Inside Politics with Hugh Linehan
Episodes
Politics Fails Utterly in Westminster - with Fintan O'Toole & Lisa O'Carroll
13 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Prime Minister Theresa May has failed spectacularly in her bid to pass a Brexit deal through the House of Commons. The Guardian's Brexit correspondent...
Poll: Northern Ireland Is United in Opposition to A Hard Brexit
07 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The second set of results from the Irish Times / Ipsos MRBI poll reveals attitudes to Brexit and Irish unity across the island of Ireland, north and s...
Poll: Support Dips for Varadkar and McDonald
07 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Political Editor Pat Leahy is here with the latest Ipsos / MRBI poll which brings bad news for most political groups but especially for Taoiseach Leo ...
Digestible Truth, The Soc Dems Rift, Unspinnable Brexit - with Peter Foster
06 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
First: Fiach Kelly explains what we've learned from a cache of documents featuring exchanges between Solidarity TD Paul Murphy, his party colleagues a...
Brexit Endgame, Beware The Ides of March, Looking for Ladders
27 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Finally it seems that meaningful moves are being made in Westminster toward some sort of conclusion to the Brexit saga. Denis Staunton and Pat Leahy a...
Brexit in The Desert: Progress, or Another Mirage?
25 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The EU-Arab League summit in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, today has been dominated by talk of Brexit. And it has turned out to be a more eventful day than ...
Ready, Steady, Wait: Fianna Fáil, Brexit and The Next Election
23 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
At the Fianna Fáil ardfheis in City West, everyone, from the regular delegates on up to the party leader Micheál Martin, wants to take the fight to ...
Children's Hospital: Questions Remain / The Politics of Dissident Republicans
20 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Jennifer Bray and Fiach Kelly join presenter Harry McGee to discuss the big political stories this week: the continuing National Children’s Hospital...
A Short History of Brexit - with Kevin O'Rourke
15 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
As a professor of economic history at Oxford University, and an Irishman, Kevin O'Rourke is well placed to explain how the different economic experien...
Children's Hospital 'Learnings', FF-SDLP, Nurses Strike - with Dara Calleary
13 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Amid apologies and ‘learnings’, the row over the massive overspend on the National Children’s Hospital rumbles on. Two big questions remain: Wha...
Life After Brexit: Lives, Livelihoods & Communities At Risk
08 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Simon Carswell has been investigating the potential impact of Brexit on people - their lives, their communities and their businesses. He talks to Hugh...
May's Subtle Backstop Shift / Children's Hospital Blame Game
06 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
First: A subtle but deliberate shift was noted in Theresa May's position on the Brexit backstop during a trip to Belfast yesterday. As the two-day Nor...
Brexit: What is Theresa May's Strategy?
30 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Theresa May has united Tory MPs behind her plan to go to Brussels to seek legally binding changes to the Brexit withdrawal agreement, exploring 'alter...
Deborah Lipstadt on Antisemitism of The Right And Left
25 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Sunday is International Holocaust Remembrance Day and to mark it Hugh talks to academic and author Deborah Lipstadt about her new book Antisemitism He...
Brexit Reality Bites / No Child 2020 with Tanya Ward & Fintan O'Toole
23 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
First: Pat Leahy on the comments yesterday by an EU Commission spokesperson suggesting that a hard border will appear in the case of a no deal Brexit,...
Peadar Tóibín on Building A New Party With 'No Taboo Subjects'
18 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Public meetings to introduce pro-life TD Peadar Tóibín's new, as-yet unnamed political party have been drawing decent crowds around the country in r...
May's Crushing Commons Defeat
16 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan joins Hugh and Pat to consider last night's historic House of Commons defeat for Theresa May's Brexit plan. Has the like...
Nurses Pay: Why Fine Gael Won't Back Down
09 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
As nurses prepare for days of strike action, our politics team consider the problem it poses for Minister Paschal Donohoe and how he is likely to resp...
Repost: Timothy Snyder, Author of "On Tyranny" (November 2017)
04 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today, for the benefit of those who recently discovered Inside Politics, we're reposting a podcast with one of our favourite interviewees: American ...
Ask Us Anything #2
02 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The second of two AMA episodes of Inside Politics. Answering your questions about politics and more are Pat Leahy, Fiach Kelly, Jennifer Bray and Harr...
