O’Donovan vs Bakhurst: The Latest RTÉ Fight

Lise Hand and Shane Coleman join Matt to discuss the significance of the two days of international meetings in Dublin and whether they matter to the Irish public. They assess Ireland's support for Ukraine as a neutral nation and a deal in relation to drone technology. The pay deal debated: who is it good and bad for, and can we afford it? Why our housing crisis is partly caused by electricity and water deficiencies, but there’s more: the Government is going to miss its housing target dramatically. Shane bemoans what he feels is our inability and unwillingness to have adult discussions about controversial issues. Why we need more student accommodation and hotels, and rating Catherine Connolly's first year as President. Brought to you by The Greenman Group.PTP+To enjoy early access, ad-free listening, and weekly bonus episodes, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.comGet in touch: [email protected] Matt:https://twitter.com/cooper_mhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Daniel McConnell and John Lee join Matt to talk about private security as well as Gardaí being used to police O'Connell Street and inner-city Dublin. The difficulty in finalising a pay deal for the public service. RTE: Why Ger Gilroy isn’t the real story but still matters. Jim O'Callaghan's dilemma on free legal aid after a High Court slapdown. Simon Harris and Fine Gael's identity on Ard Fheis weekend, and remembering the late Fianna Fáil minister Gerry Collins. Brought to you by The Greenman Group.PTP+To enjoy early access, ad-free listening, and weekly bonus episodes, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.comGet in touch: [email protected] Matt:https://twitter.com/cooper_mhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author and satirist Paul Howard, famous for the Ross O'Carroll-Kelly novels, has a new character: Fiach O'Bric, a civil servant charged with the responsibility for a secret government department preparing for a united Ireland. Matt conducted a live, public interview with Paul to mark the publication of 'A Nation Once Again,' and for those of you who couldn’t be there, here is your opportunity to hear a very entertaining, as well as informative and enlightening conversation.PTP+To enjoy early access, ad-free listening, and weekly bonus episodes, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.comGet in touch: [email protected] Matt:https://twitter.com/cooper_mhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Fine Gael considers a conference motion that it is “too progressive” and needs to reject woke, its former TD John Deasy and Brenda Power join Matt to debate this. With Fine Gael at 15% in the polls, does the party need a fundamental reset in deciding what it is? They assess whether the Budget was a failure in appealing to what the Fine Gael voters really want, and suggest the special savings account has landed to a ‘meh’. They detail Simon Harris’ interactions with Patrick O'Donovan and how the family row is likely to have gone down with the public. They contrast this to the strong positions Jim O'Callaghan is taking against the solicitors and on immigration, and how popular this is making the Minister for Justice. They ponder Micheál Martin's new united Ireland initiative and how much the public in the 26 counties wants to engage. They debate Sinn Féin's Irish language position as part of the immigration debate, a little on Michael D. Higgins and the Triple Lock, and John's US midterm election predictions.Brought to you by The Greenman Group.PTP+To enjoy early access, ad-free listening, and weekly bonus episodes, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.comGet in touch: [email protected] Matt:https://twitter.com/cooper_mhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shane Coleman and Lise Hand discuss Ireland’s failure to tackle climate change, growing opposition to data centres, and our economic dependence on big tech. They examine the global cybersecurity scare that left millions of websites potentially vulnerable to hackers. The heated Dáil row over the Triple Lock and its implications for Irish neutrality. Also, violent protests across Europe and the dangers of political polarisation. And Lise recalls working with Terry Keane and the revelation of her affair with Charlie Haughey, ahead of Matt’s interview with Vincent Browne about his new Haughey biography in this week’s bonus episode.Brought to you by The Greenman Group.PTP+To enjoy early access, ad-free listening, and weekly bonus episodes, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.comGet in touch: [email protected] Matt:https://twitter.com/cooper_mhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and entrepreneur Áine Kerr join Matt to discuss the reasons for, and the impact of, the public sector pay disputes and how inevitably they will get solved, but when and at what price? After Ireland hosts a major conference on AI, Áine and Leo, who both participated, report on what took place and look to Ireland and the EU’s future with AI. In particular, they focus on environmental issues – dirty big data centres – and the impact on jobs. They debate the underfunding of third-level education but differ on who should provide the money to fund the gap. Drumcree/Garvaghy Road “settlement” and the long-term impacts assessed. As the ESRI reports that most immigrants move to affluent areas, Leo offers his assessment of that finding.Brought to you by The Greenman Group.PTP+To enjoy early access, ad-free listening, and weekly bonus episodes, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.comGet in touch: [email protected] Matt:https://twitter.com/cooper_mhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Daniel McConnell and John Lee join Matt on yet another remarkable week for RTÉ, as Media Minister Patrick O'Donovan withholds €20 million of promised funding from the state broadcaster. What can Kevin Bakhurst do at RTÉ about it? Why the rest of the Cabinet can’t believe that O'Donovan has dropped them in this one and overshadowed the Budget. Daniel, John, and Matt also give their assessment of the Budget and the political benefits for Jack Chambers and Simon Harris. Brought to you by The Greenman Group.PTP+To enjoy early access, ad-free listening, and weekly bonus episodes, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.comGet in touch: [email protected] Matt:https://twitter.com/cooper_mhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and entrepreneur Áine Kerr join Matt to reflect on a tumultuous week for Irish football, whether the Israel games should have been cancelled, what practical support we can give to Palestine, whether Ireland is antisemitic, and how all of this is viewed in the USA. They turn to the rights and wrongs of the Drumcree/Garvaghy Road parade and what the consequences are for moving towards a united Ireland. Also, where Ireland and Europe stand on the issues of AI investment and regulation, Ireland’s role in EU defence, and the politics of sports funding.Brought to you by The Greenman Group.PTP+To enjoy early access, ad-free listening, and weekly bonus episodes, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.comGet in touch: [email protected] Matt:https://twitter.com/cooper_mhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Deasy and Brenda Power join Matt to discuss whether prosperous Ireland is a country for young people. They compare emigration now with the nineties and debate whether young people really have reasons to complain. They broaden the discussion to the general levels of unhappiness expressed by the wider population and ask how prevalent this really is. They look at the budgetary implications of dealing with home heating oil prices, energy credits for electricity and gas, and excise on petrol and diesel. They discuss the Public Services Card as a national ID, and John has ideas for Ring doorbells as a national anti-crime resource. Does a rise in public transport fares make any sense? And there is disagreement over whether the Ireland-Israel football internationals should go ahead.Brought to you by The Greenman Group.PTP+To enjoy early access, ad-free listening, and weekly bonus episodes, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.comGet in touch: [email protected] Matt:https://twitter.com/cooper_mhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lise Hand and Shane Coleman join Matt to discuss the fallout of Donald Trump's visit to Ireland and how he unexpectedly emerged as a United Irelander. They discuss his responsibility for the fuel prices and whether the protesters should blame him rather than our government. They discuss Sinn Féin’s tactics in achieving a United Ireland and why Micheál Martin thinks it’s all ráiméis. In light of Gary Murphy's new biography of Brian Cowen, the trio add their own recollections and assessments. The alleged assault of Michael Healy-Rae and the growing dangers to our politicians. The politics of the Ireland-Israel football game, and whether the government should have stopped it from going ahead (with a nod to Ed Sheeran). And do we just need to get on with the MetroLink no matter what the cost?Brought to you by The Greenman Group.PTP+To enjoy early access, ad-free listening, and weekly bonus episodes, sign up at pathtopowerpodcast.comGet in touch: [email protected] Matt:https://twitter.com/cooper_mhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cooper-615a1317https://www.instagram.com/mattcooperlastword/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.