stations.


  • And it is goodbye to Keir Starmer as the UK prime minister defended his record and offered his support to Andy Burnham who succeeds him as Labour party leader.



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: 50

Irish Times Inside Politics
Podcast Episodes
Government stalls on fuel excise duty; politics reacts to M9 tragedy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:33
Inside Politics Live is coming to Cork on September 30th. Get your tickets here. Harry McGee and Jack Horgan-Jones join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:Today the Government announced that it will stall…
Tradwife guidance, truthfulness and 'clever' politics in Limerick [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:32
Jack Horgan-Jones and Ellen Coyne join Hugh to look back on the week in politics:Simon Harris has lobbied the European Commission over the prospect of Ireland's Central Bank once again being responsible for approving Isr…
Dessie Can Do It, part one: the birth of a new political force [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:24
Today Hugh and Pat embark on a deep dive into the history of a political party that, despite its small size, had an enormous and lasting impact on Ireland.Born of the dire economic and political realities of 1980s Irelan…
The spiralling projected cost of the Metrolink brings the NCH to mind [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:37
Ellen Coyne and Jack Horgan-Jones join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:It was revealed this week that the planned Dublin Metrolink could cost up to €19 billion. The last Metrolink estimates from 2022 su…
Could India’s ‘Gen Z’ protests bring down Narendra Modi? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:52
Narendra Modi’s 12 year rule of India has never looked so fragile.Weeks of protests have engulfed the country following the leak of a medical entrance exam paper, which forced nearly two million students to resit the tes…
All signs point to Budget 2027 not having much room to manoeuvre [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:41
Ellen Coyne and Cormac McQuinn join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:Budget season has already started with the Summer Economic Statement pointing to less cash being available for new spending measures i…
Does salesman  Andy Burnham have a product to sell? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:35
Returning to the podcast today is UK political commentator, broadcaster and author Iain Dale to talk to Hugh about the arrival of Andy Burnham as prime minister and the death of Iain's friend Ann Widdecombe. Burnham's ex…