Inside Politics with Hugh Linehan

Lionel Barber on Putin and how the West should deal with him

16 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As Russia’s brutal assault on Ukraine enters its fourth week, with little sign of an outcome, the question of what an endgame of this war might look...

Helen Thompson, author of Disorder: Hard Times in the 21st Century

11 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In her new book Disorder: Hard Times in the 21st Century, Helen Thompson, a professor of political economy at Cambridge University, gets to grips...

Pearse Doherty on Sinn Féin’s policies, a united Ireland and issues of security and neutrality

09 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sinn Féin finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty joins Hugh and Pat to discuss what his party's priorities and policies would be, if they were to lead t...

Europe's turning point

02 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has brought about enormous changes in European policy in an incredibly short space of time. To discuss how it happened, w...

"Putin can never show any weakness" - Bill Browder on war, sanctions and the outlook for Ukraine

28 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Businessman-turned-campaigner Bill Browder returns to the podcast to talk to Hugh about Russian president Vladimir Putin's actions and motivations, th...

NCWI spat raises interesting questions, Citizens' Assemblies, Sinn Féin's carbon stance

23 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Professor Jane Suiter and political correspondent Harry McGee join Hugh to talk about the week's political stories. The National Women's Council of Ir...

Lea Ypi, author of Free: Coming of Age at the End of History

18 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Academic and author Lea Ypi talks to Hugh about her unique and insightful memoir Free, in which she recalls her youth in Albania under communism, the ...

Covid restrictions, gender-based violence & do we need the Defence Forces?

16 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jennifer Bray and Pat Leahy join Hugh to talk about how a relaxation of the remaining Covid restrictions might play out, the merits of Ireland’s Def...

The lessons of the pandemic - with Fintan O'Toole and Jack Horgan-Jones

09 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The pandemic is not over but the emergency phase of the State's response to it is. So, how did we do? What lessons can be learned from the state's res...

Fiona Hill on Russia, America and ending up in Trump's White House

04 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Fiona Hill is a former White House official who advised presidents Bush, Obama and Trump on European and Russian affairs, and who is perhaps best know...

Politics after the pandemic

02 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Government is still under pressure over the so-called “champagne party” in the Department of Foreign Affairs on the night Ireland was elected ...

Understanding what's happening in Ukraine - with Tom Wright

26 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

To understand the strategy and politics behind Russian president Vladimir Putin's buildup of military might on Ukraine's border and how Ukraine, the U...

Is Boris Johnson on the brink?

19 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Pressure continues to build on UK prime minister Boris Johnson. Denis Staunton has the latest from London. But first Jack Horgan-Jones and Jennifer Br...

Covid calm despite case avalanche, Sipo's intervention, State papers

12 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jennifer Bray and Harry McGee join Hugh to talk about the latest Covid-19 moves being considered by Government, an eye-catching ruling by the Standard...

2022 political preview: Taoiseach rotation, virus mutation and cost inflation

05 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Pat is joined by Kevin Cunnimgham and Ed Brophy to talk about the major trends that could shape politics in 2022. Will the pandemic continue to domina...

Ask us anything 2021 - listener questions answered

29 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Once again you asked and once again we will answer. Jen, Pat and Jack join Hugh to respond to listener queries on everything from the possibility of a...

David Frost's departure, Omicron uncertainties

22 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The resignation of Lord David Frost has introduced a new uncertainty to slowly-progressing talks on the Northern Ireland protocol. EU negotiators woul...

Johnson loses the room, protocol moves, unionists and unity

15 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A rebellion by Tory MPs against Boris Johnson's "Plan B" to suppress the Omicron variant left the PM in the embarrassing position of needing Labour su...

Poll special: How much do we want a United Ireland?

11 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

According to our latest Ipsos MRBI poll, there's a desire for a United Ireland. But when we asked what changes to their lives people would be willing ...

Fresh restrictions breed frustration

08 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We assess the political fallout from the decisions taken over the past few weeks to introduce new Covid-19 restrictions covering international travel,...

The life and legacy of Charles J. Haughey - with professor Gary Murphy

01 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Depending on who you ask, Charles J. Haughey is either the great villain of Irish political life or the benevolent and forward-thinking saviour of a b...

What has Brexit done to Irish-British relations?

24 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Years of being on the opposite side of difficult Brexit negotiations have unarguably damaged Irish-British relations. But how bad is the damage? To fi...

"No clear idea what to do next"

17 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Once again, too many people are getting sick, and there aren't enough hospital beds. The Government is struggling to come up with a convincing plan to...

The UK pulls back from triggering Article 16 - for now

10 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For days now politicians in Ireland and the EU have been expecting UK Brexit negotiator David Frost to trigger Article 16, pausing the Northern Irelan...