Ask Us Anything #1
26 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We invited you to submit questions for our politics team and we received a lot of responses, so today is the first of two episodes dedicated to answer...
What We Got Wrong About 2018
19 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
What did The Irish Times politics team expect to see happening in 2018 that failed to materialise? Which politicians impressed us? What disappointed u...
The Transformative Election of 1918
14 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This day 100 years ago, citizens (including, for the first time, women) across the entire island of Ireland voted together for the final time for a na...
May Digs Her Heels In
12 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Today's podcast focusses on Brexit and the Sinn Fein party's fortunes. London Editor Denis Staunton explains why UK Prime Minister Theresa May is unli...
Historic Times in Westminster, Peadar's Party, Paschal's Reprimand
05 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
With Hugh to appraise all this week's political news (including high drama in Westminster, the personalised abortion legislation debate, Peadar Tóibí...
Bill Browder on Putin's Kleptocracy & A "Cold War Against Crime"
30 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
"Putin and his regime are going to become more hostile, malicious and deadly to the rest fo the world, and we need to understand this".Since the murde...
What Really Caused Brexit? With Fintan O'Toole & Professor Helen Thompson
28 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
As we wait for UK parliament to vote on Theresa May's deal, Hugh talks to two people with thought-provoking and divergent ideas about what brought abo...
Abortion Bill Hurdles, Leo's Tax Promise, Brexit Rubber Stamp
21 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Concerns are growing that the Government’s proposed abortion legislation will not pass through the Oireachtas in time for its planned introduction d...
Simon Coveney on Brexit, the DUP & No Deal Contingencies / Leo's Big Tax Cut
17 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
On the floor at the Fine Gael National Conference, the Inside Politics team interviews Tanaiste Simon Coveney about Brexit, what happens if the deal i...
The Audacity of Theresa May
14 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
With a Brexit deal agreed between Britain and the EU, now all eyes turn to Westminster. Will Prime Minister Theresa May be able to bounce her cabinet,...
Michael Lewis on Cronyism in The Trump Administration & The Unsung Virtues of Civil Servants
12 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Author Michael Lewis (Moneyball, The Big Short, The Undoing Project)talks to Hugh about his new book 'The Fifth Risk'. The book concerns the Trump Adm...
Patrick Radden Keefe on Murder, Memory and Denial in Northern Ireland
09 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
New Yorker staff writer Patrick Radden Keefe has written a book about the killing of mother-of-ten Jean McConville by the IRA in 1972. As well as unco...
US Midterms / David McWilliams on The Successes of Centrism & The Property Problem
07 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
First: Washington Correspondent Suzanne Lynch on a night of mixed results for both parties and President Trump in the US Midterms. What message will D...
Martina Fitzgerald on 'Madam Politician', Labour's Next Moves
31 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
RTÉ political correspondent Martina Fitzgerald has written a book about the experiences of the small number of women - 10% of the total - who have sa...
Result Day Special: Higgins's Victory, Casey's Appeal, Sinn Féin's Problem
27 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The official numbers are not yet in but the result is clear. Kitty Holland, Pat Leahy and Fiach Kelly are here to talk about the reelection of Michael...
Tedious, Shallow & Lacklustre: The Final Full Presidential Debate
24 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
There’s still one more live debate left to endure in this presidential campaign, but last night’s on RTÉ’s Prime Time was the final one to feat...
Mary Lou McDonald on Brexit, Border Polls, The Presidency & Frances Fitzgerald
22 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
In this bonus podcast, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald explains why her party is working “might and main” to ensure there is a Brexit backstop...
Fintan O'Toole on The Unfolding Tragedy of Brexit
17 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Could Brexit be "one of those historic circumstances where you end up with something only a hardcore of loopers really wants", asks Fintan O'Toole?Fin...
POLL: Fine Gael Maintain Steady Lead
16 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Pat Leahy joins Hugh to take a look at the latest poll from The Irish Times and Ipsos/MRBI showing Fine Gael enjoy a steady lead over nearest rivals F...
Denis Naughten's Exit & Micheál Martin Plays a Weak Hand Well
12 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Hugh is joined by Pat Leahy for a bonus Friday episode of Inside Politics. On the agenda: - Denis Naughten’s shock resignation as Minister for Commu...
