E22: Has the Irish State lost Control?

This week, we're asking for your support. You can do so by subscribing here: https://www.johnandsarah.ie/subscribeWe're doing so for several reasons, but mainly because in the face of ongoing threats to Irish media freedom, we want to grow our offering, reach more people, and get out on the road taking our message to Irish people who don't get to hear alternative views from the state-funded media.This week we discuss those threats to media freedom - but also Simon Harris's fake right turn, Micheál Martin's big conference, and the reverberations from the Russell Brand conviction.Thank you, as ever, for listening.00:00 The week’s agenda01:04 Why we need you to support the podcast06:39 The investigation of TIPP FM and Southeast Radio08:13 How Coimisiún na Meán compares with the BAI11:08 Impartiality and alternative media15:19 Fine Gael’s political identity18:21 Why welfare soundbites suck25:06 Dublin’s summit week31:21 School bomb scares, freezer attacks and cyber resilience36:36 Russell Brand: separating character from trial evidence43:09 Consent, historical allegations and reasonable doubt49:18 A complainant’s rights and a defendant’s robust defence51:02 Brand’s public persona, religion and political celebrity57:07 Why due process matters 58:37 How to support Something Different

www.johnandsarah.ieThis week: Ireland's Fertility Crisis finally hits the news, as Mary McAleese wages war on baptism. Also: Fine Gael are in crisis, say the papers. Trump is in crisis, say the voters. And Lawyers are not in crisis any more.00:00 The week’s headlines and a correction from last episode01:43 Ireland’s falling birth rate and its local consequences03:22 Culture, policy, and the causes of delayed parenthood08:30 How the pregnancy debate shapes attitudes to having children12:27 Child-benefit proposals and incentives for larger families18:11 Mary McAleese, baptism, and parental choice26:23 Religious liberty, circumcision, and Chesterton’s fence29:29 Fine Gael’s centre-right identity and the blocked motion32:47 Simon Harris, NGOs, and political triangulation37:00 Fine Gael’s shifting priorities and lack of a governing plan41:35 What the US midterms say about Trump and voter frustration53:16 The court challenge to legal-aid reforms01:01:00 Listener support and sign-off

www.johnandsarah.ieThis week's episode discusses the case of Kirk Loco - prosecuted (and acquitted) for what appeared to be the offence of spotting a migrant crime. Also Aodhán O'Riordáin dances, FF and FG collapse, and Jen Lawrence gets a new face.00:00 This week’s agenda: Kirk Loco, politics and Halloween01:50 What Coco’s Law covers and why Loco was charged03:32 Garda priorities, the tweet and the bus incident06:31 Newtownmountkennedy and the context behind the post08:46 The court hears passenger testimony and acquits Loco10:04 Was the prosecution a political use of a vague law?16:02 Drug-gang threats and the question of Garda resources20:19 Who is accountable when government fails to act?27:38 Aidan Reardon’s housing video 34:49 Opinion poll numbers and the rise of smaller parties41:47 Cost-of-living frustration and a lack of political ideas42:52 Jennifer Lawrence and the pressure to change your face51:05 Patrick Stewart, Star Trek and the US midterms55:51 Halloween sign-off and fireworks advice for dog owners

www.johnandsarah.ieThis week: We talk about THAT ad, a story John broke on Wednesday. Also, the Tusla Scandal that should bring down the Government. The Triple Lock unlocked. Sinn Fein Charity woes. And Fine Gael at War.00:00 - Opening the week’s big stories and the “don’t hug your granny” backlash02:49 - Why the consent ad used grandparents and why that annoyed so many people04:54 - The “family A, family B” style of cultural signalling in the ad07:58 - Why the campaign went viral and drew international disbelief08:26 - Consent in family life versus state-funded messaging09:52 - Why the hosts say the ad conflates hugging with sexual consent11:09 - Sarah’s argument: the state should not dictate family conversations13:18 - The Irishness, class tone, and age-based disrespect in the ad14:27 - A separate taxpayer-funded trans video and the argument over mockery16:45 - Why the hosts see the ad as part of a wider sneering attitude to older Irish men21:09 - The Tusla case: a 14-year-old girl allegedly being sexually exploited22:06 - Special care, staffing shortages, and why Tusla says it cannot place her23:32 - The judge’s intervention and the failure of political urgency25:41 - Why Sarah says priorities in the state have become badly distorted28:22 - Why John says Tusla is not being overseen properly by the responsible minister29:17 - The old expectation that ministers resign for major failures30:59 - Why this case would once have been a national scandal32:03 - The minimum standard the state should meet for children in care35:37 - What the triple lock is and why the Dáil vote matters36:42 - Sarah’s concerns about broken promises and government trust38:04 - John’s case for letting elected governments make foreign policy decisions41:32 - Neutrality, public sentiment, and why the issue is politically complicated44:06 - Mission creep, referendum promises, and why voters distrust politicians45:16 - Why John thinks the triple lock debate is partly theoretical for Ireland’s current military capacity

www.johnandsarah.ieStrikes shut down the country; Drug gangs burn children alive; Ministers are hospitalised, and the Dáil debates.... Non Binary Rights? In this episode we ask a simple question: Has the state lost control?00:00 - Opening thanks 02:15 - Strike disruption at home, school, and court04:47 - Why the public sector strike feels bigger than a pay dispute10:35 - Free school books, lunches, and the politics of “cupcake” spending18:39 - Why universal state schemes can waste money23:18 - Waterford murder case and the horror of drug debt intimidation30:08 - What the state should do about drug gangs and extortion36:44 - Tatiana Stachiv and welfare fraud across borders45:00 - Ruth Coppinger’s non-binary and intersex recognition bill48:28 - The distinction between non-binary, intersex, and transgender54:02 - Why they see gender recognition law as coercive58:24 - Patrick O’Donovan in intensive care and political fallout61:07 - Closing remarks and best wishes to listeners

