Inside Politics with Hugh Linehan

4.7 (112)
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.

5h ago

Darragh O'Brien on Ireland's missed climate targets, new help to buy EVs and Fianna Fáil's leadership

Pat joins Hugh after interviewing Fianna Fáil's Darragh O'Brien about major issues related to his twin ministries, Transport and Climate, Energy and the Environment. They listen back to the interview and discuss what O'Brien had to say about a new scrappage scheme to encourage the purchase of EVs, Ireland's certain failure to hit its legally-binding emissions targets in 2030 and the financial cost to the state of that failure. They also discuss data centres and the future of Fianna Fail's leadership after a disappointing showing in the recent byelections. 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.

43 min
5d ago

Are Sinn Féin drifting away from an uneasy left-wing alliance?

Ellen Coyne and Cormac McQuinn join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics: · The left-wing alliance that was formed during Catherine Connolly’s presidential campaign is already straining, with the Social Democrats, Labour and People Before Profit concerned with the policy direction of Sinn Féin on issues like migration and reproductive rights. · Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins was not impressed by left-leaning voters neglecting to supply party candidate Noel Thomas with enough transfers to prevail in the recent Galway West byelection. Perhaps those voters did not want to give Thomas a preference given his far from left-leaning stance on immigration. · The omission of services from the Occupied Territories Bill, which targets Israeli imports produced from Palestinian lands, came as a surprise to no one. After many months of mulling it over, the Taoiseach was accused by Opposition parties of reneging on promises to prohibit all trade with settlements. Government can expect many calls for amendments when it is brought to Oireachtas in the coming weeks. · And the building of one-off rural housing could become easier with plans to relax the rules for rural housing, aimed at allowing for increased supply, expected to be brought to Cabinet next month. 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.

54 min
May 27

Shane Ross: Why politicians won't fix RTÉ - or let it fail

RTÉ has been in the news again lately thanks to renewed controversy over payments to presenters. So it is a timely moment for the release of a new book on the institution. RTÉ: Saints, Scholars, and Scandals is the latest work by former TD, minister and journalist Shane Ross, who brings his dual experience of media and politics to bear on this unwieldy subject. He talks to Hugh about the deep roots of RTÉ's structural problems, Fianna Fáil's dominance of RTÉ throughout its history (exemplified by Gay Byrne's cozy relationship with Charles Haughey) and the damaging recent scandals over payments and governance. He tells Hugh the frustration politicians feel over negative coverage is the reason cash-strapped RTÉ has not enjoyed a licence fee increase since 2008. Ross also talks about how illness (he is recovering from throat cancer) derailed the book for a few years. 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.

43 min
May 25

Why do these men want to strip women of the right to vote?

Journalist and author Helen Lewis has built a reputation for sharp analysis of politics, culture and the forces reshaping public life. In one piece for The Atlantic she unpicks policies, and the figures promoting them, arguing against some rights for women. On today’s podcast Helen tells Hugh about influential figures who would once have been considered “fringe” coming to the fore. She explains why questions around women’s rights and gender identity have become so politically explosive, and how media and politics have become entangled in a cycle of outrage and performance. 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.

32 min
May 24

Winners and losers: What we’ve learned from the byelections

Pat Leahy and Harry McGee join Hugh to talk about the results of the Dublin Central and Galway West byelections: As the day began Fine Gael were confident that their man, Senator Sean Kyne, would win the seat. That confidence wavered a little as Independent Ireland’s Noel Thomas picked up significant transfers throughout the morning. In the end it wasn’t enough and Fine Gael leader Tanaiste Simon Harris was celebrating a rare byelection win for a party in power. But is he right to call it “a victory for centrist politics”? Independent Ireland can be encouraged by Noel Thomas’s performance in Galway West. Fine Gael and Social Democrats are the winners on this occasion. But can they turn these victories into long-term success? There was evidence of “vote left, transfer left” behaviour in Galway. But many of Sinn Féin’s voters gave their second preferences to Independent Ireland rather than Labour or Social Democrats. Fianna Fáil were the other big losers in this campaign. But how much do these byelections, both won by strong local candidates, really tell us about the strength of the party nationwide? Should the counting of votes take so long? Hugh and Pat think not, but Harry McGee dissents. 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
May 23

Ennis and Kyne in poll position on a bad day for big parties

A picture is emerging in the byelection counts. Hugh is joined by Pat Leahy, Harry McGee and Jack Horgan-Jones to discuss what we have learned so far: On the basis of the numbers available on Saturday afternoon, Social Democrats councillor Daniel Ennis and Fine Gael senator Sean Kyne look well placed to take seats in Dublin Central and Galway West respectively. But transfers could still shift result in Galway West where Independent Ireland's Noel Thomas is polling strongly. The anti-establishment vote in Dublin Central has grown significantly with strong showings from both Gerry Hutch and Malachy Steenson. Sinn Féin's apparent failure to top the poll in either constituency is a bad result for the leader of the opposition Mary Lou McDonald. The results are even worse for Fianna Fáil, with its showing in Dublin Central, once a party stronghold, likely to be of particular concern to Taoiseach Micheál Martin. 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.

33 min
May 22

Taoiseach has Gaza on his mind amid European tour

Pat Leahy and Naomi O’Leary join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics: · Taoiseach Micheál Martin arrived in Italy on Friday, meeting Pope Leo in the Vatican and Italian premier Giorgia Meloni in Rome. This is part of a round of meetings with leaders ahead of Ireland’s EU presidency starting in July, with Martin meeting French president Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Thursday. An estimated 270 meetings with senior politicians are scheduled for the duration of Ireland’s EU presidency, expect a lot of traffic disruption around Dublin Castle. · Naomi O’Leary has been covering the taoiseach’s tour, where he has been keen to highlight the mistreatment of Gaza aid flotilla activists detained by Israeli forces. Could this, coupled with the slowdown in humanitarian aid into Gaza and the continued killing and displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank, finally spark the EU into placing sanctions on Israel? · And record rent surges in the first quarter of 2026. There was a 4.4 per cent increase between December and March as the Government’s new rent control system came into effect. Plus, the panel picks their favourite Irish Times pieces of the week: · Arsenal end 22-year wait for title win, the tragic death of Yves Sakila, and the issues foreign investment presents for Ireland. 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.

52 min
May 20

Byelections: campaign trail stories and final predictions

Cormac McQuinn and Harry McGee join Hugh for a final look at the Dublin Central and Galway West byelections before voting takes place on Friday. 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.

41 min

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Hugh Linehan

Host
Helen Lewis

Guest
Pat Leahy

Guest
Harry Hand McGee

Guest
Pat Leahy

Guest
Jack Horgan-Jones

Guest
Pat Leahy

Guest
Naomi O'Leary

Guest
Cormac McQuinn

Guest
Sinead O’Sullivan

Guest

4.7

out of 5

112 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.