A Social Democratic Budget?
09 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Leo Varadkar won the Fine Gael leadership on a promise of rewarding those who "get up early in the morning". 18 months later his government has delive...
FG Taking Hits as Housing Crisis Intensifies, Budget Business, Pugilistic Peter Casey
05 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Hugh is joined by Fiach Kelly and Harry McGee for a bonus Friday episode of Inside Politics. On the agenda: - It was another terrible week for Housing...
Blood-Red Lines, Brexit Crunch Time, Money in Presidential Politics
03 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The DUP's line on Brexit is "blood red", according to Arlene Foster. Her apocalyptic choice of words might reflect a deep-seated unionist fear of betr...
Senator Lynn Ruane on 'People Like Me', Housing Wars & 'Reverse Snobbery'
26 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Today's guest is Senator Lynn Ruane, the author of an excellent new memoir, who insists there is no such thing as 'reverse snobbery'. Or at least it's...
Housing Activists 'Take Back the City'
19 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
A group of housing activists have been occupying vacant properties in Dublin city centre since early August as part of a protest over the amount of va...
Cash for Ash, CervicalCheck, And Then There Were... Five?
12 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Harry McGee is back on the politics beat and back in the Inside Politics studio to tell us about the political problems created by the CervicalCheck r...
FF and FG Stand-Off, Leo Defends Eoghan, Blimp Incoming
05 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
DCU's Jane Suiter joins Hugh and Pat to talk about the exchange of letters between and Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin on the topic ...
Paschal Donohoe on Social Change, Conservatism & 'The Radical Centre'
03 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Last week, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe gave a talk at the Collins Institute, a Fine Gael-associated think tank in Dublin. The talk was about ...
"Unless we set priorities, nothing is a priority" - The State & Social Housing
29 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Ireland's housing crisis is complex and multifaceted, but one key element that the government must address in seeking a solution to it is the social h...
Craig Unger, 'House of Trump, House of Putin'
25 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Craig Unger's new book, House of Trump, House of Putin: The Untold Story of Donald Trump and the Russian Mafia, analyses links between the Russian maf...
FF-SDLP Merger, Uncharted Waters for Michael D., Papal Visit
22 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week UCD professor Diarmaid Ferriter joins Hugh and Fiach to look at some of the issues currently on the civic and political agenda through the l...
Interview: Cody Keenan, Speechwriter for Barack Obama
17 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Cody Keenan has been a speechwriter for President Barack Obama for more than a decade, rising from a campaign intern in Chicago to Director of Speechw...
Labour's Leadership, Presidential Potentials
15 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
It’s a quiet week on the political front, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing happening. Brendan Howlin’s Labour leadership has come into qu...
Breaking Down a Border Poll
08 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Former Northern Ireland first minister Peter Robinson was criticised for telling the MacGill Summer School last month that he did not think the North ...
Amnesty and "Foreign Money" in Politics / Colm O'Gorman on Pope Francis's Visit
01 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
First we look at the news that broke yesterday that Amnesty International Ireland has won its challenge to an order made by the Standards in Public Of...
Fintan O'Toole on "Pre-Fascism" & The Yeats Test
27 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Fintan O'Toole's recent column about the characteristics of the Trump Administration, entitled 'Trial runs for fascism are in full flow' has found a l...
Different Schools of Thought
25 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Last weekend in Rialto a new event took place: The Danielle Carroll Summer School. Named in honour of a woman who took her own life after her and her ...
Chaos in Westminster, Slow-Moving Sláintecare
18 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Turmoil at Westminster means Ireland’s plans for a ‘no deal’ Brexit have stepped up a gear. The Tories were supposed to unite behind ...
"Women's Life Within the Home", Race for The Áras
11 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This week: Hot on the heels of the #8thRef, the government has scheduled a referendum for October 26th on Article 41.2 of the Constitution. It refers ...
"Freewheeling" Varadkar Attacks the Media
04 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The Taoiseach went off-script in New York yesterday, sympathising with Donald Trump’s views on the media and spoiling an otherwise unremarkable visi...
New Commissioner in Town, Brexit Dawdling & Michael D
27 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The air’s been let out of this week’s EU Summit with no sign of the significant progress on Brexit negotiations that the Irish government had soug...