www.johnandsarah.ieWith John away following the death of his father, Sarah is joined by her husband Keith Redmond for a lively discussion of Ireland's miserable budget, the rising cost of employing people, the political capture of our institutions, and why The Guardian thinks exercise turns you right-wing.00:00 Introduction and episode overview00:42 Analysis of the Irish budget and its impact on cost of living03:19 Discussion on minimum wage and its economic effects09:00 The influence of government spending and taxes on inflation17:13The political landscape and the march through institutions29:56 The European Parliament's Trump statue controversy50:00 Gender dysphoria treatments for minors and legal challenges54:09 The Guardian article on exercise and political ideology56:57 The anniversary of October 7th and its implications01:00:12 Conclusion and final thoughts

www.johnandsarah.ieThis week: Spiders Terrorise Malahide Woman; Emergency booklets from Helen McEntee; Tusla disaster courtesy of Norma Foley; and Garvaghy Road madness courtesy of... Sinn Fein? The Sports Journos go Feral; and an American Woman is killed twice, but lives.....00:00 Introduction and Weekly Recap00.20 Spider Season04:21 Discussion of the 'Be Emergency Ready' Book08:12 Government Spending and Waste12:12 Case Study: Child Abuse and Tusla Failures14:12 Political Responsibility and Ministerial Accountability19:51 Systemic Failures in Irish Health and Care Systems21:53 Community and Parades Disputes in Northern Ireland29:59 The Role of Media and Public Opinion in Politics36:01 The Politics of Community Relations and Parades42:48 Historical Context of Northern Ireland Parades49:57 The US Justice System and Death Penalty Cases56:55 Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts

www.johnandsarah.ieThis week: Ireland's young people hate life in Ireland, objecting to housing shortages, joblessness, and lots more. We discuss in depth. Also: Ebun Joseph fixes your school; Nick Delehanty closes his business; Holly Cairns gets maternity leave for some reason, and have you heard about the Lesbians in America?00:00 - Episode intro and the week’s big topics02:07 - Why so many young people want to leave Ireland04:16 - Policy choices, housing, and the “liberal progressive society” argument07:47 - The emotional and social cost of young adults being stuck at home10:50 - Why the crisis is bigger than a mood and harder to fix politically14:33 - How collapsed nightlife feeds loneliness and weaker dating culture18:03 - The lockdown effect on teenage social development20:02 - What government could do now, from policing to city-centre culture22:23 - Why fewer risks and fewer nights out change how young people grow up24:51 - Why some people leave temporarily and still plan to come back26:55 - David Higgins and the “milestone recession”28:34 - Nick Delahanty’s business closure and the Irish Times reaction30:09 - The reality of starting and running a small business in Ireland36:02 - Labour’s miscarriage leave proposal and the cost to employers41:41 - Holly Cairns, maternity leave, and political virtue signalling45:32 - Exclusive: the Convention on Education agenda in Sligo47:35 - Who gets to define school culture54:32 - Sunny Hostin and the shocking murder trial anecdote59:03 - A wider point about imported culture-war insanity62:30 - Wrap-up and closing remarks

Sarah's Boob Article: https://www.johnandsarah.ie/p/sarah-ryan-feminists-are-making-titsThis week: The Scandalous Dublin Housing numbers and what to do about them. Also: Trump visits, Ed Sheeran gets cancelled, an athlete poops her pants, and lots of Sydney Sweeney chat.00:00 - Intro01:06 - Listener comment about economics versus wider social issues02:56 - Why Trump’s Ireland visit landed as “non-eventful”06:24 - Dublin housing list data and the scale of non-Irish applicants10:32 - Should Irish citizens be prioritised on council housing lists?15:05 - Opposition parties and the need for a radical housing message18:21 - Tóibín, abortion, and the three-day waiting period20:57 - The case for a cooling-off period before abortion24:22 - Sydney Sweeney ad controversy and the “choice” argument27:25 - Eroticism, explicit content, and why Sweeney stands out32:32 - Athlete controversy after finishing while pooping37:38 - Ed Sheeran, McLemore, and political litmus tests in music40:42 - Why saying the slogan matters more than what people believe46:54 - Michael Healy-Rae assaulted and the issue of political violence52:02 - Dublin city centre disorder and public safety concerns57:35 - Mary Lou McDonald’s makeover and closing reflections

www.johnandsarah.ieThis week, Sinn Fein announced a major U-turn on immigration - but is it real? The AfD shocked Germany. Jack Chambers was compared to Margaret Thatcher. And Trump comes to Ireland on 9/11's 25th anniversary. It's a busy week!00:00 Introduction 02:12 Germany's AFD victory05:01 Irish Reactions to Germany's Election Results07:15 Sinn Fein's Shift on Migration Policy11:31 Irish Political Landscape today16:43 Irish Government Approval Ratings and Public Sentiment21:01 Leadership in Irish Politics and Future Leaders24:57 Global Security Post-9/11 and Societal Changes34:51 Economic Policies and Public Spending in Ireland42:10 Reflections on 9/11 and Its Global Impact55:11 Closing Remarks and Final Thoughts