Inside Politics with Hugh Linehan

4.7 (111)
POLITICS
UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

The best analysis of the Irish political scene featuring Irish Times journalists, political thinkers and the occasional politician. Hosted by Hugh Linehan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

10H AGO

Is Ireland taking anti-Semitism seriously enough?

Oliver Sears, founder of Holocaust Awareness Ireland, joins Hugh to talk about his growing alarm at the rise of anti-Semitism in Ireland and what he sees as the failure to take it seriously. They discuss whether the political response to Israel's actions since October 7th 2023 has complicated that debate. The conversation covers questions such as where legitimate criticism of Israel ends and anti-Semitism begins, whether anti-Zionism can be distinguished from antisemitism, and what Ireland's institutions should be doing differently. Would you like to receive daily insights into world events delivered to your inbox? Sign up for Denis Staunton's Global Briefing newsletter here: irishtimes.com/newsletters/global-briefing/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1h 4m
5D AGO

Government can't help helping as fuel costs soar; and how many TDs are too many?

This week the Government decided to unveil a €250 million package to help citizens meet the elevated cost of fuel. And this could be just the start of a series of new efforts to keep down the cost of living. After ending such supports in the last Budget, it seems there is a limit to the Government’s ability to resist helping when times get tough and the money is there. But what will happen when a crisis coincides with tougher fiscal times? The renewed threat of inflation is having an impact across the economic and political landscape. Inflation means unpredictable costs and that is especially bad for one key area. Other Government departments will be asked to bail out the Department of Education, which is facing another large budget overspend this year. Will this request brew inter-departmental strife? Our population is growing and our constitution stipulates there should be at least one TD for every 30,000 people. Should that rule be changed before we end up with excessive numbers of Deputies? Maybe - but a referendum on the issue is unlikely under this Government. Plus the panel pick their favourite Irish Times articles of the week, including Newton Emerson on an issue uniting left and right in Belfast, Big Tech’s Big Tobacco moment and Malachy Clerkin’s report on Ireland’s heartbreaking loss against Czech Republic. Would you like to receive daily insights into world events delivered to your inbox? Sign up for Denis Staunton's Global Briefing newsletter here: irishtimes.com/newsletters/global-briefing/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

47 min
MAR 25

Was Seán Lemass really Ireland's greatest taoiseach?

Seán Lemass is remembered as the man who changed Ireland. Several opinion polls have noted Lemass as the country's most admired taoiseach. He never left any papers of autobiography, but rather twenty-two hours of private interviews. Hugh speaks to Irish Times reporter Ronan McGreevy who has gathered these lost interviews and collated them into a memoir in Lemass's own words. Produced by JJ Vernon and Andrew McNair. Would you like to receive daily insights into world events delivered to your inbox? Sign up for Denis Staunton's Global Briefing newsletter here: irishtimes.com/newsletters/global-briefing/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

48 min
MAR 23

'In the pocket of US multinationals': How is Ireland seen by Europe?

Eoin Drea is a senior researcher at the Wilfried Martens Centre, the official think tank of the European People’s Party (of which Fine Gael is a member), and an occasional contributor to the opinion pages of The Irish Times, where he is often critical of Ireland’s approach to Europe. Recently he wrote that “Ireland’s recent hissy fit at not being invited to a pre-EU summit meeting in Belgium speaks volumes as to where Dublin ranks in the minds of our fellow EU members”. On today’s podcast he talks to Hugh about how Ireland’s influence in Europe has declined, why he believes Ireland’s political discourse around Europe is naive and lacking strategic depth and what “two-speed” EU development could look like - with or without Ireland as a key player. He also talks about how Ireland is viewed as being "in the pocket of the US multinationals". Would you like to receive daily insights into world events delivered to your inbox? Sign up for Denis Staunton's Global Briefing newsletter here: irishtimes.com/newsletters/global-briefing/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

42 min
MAR 20

In the shadow of the war in Iran, inflation and energy costs look set to climb ever higher

Ellen Coyne and Jack Horgan-Jones join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics: · Israeli strikes on Iranian natural gas infrastructure marked an escalation in the US-Israeli war on Iran. With global oil and gas prices climbing, could we soon see Government measures to offset the cost to consumers? · Opposition parties were less than impressed by Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s showing during his St Patrick’s Day meeting with US president Donald Trump, but the world’s media praised Martin’s polite pushback on certain points. · The demolition of an illegally-built Co Meath home has captured the public imagination this week. It has served to highlight the urban-rural divide when it comes to one-off housing during the current housing crisis. · And the monthly payments to those housing Ukrainian people in their spare rooms will be wound down over the coming year. Plus, the panel picks their favourite Irish Times pieces of the week: · Ronnie Delaney’s Olympic gold medal win inspires Frank McNally to victory, the generational talent of Oscar winner Jessie Buckley, and the enduring fascination around JFK jnr. Would you like to receive daily insights into world events delivered to your inbox? Sign up for Denis Staunton's Global Briefing newsletter here: irishtimes.com/newsletters/global-briefing/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