Sinn Fein: a party preparing for government

03 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

At Sinn Féin’s ardfheis in Dublin last weekend, a motion in support of the non-jury Special Criminal Court was passed, representing a consider...

Covid, rising energy prices and internal strife spell a difficult winter for the EU - with Naomi O'Leary

27 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Europe correspondent Naomi O'Leary talks to Hugh about the rising Covid numbers in many EU member states, the rising energy prices that are dominating...

Inside ten years as a government advisor - with Ed Brophy

20 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Ed Brophy is a former chief of staff to finance minister Paschal Donohoe and to Labour’s Joan Burton when she was Tánaiste. Recently he stepped awa...

Noam Chomsky: ‘Ireland has robbed poor working people of tens of trillions of dollars’

15 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Author and academic Noam Chomksy talks to Hugh about the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, the morality of Ireland’s tax regime and whether the human ...

Budget 2022: Understanding how key decisions were made

13 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Pat Leahy talks to Seamus Coffey, Jack Horgan-Jones and Cliff Taylor about yesterday's budget and how the last-minute news that our economy has recove...

National Development Plan: to-do list, or wish list?

06 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Government’s 10-year National Development Plan announced this week has been greeted with scepticism in some quarters and criticised by the oppos...

Pre-budget discussions, Mica redress and a divisive pandemic bonus

29 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Pat Leahy, Jennifer Bray and Jack Horgan-Jones from the Irish Times politics team join Hugh to discuss the major considerations for the government ahe...

Germany election special: who will replace Angela Merkel?

22 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Berlin correspondent Derek Scally joins Hugh for a deep dive into the most interesting German federal election in decades, which takes place on Sunday...

Talking about think-ins

15 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

After a turbulent summer break for the coalition, the country’s political parties hunkered down for their respective think-in meetings over the last...

The legacy of ‘Celtic Tiger’ housing - with Eoin Ó Broin

08 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Sinn Féin housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin’s latest book, Defects: Living with the legacy of the Celtic Tiger, tells the stories of some of the t...

A new Dáil term's afoot

01 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hugh is joined by Pat Leahy, Jennifer Bray and Cormac McQuinn from the Irish Times politics team to discuss the Government's roadmap for the easing of...

Empire of Pain - with Patrick Radden Keefe

25 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Patrick Radden Keefe is an American writer and investigative journalist. His new book, Empire of Pain is a detailed history of the Sackler dynasty and...

The Powerful and the Damned - with Lionel Barber

18 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As one of the world's most respected newspaper editors, Lionel Barber spent over a decade at the helm of The Financial Times. His tenure coincided wi...

Aftermath of Zapponegate, a stark climate warning

11 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jack Horgan-Jones and Jennifer Bray join Hugh to assess the damage done by the recent Zappone controversy. Now that the dust has settled, what will it...

Washington Letter: Suzanne Lynch on her time in the US

04 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Suzanne Lynch arrived in the US to take up her new role as Irish Times Washington correspondent ten days after Donald Trump's inauguration. As she pre...

The next phase of the vaccine campaign / Dominic Cummings

28 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week, London Editor Denis Staunton engaged in a brief, yet courteous Twitter exchange with former Downing Street advisor Dominic Cummings. Here h...

End of term AMA special / Des O'Malley

21 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

With the Dáil term drawn to a close, Pat, Harry and Jen join Hugh to answer our listener's questions about politics. But first, Pat recalls the influ...

How Ireland Voted 2020 - with Dr Theresa Reidy

14 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The 2020 election marked the end of an era in Irish politics, with Sinn Féin winning the most votes for the first time ever and the previously domina...

Bacik gives Labour a much-needed good day out

09 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Labour’s Ivana Bacik looked on course to top the poll in the Dublin Bay South byelection since tally figures on Friday morning put her on 30%. She w...

Delta: more tough decisions for Government

07 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Government is coming under increasing pressure from all angles, as it wrestles with the toughest decisions for months on how to manage the pandemi...

What can be learned from byelections?

30 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On Thursday July 8th, voters in Dublin Bay South will cast their votes in a byelection, triggered by the resignation of former Fine Gael TD Eoghan Mur...

Delta threat looms large, a new DUP leader at the helm

23 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The DUP will have its third leader in the space of two months when Jeffrey Donaldson is officially appointed on Saturday. Can he lead the party out of...

Susan McKay on the lives of northern Protestants: "It's a full-blown crisis within Unionism"

16 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

21 years on from her book Northern Protestants: An Unsettled People, Susan McKay revisits the lives of that community in her new book Northern Protest...

Mother and Baby Homes: “The overall picture is not as it should be”

09 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Five months on from the final report of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation, controversy still surrounds the methodology used by the...