Interview: James Comey, Former FBI Director
23 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
On June 22nd, the man Hillary Clinton blames for her 2016 presidential election defeat to Donald Trump, the former FBI director James Comey, was in Du...
Prudent Paschal, Leo's Public Image & Sinn Féin's Ard Fheis
20 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Sarah and Fiach join Hugh for a roundup of what has been happening in and around Leinster House this week, with preparations for the 2019 budget well ...
The Separation of Church & State
13 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
As the country moves on from the resounding Yes vote in the referendum to repeal the Eighth amendment and with plans for another referendum on removin...
The Political Landscape after The Referendum
06 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Thousands of women and young people mobilised for the referendum campaign, but will many remain politically active in its aftermath? Sinead Gibney, th...
Referendum Debrief with Una Mullally, Pat Leahy, Jane Suiter & Sarah Bardon
01 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
One final Friday referendum podcast. Columnist Una Mullally and DCU political scientist Jane Suiter join Hugh, Pat and Sarah to debate what really hap...
"A Lot of My Colleagues Didn't Show Leadership" - One Fianna Fáil TD's Blunt Assessment
30 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
It will take a few podcasts to digest the historic referendum results of last weekend. Today we begin by looking at what lies behind the divergence be...
Referendum Special with Kitty Holland, Fintan O'Toole, Sarah Bardon & Pat Leahy
26 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The count is underway but the result is not in doubt. Social Affairs correspondent Kitty Holland, columnist Fintan O'Toole and Sarah Bardon and Pat Le...
Exit Poll: A Landslide for Repeal
25 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The people have voted to repeal the 8th Amendment. But not only that. If the results of The Irish Times exit poll are borne out when the final vote is...
The Story of The 8th with Ruadhán Mac Cormaic (October 2016)
24 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
"One of the most poisonous debates witnessed in twentieth century Ireland" is how historian Diarmaid Ferriter described the run-up to the passing of t...
Debate Drama, Pat v Sarah, Mick Heaney on Referendum Radio
23 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Which side won last night's referendum debate on RTÉ? Pat Leahy sees it as a tie, while Sarah Bardon calls it for Yes. The deciding vote is cast by o...
This Referendum is Different, Leaders Canvass, John Waters Takes A Stand
18 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Sarah, Pat and Harry return for another referendum roundup, including more poll analysis, a look at the nationwide canvass, the campaign activities of...
POLL: A Further Decline in Support for Repeal
17 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Fiach Kelly and Pat Leahy discuss the latest poll from The Irish Times and Ipsos/MRBI that shows a further decline in the number of those responding t...
Referendum Heats Up, The Rural Vote, 'Max Fac' Brexit - with Fianna Fáil's Lisa Chambers
16 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
To discuss the latest news from the 8th Amendment referendum campaign, the division of the Fianna Fáil party on that same issue, and the latest on Br...
Referendum Countdown, Tech Ad Ban Harms #SaveThe8th, More Fact Checking
11 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Liz Carolan of the Transparent Referendum Initiative joins Hugh, Pat and Sarah to talk about the biggest story of the campaign this week: the pulling ...
Facebook, #8th Ref Ads, CervicalCheck & Mandatory Reporting
09 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Transparency campaigner Gavin Sheridan joins Hugh Linehan and Pat Leahy to discuss Facebook's announcement that it will no longer accept foreign adver...
Three Weeks Until Referendum Day
04 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Referendum Day is drawing near, and over the next three weeks The Irish Times politics team will be bringing you extra podcasts on the campaign. What...
CervicalCheck Scandal, More Brexit Fudge, #8thRef - with Minister of State Helen McEntee
02 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Minister of State for European Affairs Helen McEntee talks to Hugh Linehan and Fiach Kelly about another critical period in Brexit negotiations and th...
Interview: Yascha Mounk, Author of "The People Vs. Democracy"
27 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Hugh talks to Harvard University lecturer and Slate columnist Yascha Mounk about his book "The People Vs. Democracy: Why Our Freedom is in Danger and ...
#8thRef, Labour's Hopes, Public Sector Pay, Paschal's Test - with guest Brendan Howlin
25 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Labour leader and former Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin joins Hugh, Sarah and Harry on today's politics podcast. They talk ...
