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Inside Politics with Hugh Linehan

The Irish Times
Inside Politics with Hugh Linehan
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  • Inside Politics with Hugh Linehan

    The triple lock is the latest issue for Fianna Fáil’s  awkward squad

    26/06/2026 | 41 mins.
    Harry McGee and Cormac McQuinn join Pat Leahy to look back on the week in politics:

    All anyone can talk about this week is the weather. While the country enjoys the warmth, the Government still has to find balance between spending to prevent climate change and spending to mitigate the impact of change that has already arrived.

    Keir Starmer may be gone but the UK's biggest problem remains: the lack of growth in their economy.

    Proposed “reform” (read: scrapping) of the “triple lock” restriction on Irish overseas military deployment has run into trouble due to disquiet among Fianna Fail backbenchers. If not a rebellion, there was certainly “a renewed amount of grumbling” over the issue. But will it be a real problem for Taoiseach Micheal Martin?

    Plus the panel pick their IT stories of the week including a plea for underground bins, Michael McDowell’s bold predictions and the divestment of Catholic church patronage.
    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.
  • Inside Politics with Hugh Linehan

    How will Ireland navigate the EU presidency?

    24/06/2026 | 48 mins.
    Next week Ireland takes over the presidency of the EU Council. But what does that mean? What exactly is the EU Council anyway? How does this council and this presidency fit in among the numerous other European councils and presidents? And how is Ireland going to approach the challenges and opportunities the six-month position brings? To find out Pat Leahy talks to Jack Horgan-Jones and Jack Power.
    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.
  • Inside Politics with Hugh Linehan

    Ireland gears up for EU presidency and Andy Burnham sweeps Makerfield byelection

    19/06/2026 | 46 mins.
    Jack Horgan-Jones and Mark Paul join Harry McGee to look back on the week in politics:

    · Taoiseach Micheál Martin is in Brussels for the EU summit this week, also in attendance is Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy who is pushing for serious peace negotiations with Russia. Will Vladimir Putin come to the negotiation table? And could Ukraine’s EU membership be fast-tracked during Ireland’s upcoming EU presidency?

    · Security, competitiveness and the EU budget are some of the issues that will come into focus as Ireland becomes a deal maker and parks parochial affairs for the duration of its six-month presidency starting July 1st.

    · And with Andy Burnham justifying the hype by crushing Nigel Farage’s Reform UK in the Makerfield byelection, will prime minister Keir Starmer go quietly or hang around for a leadership battle he stands little chance of winning?

    Plus, the panel picks their favourite Irish Times pieces of the week:

    Produced by John Casey with JJ Vernon on sound.
    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.
  • Inside Politics with Hugh Linehan

    Wikipedia's  Jimmy Wales believes the crisis of trust is still fixable

    17/06/2026 | 48 mins.
    Jimmy Wales founded Wikipedia in January 2001, and almost nobody thought that an encyclopedia that anyone in the world was allowed to edit would actually work. But a quarter of a century later, Wikipedia is still one of the most visited websites on Earth and one of the few large-scale online institutions that people across the political spectrum broadly trust.

     In his new book, The Seven Rules of Trust, Wales argues that what made Wikipedia work was a set of principles encompassing human nature, reciprocity, purpose, civility, independence and transparency.

    He joins Hugh to talk about where Wikipedia came from, what those principles are and whether they offer any way out of the crisis of trust that is currently shaping politics across the democratic world.
    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.
  • Inside Politics with Hugh Linehan

    Eruption of violence in Northern Ireland echoes the Troubles

    12/06/2026 | 53 mins.
    Cormac McQuinn and Harry McGee join Hugh to discuss the week in politics:

    The disorder in Northern Ireland since a knife attack in Belfast on Monday reached levels not seen since “the worst possible days of the Troubles”, the Police Service of Northern Ireland chief constable Jon Boutcher said. In a society with a history of sectarianism, there are complex layers to the events taking place.

    Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll McNeill won her battle with the Rotunda Hospital this week.

    The Football Association of Ireland has confirmed that Ireland’s Nations League clash with Israel on October 4th will be played at a neutral venue and behind closed doors.

    Plus the panel pick their favourite Irish Times stories of the week.
    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.
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About Inside Politics with Hugh Linehan
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.
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