Niall Ferguson: We’re obsessed with mass disaster, yet surprised when it happens

04 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Historian Niall Ferguson’s new book 'Doom: The Politics of Catastrophe' offers a sweeping compendium of the many appalling catastrophes that have be...

The race for Dublin Bay South

02 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

With the Dublin Bay South byelection looking likely to take place in early July, Harry McGee and Jennifer Bray join Hugh for a deep-dive on the compet...

Will Sinn Féin lead the next government?

26 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today the team take a look at what role Sinn Féin will play in forming the next government. Although there is a widespread assumption in political ci...

Panic in government as politicians feel the heat over housing

19 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Jennifer Bray, Pat Leahy and Kevin Cunningham join Hugh to talk about how the government is struggling to come up with a coherent response to the hou...

How Not To Be Wrong - with James O’Brien

14 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

British broadcaster and writer James O’Brien has built a loyal listenership on his LBC radio programme, dissecting the opinions of callers live on a...

Housing crisis overtakes Covid as number one priority

12 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The political focus has shifted from the pandemic to the housing crisis, with Taoiseach Micheal Martin this week declaring it the Government’s “nu...

UK election special: Labour's leadership crisis and Scotland's referendum mandate

10 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Denis Staunton talks to Hugh about the results of last Friday's local and regional elections in England, Scotland and Wales. The results have thrown u...

How will global tax reform affect Ireland?

05 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For decades, Ireland has used a low corporation tax rate to attract foreign direct investment. That is now threatened by a major tax reform plan annou...

Foster's exit bodes poorly for north-south relations

30 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What led to Arlene Foster's ouster this week, who will succeed her and what will it mean for politics on the island? To find out we talk to Sam McBri...

Heroes or Zeros? Discussing Ireland's Covid strategy with ISAG's prof Aoife McLysaght

28 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For much of the pandemic, the Independent Scientific Advocacy Group (ISAG) has recommended that Ireland should aggressively suppress virus transmissio...

'Politics on the Couch' - with Rafael Behr

24 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

To what extent can political beliefs and behaviour be understood through the science of psychology and the study of human cognition? In today’s epis...

Should we worry about the deficit? - with David McWilliams

21 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Since coronavirus, governments around the globe have abandoned traditional concerns about deficits and enacted emergency measures in the interest of s...

US politics special with John Dickerson, CBS reporter and author of "The Hardest Job in the World"

16 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

CBS News political reporter, Slate Political Gabfest panelist and proud Irish-American John Dickerson talks to Hugh about the office of President of t...

A very bad week for the Government's Covid-19 policy

14 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Government's Covid-19 policy was dealt a double blow this week, as it was forced to pause the mandatory hotel quarantine system and issues with tw...

Understanding the loyalist grievances that led to violence in Belfast - with Newton Emerson

09 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It's not just Brexit, or the Bobby Storey funeral, or the constant talk of a border poll. Many factors fed into this week's violence and rioting on th...

Quarantine clashes and vaccine targets

07 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The debate surrounding mandatory hotel quarantine rumbles on between government departments, but what are the logistical, legal and diplomatic issues ...

The psychology and the politics behind this week's Covid-19 moves

02 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Behavioral economist Pete Lunn and political correspondent Jennifer Bray join Hugh to talk about the government's major moves in the Covid-19 fight t...

A moment of triumph and peril for the Greens

31 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Last week was a very good one for the Green Party, but you could be forgiven for getting the opposite impression. Today, Hugh and guests spend a littl...

Is free speech under threat?

26 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In his new book Free Speech and Why it Matters, Andrew Doyle questions a new form of social justice activism, which as he puts it, casually disregards...

Vaccine stockpiles, shortfalls and supply issues

24 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The EU is set to tighten export controls in a bid to prevent Covid-19 vaccines leaving the bloc. It comes as Europe looks destined for a showdown with...

Interview: Derek Scally, author of The Best Catholics in the World

22 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s episode Irish Times Berlin correspondent Derek Scally joins Hugh to speak about his brand new book: The Best Catholics in the World. Havi...

Pandemic Politics: Ask Me Anything

17 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s episode, Pat and Jen join Hugh for a special edition of “ask me anything”. From the zero Covid strategy to concerns around global vac...

Monarchies in modern times

12 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Oprah Winfrey’s interview with Prince Harry and his wife Meghan dominated the news headlines all this week. The most watched programme on RTE so far...

Davy in crisis, Ireland’s illegal adoptions, vaccine delays and MHQ

10 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It's just over a week since the Central Bank fined Davy stockbrokers €4.1 million for breaching market rules. On today’s show, Hugh talks to Jack ...

Empire, imperialism and Ireland - with prof Jane Ohlmeyer

05 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

President Michael D Higgins sparked a debate recently with his sharp critique of British imperialism. In a piece for the Guardian, he accused some aca...

Is affordable housing achievable?

