The Guns of January

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?