44 min
MAR 18

The Taoiseach in the court of the mad king

Taoiseach Michel Martin has been meeting US president Donald Trump as part of the annual St Patrick’s Day pageantry. Martin once again faced the challenge of outlining Ireland’s positions on issues from tariffs to wars in Ukraine, Gaza and Iran while maintaining his personal dignity and without antagonising Trump to Ireland's detriment. It was no easy task, with the US president criticising UK prime minister Keir Starmer, attacking Europe on its migration and energy policies and misgendering President Catherine Connolly. So how did Martin do? Pat Leahy reports from Washington. Would you like to receive daily insights into world events delivered to your inbox? Sign up for Denis Staunton's Global Briefing newsletter here: irishtimes.com/newsletters/global-briefing/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

31 min
MAR 13

Taoiseach awaits his next dentist’s appointment at The White House

Ellen Coyne and Harry McGee join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics: · Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s St Patrick’s Day visit to The White House to meet US president Donald Trump could prove awkward should he face questions about the US and Israel’s military action against Iran, and its impact on the Middle East, Gulf regions and soaring fuel prices. Last year’s meeting was a minefield to be navigated – perhaps Martin has learned from that experience. · A far less fraught meeting took place on Friday when the Taoiseach welcomed Britain's prime minister Keir Starmer to the UK-Ireland summit at Fota House in Cork. Security and co-operation were the order of the day, as Anglo-Irish relations continued to improve from a post-Brexit low. · And the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) decided this week, after a mere fifteen years, not to bring criminal charges against anyone arising from the Moriarty tribunal’s final report in 2011. Michael Lowry and Denis O’Brien no doubt welcomed the decision. Plus, the panel picks their favourite Irish Times pieces of the week: · The brave and anonymous women we all owe a debt, the beef between farmers and Government, and Patrick Freyne’s golden age of male role models. Would you like to receive daily insights into world events delivered to your inbox? Sign up for Denis Staunton's Global Briefing newsletter here: irishtimes.com/newsletters/global-briefing/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1 hr
MAR 11

How the Iran war is impacting the world's economies

As war in the Middle East rages on, the world's superpowers are making diplomatic representations to end it, and contingencies to protect their economies from the knock-on effects, namely oil and natural gas prices. China, which buys oil from Iran, would rather the conflict hadn’t begun and would like to see it concluded, according to Irish Times Beijing correspondent Denis Staunton. However its reliance on foreign oil is small in comparison to other nations. On today's podcast Hugh is joined by Denis and Political Editor Pat Leahy who says European governments, including Ireland, have a much greater problem with the volatility of the energy markets. The Irish government was one of the few incumbent European governments that was re-elected after the volatility brought on by the war in Ukraine. How will European politicians handle the Iran war challenge? Would you like to receive daily insights into world events delivered to your inbox? Sign up for Denis Staunton's Global Briefing newsletter here: irishtimes.com/newsletters/global-briefing/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

37 min

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Hugh Linehan

Host
Denis Staunton

Guest
Pat Leahy

Guest
Hannah McCarthy

Guest
Ellen Coyne

Guest
Cormac McQuinn

Guest
Caroline O'Doherty

Guest
Jack Horgan-Jones

Guest
Pat Leahy

Guest

4.7

out of 5

111 Ratings

Terry Prone

12/03/2025

Johnny in the Mass Hills

Hugh’s conversation with Terry Prone is a classic. I hope you invite her back!
Surprisingly Funny

10/20/2023

c_o_shea

The most recent episode was the funniest podcast I’ve listened to in quite a while (nod to Pat’s impressions. More please. Spinout pod perhaps?) As a recent emigrant, Inside Politics keeps me feeling engaged and connected with Ireland.
Disappointing

02/12/2025

Eve D.K.

I subscribed to this as an emigrant looking to keep up with the news from home. The unexamined centrist/centre-right perspectives are sometimes exasperating but roughly what you’d expect from the IT. Despite this, there was enough useful information to keep me listening. Two things of late pushed me into unsubscribing. The first is the hosts’ repeated snickering about how the prospects of political/governmental instability in Ireland will at least make good copy for them—have they learned nothing from the example of their peers in the U.S. media? The second is the decision to platform far-right anti-choice homophobes who push reactionary social agendas. The hosts seem unfamiliar with the concept of the Overton Window.
Conspiracy?

07/25/2024

Tim 1159

Conspiracy? Really Hugh? That word has a criminal meaning. Are you suggesting a crime? I’m an American, a Democrat, and a Biden fan but for the last 2 years I’ve told everyone I talked to about politics that Biden was being a selfish jerk for running again. Why…because he is 81! Did you guys in the media not know he was 81? Is his behavior not consistent with some people at that age? Sounds like you guys are just trying to cover your butt now because the public is saying why didn’t the press tell us. Trump called you guys the enemy of the people, which of course it’s dangerous. But I was glad when Biden won so I could go back to hating the press. Your behavior in the case is pathetic. You Hugh are pathetic.

The best analysis of the Irish political scene featuring Irish Times journalists, political thinkers and the occasional politician. Hosted by Hugh Linehan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.