The BelTel

Northern Ireland’s criminal defence barristers are on indefinite strike over pay. The move will exacerbate delays in a system already notorious for how slowly it can operate but the lawyers say they have been left with no option. Justice Minister Naomi Long says the strike is unnecessary and will have a "devastating impact on the justice system, particularly for victims". Ciarán Dunbar is joined by criminal defence barristers, Michael Forde and Aoife Macauley, who put forward their case. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A former trusted adviser of US president Donald Trump, Steve Bannon, gave an interview to Politico, where he claimed that we are "going to have an Irish MAGA, and we’re going to have an Irish Trump”. Making it clear that some elements of the alt-right movement have set their sights on Ireland. Bannon’s statement begs a number of questions, such as how exactly would he and other MAGA influencers pull this off? Tabitha Monahan is joined by Declan Lynch and Pádraig Óg Ó Ruairc. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After the abduction of the Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro the US now openly seeks to dominate the western hemisphere and to control its wealth. JD Vance says the US will now control Venezuela’s natural resources for its own benefit. Now the White house is considering seizing Greenland by force leaving Europe in a very awkward place. Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Danish journalist Tom Carstensen and by former journalist and RAF reservist Michael Cairns to discuss the impact on Europe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

UK government policy says it does talk to terrorists - but it was directly meeting loyalist ‘brigadiers’ - newly declassified files reveal. Revelations revealed in this year’s batch of files include that whilst the Government claimed not be talking to terrorists, they were happy to meet the UDA’s leadership in their capacity as so-called 'brigadiers’, how continuing IRA activity held back the peace process and who the DUP wanted to become a Lord. Sam McBride joins Ciarán Dunbar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At 34, Phillip Brett is one of Stormont’s younger MLAs and the North Belfast Assembly man has seen his profile grow since being elected to Stormont in 2022. He says much of his politics has been shaped by his close relationship with Nigel and Dianne Dodds, who he calls his ‘political mum and dad’. Philip Brett’s family life was torn asunder when his 19-year-old brother Gavin was murdered by the UDA in 2001 – he says he wants justice for his mum. In an exclusive interview with The BelTel podcast, the MLA joined Ciarán Dunbar in the studio to talk politics, ambition and the work involved in being an MLA. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.