03 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In January, the Affordable Housing Bill was published by Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien. The Bill introduces a...

Poll: what is the public's attitude to lifting restrictions?

26 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Political editor Pat Leahy joins Hugh to look at the results of this week's Irish Times / Ipsos MRBI poll on Irish people's attitudes to relaxing Covi...

"The EU needs to look at its own problems" - Clare Daly on civil rights, Russia & life as an MEP

24 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week Harry and Hugh talk to MEP Clare Daly, who since her election as an MEP for Dublin in 2019 has been an outspoken voice in Brussels on the is...

Politics, culture and the centenary of Northern Ireland

18 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Following last week's podcast with professor Brendan O’Leary on the creation of Northern Ireland, today’s show looks at this year’s centenary in...

The centenary of Northern Ireland - with Prof Brendan O'Leary

12 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This year marks the centenary of partition on the island of Ireland. The official commemoration takes place in May, but what were the key political an...

One year on from #GE2020

10 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It may feel like a lifetime ago, but this week marks one year since the 2020 general election. And what an eventful twelve months it’s been. In toda...

Universal basic income: is now the time?

05 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The concept of universal basic income (UBI) - paying everyone a regular, fixed amount of money to ensure a basic standard of living - has moved to th...

The EU's vaccine blunder

03 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Naomi O'Leary on how the EU commission made its biggest blunder in years, combining two incredibly sensitive issues - the vaccine rollout and the Nort...

Debt and taxes after Covid - with Marie Sherlock and Cliff Taylor

29 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe is presiding over a massive expansion of national debt to meet society's needs during this pandemic. Prevailing e...

Covid-19: our losing battle with the travel problem

27 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What to do about the risk of international travel bringing the virus into the country has been a problem for the Irish government since the pandemic b...

An uncomfortable week for Leo Varadkar

22 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week the spotlight has been well and truly on Tánaiste Leo Varadkar following the release of internal Department of Health emails, which provide...

Covid-19: plans to resume special education postponed

20 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

With levels of Covid-19 infection still at an all-time high, the Government failed to get teaching unions on side for a return to school this week for...

Mother and Baby Homes report

15 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Earlier this week the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes published its long-anticipated report. It investigated decades of abuse a...

Covid-19: can our hospitals cope?

13 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

First, Simon Carswell on the wave of Covid-19 patients hitting our hospitals. When will the wave reach its peak, and will the system be able to handle...

Covid-19: was this inevitable?

06 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In our first podcast of the year, Hugh talks to The Irish Times health and political editors, Paul Cullen and Pat Leahy, and political analyst and sta...

AMA 2020, part two: more listener questions answered

30 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It's the second and final instalment of our annual "ask me anything" podcast! Hugh puts your questions, mainly about politics and the media, to Harry,...

AMA 2020, part one: your questions answered

23 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

It's the first instalment of our annual "ask me anything" podcast. Recorded on December 18th. Hugh puts your questions, mainly about politics and the ...

It's Level 5 again

22 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Cabinet has agreed to reimpose Level 5 restrictions, with some modifications, due to the rising numbers of Covid-19 cases. Pat Leahy joins Hugh to tak...

Vaccine rollout, political apologies and a Green divide

16 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week the Irish Government announced details of their national Covid-19 vaccination plan. Vaccines will be rolled out in three phases: an initial ...

Brexit: Another deadline approaches

11 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Following a meeting over dinner this week between Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, it’s clear that very large g...

Brexit: What could scupper a deal?

02 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

With just four weeks until the official end of the Brexit transition period on December 31st, we still don’t know if an agreement will be reached. ...

How to hold a referendum on Irish unity

27 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The potential for a future referendum on Irish unity is explicit in the Good Friday Agreement, if certain circumstances are met. But how would an Iris...

Why talks on the CervicalCheck tribunal have broken down – with Vicky Phelan

25 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The 221-plus group, which represents those affected by the CervicalCheck scandal, has walked away from talks with the Government on a tribunal aimed a...

Trump, Biden and American foreign policy in a changed world - with John Mearsheimer

20 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

President-elect Joe Biden represents a traditional approach to US foreign policy that was rejected by a majority of American voters in 2016. Now Biden...

Takeaway pints and shaky reopening plans

18 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Today Hugh is joined by Pat, Harry and Jen to discuss another not-so-great week for the Government. We hear the latest on the Seamus Woulfe saga, the ...

A vaccine on the horizon: how optimistic should we be?

13 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week Pfizer announced positive early results from its coronavirus vaccine trial, but how optimistic should we be about this breakthrough and how ...

Inside Politics special: the complete story of the Séamus Woulfe affair

11 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The story of Supreme Court Justice Séamus Woulfe's attendance at the infamous Oireachtas Golf Society dinner has already taken many twists and turns....