POLL: With Most Minds Made Up, Repeal Maintains Its Lead
20 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
As the referendum campaign intensifies, the latest Irish Times / IpsosMRBI poll is here. 47% of respondents to this poll support repeal of the 8th Ame...
Save the 8th's John McGuirk
18 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Hugh Linehan and Sarah Bardon sit down with John McGuirk of the Save the 8th organisation to talk about some of the key issues, fundraising, conductin...
A Slow Start for Repealers? No, Says Ailbhe Smyth
11 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Co-Director of Together For Yes Ailbhe Smyth joins Pat and Hugh to talk about the campaign so far, the intense fundraising activities of the past few ...
Confidence & Supply, Presidential Election, INM
04 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Sarah Bardon, Fiach Kelly and Hugh Linehan discuss the increased likelihood of a general election in the short term, after comments by Fianna Fáil’...
Coveney Blunders, SCU, How To Win A Sports Grant
28 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
First up today, Hugh, Pat and Harry discuss Tánaiste Simon Coveney's difficult few days, and the disbandment of the ill-fated Strategic Communication...
Weaponised Facebook: It Couldn't Happen Here (Yet)
21 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The Inside Politics team look at the harvesting of Facebook user data to target citizens with news, of both the real and fake varieties, to manipulate...
Taoiseach Talks Trade with Trump
14 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Leo Varadkar meets Donald Trump for the annual St Patrick’s Day White House visit by an Irish leader tomorrow. How will the encounter differ to that...
Referendum Obstacle Cleared & Katy Hayward on Brexit
07 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The Supreme Court has cleared the way for the government to proceed with plans to hold a referendum on the Eighth Amendment, ruling that the unborn ha...
Strategic Communications, Brexit Fudge Hits the Fan
28 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The role of the Strategic Communications Unit has come under the spotlight thanks to this week's controversy over a series of 'advertorials' placed in...
Live: Can The Big Three Parties Learn to Work Together?
24 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
A special live episode of the podcast featuring Minister for Arts Josepha Madigan, Fianna Fáil TD Thomas Byrne and Sinn Féin TD Louise O'Reilly. The...
Michael D's Challengers, FF's Vulture Signalling, Unborn Rights
21 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Michael D Higgins is going to run for a second term. The major parties do not want to put a candidate up against him - but might they have to, for the...
Best Laid National Plans & Impasse Remains in Belfast
14 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The government will unveil two key documents mapping out its plans for Ireland’s future this Friday - the €115bn 10-year Development Plan and the ...
Interview: Former Press Secretary Feargal Purcell
10 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
"Enda didn't get a fair hop from the media".Feargal Purcell served as Enda Kenny's press secretary for six years, and briefly as Leo Varadkar's after ...
Vincent Browne on Gerry Adams, Sinn Féin & the Media's Failures in Reporting The Troubles
07 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
'Gerry Adams: War, Peace and Politics', a new documentary by Vincent Browne, airs tonight and tomorrow night on TV3. The veteran broadcaster and journ...
After A Historic Night, Campaigning Intensifies
31 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The Taoiseach’s statement on Monday night that the Government will propose a referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment and that he would personally ...
Poll: Permit Abortion Up To 12 Weeks? Yes, Say A Clear Majority
26 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Pat Leahy talks to Hugh Linehan about the findings of the latest Irish Times Ipsos/MRBI poll that asked voters for their views on abortion, including ...
Fianna Fáil Divided / Leo's Bank of Mum & Dad
24 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Micheál Martin took his party by surprise with his statement of support on repealing the 8th Amendment last week. Is there now a risk of rebellion in...
Decision Time Nears on 8th, Referendum Battle Lines, Sinn Féin's Growing Pains
17 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
On the question of the 8th Amendment, there remains in Leinster House a good number of fence sittters. The time for them to jump off is drawing near, ...
Fianna Fáil's Prospects, Homelessness, Property Tax & more
10 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Fianna Fáil Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee joins Hugh, Pat and Harry to discuss why, even after recent opinion polls show Fine Gael's support gatherin...
New Year, Old Problems
03 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
As 2017 drew to a close political staff did the traditional round of Christmas interviews with senior politicians. Familiar themes emerged: the extrem...