Mooney on Irish Politics

Over the last 12-24 hours we have seen speculation about the continued leadership of Micheál Martin. In this short podcast Derek discusses Martin's solitary skill of keeping alive some hope of he'll depart in 6 - 12 months in order to stay on even longer. He plays a very short term game so he can even further extend his 16 year grip on the leadership.

Fine Gael has published a blueprint for a united Ireland — but what exactly does it propose, why now, and how far is the party prepared to go?In this episode of Mooney on Politics, Derek is joined by Fine Gael Minister of State Neale Richmond TD to examine the party’s unity document and the wider future of centrist politics in Ireland.Neale explains why Fine Gael believes preparation for a possible border poll is now necessary, arguing that Brexit, changing British politics and demographic shifts have altered the political calculation. He sets out the blueprint’s main proposals: a standing constitutional forum, stronger North-South cooperation, moving responsibility for North-South relations to the Department of the Taoiseach, a dedicated Minister of State for North-South relations, and a sovereign wealth fund to prepare for the potential costs of unity.Derek and Neale also discuss whether the centre ground in Irish politics is shrinking or simply becoming more crowded. They consider Sinn Féin’s move towards the mainstream, the Labour / Social Democrats rivalry, the rise of independents, and Fine Gael’s challenge of renewing itself after more than a decade in government. The chat concludes with a look ahead to Simon Harris’s return as Taoiseach, and whether it will bring continuity or a change of government direction.

Is the DUP facing a split? Can Stormont survive the current pressure? And what does unionism make of the Shared Island Unit? In this episode of Mooney on Politics, Derek is joined by Alderman Aaron Callan, a DUP Councillor on Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.They discuss the DUP’s leadership, Michelle O’Neill, unionist unity, the Shared Island Unit, Northern Ireland’s economy, and the Ulster-Scots story in America.

In this episode of the #MooneyOnPolitics podcast, Derek chats with Jamie Mac Giolla Bháin about his book on the remarkable events of Oct 1976, sometimes known as the #ThunderingDisgrace #crisisJamie’s book will be published next week, to coincide with the 50th anniversary. The saga started with the killing of the British Ambassador in Dublin. The then Fine Gael / Labour Party government responded with emergency powers legislation, which the then Irish President Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh, a former senior lawyer and judge, decided to refer to the Irish Supreme Court, to test its constitutionality. This is a presidential prerogative. The Irish government, particularly the Taoiseach, was deeply irritated by his actions. On the night the President signed the legislation into law, after the Supreme Court ruled the Act was constitutional, the provisional IRA murdered a young garda, named Michael Clerkin.Jamie is a relation of Garda Clerkin. Two days after the killing of Garda Clerkin, the Irish Defence Minister, Paddy Donegan, delivered a speech criticising the Irish President, while at an army barracks. He called the President’s actions in referring the legislation a “thundering disgrace”.The minister subsequently apologised for his comments, but the Taoiseach, Liam Cosgrave refused his resignation, though his comments had been made to an audience of defence personnel whose commander-in-chief was the president.

In this episode of Mooney on Politics, Derek Mooney speaks to Wexford councillor, Michael Sheehan about his decision to leave Fianna Fáil after 25 years and to join Independent Ireland.They discuss Michael’s political career, his new role as Independent Ireland’s spokesperson on finance and enterprise and the challenges of operating outside the Oireachtas.With the Budget less than a week away the conversation also examines the cost of living, government spending, USC, inheritance tax, housing, food and energy prices, and what Michael expects from the forthcoming Budget. They look ahead to the 2029 general election and Independent Ireland’s ambition to expand nationally... and Michael's experience of working in American politics.

President Donald Trump's comments on backing Unity have turbo-charged the debate, while Taoiseach Micheál Martin's desire to slow that discussion down (while having a go at Sinn Féin) has resulted in the Scottish and Welsh First Ministers becoming Dublin's collateral damage. Not his finest hour.

In this episode of the upcoming Mooney on Politics podcast, I chat with good friend and acknowledged referendum campaign expert Tiernan Brady. We discuss the lessons he learned from directing the successful marriage equality referendums in Ireland Australia, and how they could apply to any further referendum on Irish Unity. With UK PM Andy Burnham saying a border poll is off the table, for now, Tiernan sets out why fixating on the "when" and seeking a date for a border poll on Irish Unity is a distraction. He urges everyone to focus now on the harder, and much more urgent question: how those of us who want unity start working to persuade of the positive case for Unity.(Yes, I have new theme music via foximusic.com )There is a video clip with this podcast https://youtube.com/shorts/Hv7rYfgT9JY?feature=share

Is Ireland's peacekeeping legacy at risk? Derek Mooney chats with Prof Roger Mac Ginty (Durham University), a key contributor to the 2023 Consultative Forum on International Security Policy, to unpack Irish neutrality, the future of UN peacekeeping, and the government's push to scrap the triple lock. They dig into the OSCE's untapped potential, a "weak" UN Secretary-General, Europe's abdication on Ukraine, and why cross-party consensus on defence matters more than ever. A sharp, honest look at Ireland's place in a fracturing world order.

In this episode I look at some of the paradoxes of Irish politics... the government is hugely unpopular (on a par with Trump in the US) but the opposition cannot capitalise on it.Meanwhile Taoiseach Micheál martin attempts to deflect from his own vulnerabilities by going to war with his own backbenchers in a way that just further highlights those vulnerabilities... !

In this episode I set out the 7 core leadership lessons for Irish political parties from Andy Burnham's ascent to No 10: 1. Don’t make it personal2. Timing matters – no delays3. Prepare properly4. Take risks5. Keep control of the message6. Day one counts7. Don’t fear blood