Inside Politics with Hugh Linehan
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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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Ask us anything 2025, part two
For part two of our festive ‘Ask Me Anything’ episode Hugh Linehan is joined on today’s Inside Politics podcast by Jack Horgan Jones, Cormac McQuinn a...
Is there any such thing as a political genius? With Helen Lewis
This episode was first published in July 2025.
You can tell an awful lot about a society by who it labels a genius. You can also learn from who...
Ask us anything: presidential nominations, a Minister for Defence and the centre holding
Hugh is joined by Jack Horgan Jones, Cormac McQuinn and Ellen Coyne for part one of our traditional festive AMA. This year listeners asked about the p...
What do Irish voters really want? Live at the IFI with Dr Kevin Cunningham
Dr Kevin Cunningham of TUD is one of Ireland’s most insightful political scientists and pollsters. At the Inside Politics live show in early December...
Why the EU's climbdown on Ukraine aid matters
It was a difficult week for Micheal Martin and FIanna Fáil with the delivery of the report on the party's failed presidential campaign. Martin's posit...
Was Jim Gavin's campaign implosion the political moment of the year?
Earlier this month Hugh, Ellen, Cormac and Pat got on stage at the IFI in Dublin for our annual end of year live show. Today we’re bringing you an exc...
Jim O'Callaghan: We made a bad decision on the presidency
Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan talks to Hugh and Pat about antisemitism after the Bondi beach attack, the progress of the Occupied Territories B...
That interview, Fianna Fáil's review and thorny issues for the Government
Ellen Coyne and Jack Horgan-Jones join Hugh to look back on the week in politics:
...
Eoin Lenihan on how Ireland was 'vandalised'
Eoin Lenihan joins Hugh to discuss his bestselling book Vandalising Ireland. In the book Lenihan sets out his argument that the choices made by succes...
Does Ireland's neutrality leave room for increased defence spending?
The appearance of drones of unknown origin in Dublin last week around the time of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy's visit again highlighted th...
Eurovision Israel boycott hits right note, but renaming Herzog Park feels tone deaf
Jack Horgan-Jones and Harry McGee join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:
· Ireland, along with Spain, Slovenia and the Ne...
What people don’t understand about the art of political communication - with Terry Prone
Terry Prone is a legend in Irish political communication. Her memoir, I’m Glad You Asked Me That, looks back at her remarkable career.
On today’...
Jim O'Callaghan's explicit message on migration
Pat Leahy and Jack Horgan-Jones join Hugh to talk through the week in politics:
Plus the panel pick their favourite...
Could a left alliance transform Irish politics?
When Catherine Connolly was elected president with the support of every left-wing party, it sparked new hope on the left that greater cooperation betw...
'The world looks very different from here' - Denis Staunton's global briefing
Denis Staunton has reported from Washington, London and Berlin. Now, as Irish Times China Correspondent, he is using his new vantage point to make sen...
Is Simon Harris fit for the role of Minister for Finance?
Ellen Coyne and Pat Leahy join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:
· As Paschal Donohoe departs for pastures new at the Worl...
Paschal Donohoe’s last interview
In his final interview as an Irish politician before leaving for a new role at the World Bank, Paschal Donohoe talks to Hugh and Pat about his decisio...
Donohoe's departure leaves the Government and Fine Gael weakened
After 14 years in Dáil Éireann and a decade in ministerial office, Fine Gael's Paschal Donohoe today announced his resignation. He leaves to take up a...
‘A hot mess of uncoordinated gibberish’
Harry McGee and Pat Leahy join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:
· The inauguration of Ireland’s 10th president in in St P...
What is wrong with Ireland’s housing and planning system?
The government has come under increasing intense criticism of its record on housing, and the sluggishness with which its addressed the need to build m...
How is Catherine Connolly viewed in Europe?
As Catherine Connolly is inaugurated as Ireland’s 10th President on Tuesday, Inside Politics asks how the country’s European partners will be preparin...
Is it possible to have a coherent debate on immigration?
Harry McGee and Cormac McQuinn join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:
· With renewed criticism from left-wing Opposition l...
A century of taoisigh: Iain Dale's history of Irish leadership
Iain Dale has written books profiling prime ministers, monarchs and dictators. Next up from the LBC broadcaster and podcaster is a book on the people...
How does Micheál Martin quieten dissenting voices in Fianna Fáil?
Ellen Coyne and Naomi O’Leary join Pat Leahy to look back on the week in politics:
· In the wake of Catherine Connolly’s emphatic president...
What would a united Ireland actually involve?
This week’s Inside Politics podcast with Hugh Linehan explores what a united Ireland would actually involve, Irish Times columnist Fintan O’Toole and...
How outspoken will Connolly be as president?
Pat Leahy joins Hugh Linehan for the final episode of Election Daily for this campaign. They look at the impact of Connolly's victory on left-wing pol...
Catherine Connolly wins the presidency on a disastrous day for Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil
Votes are still being counted but it is already clear that Catherine Connolly has won the presidency by a huge margin.
Connolly's victory will...
Election Daily: The highs and lows of a strange campaign
Cormac McQuinn and Jack Horgan Jones join Hugh Linehan to talk about the final day of campaigning before voters go to the polls.
They look at ho...
Election Daily: Will the 'spoil the vote' campaign be felt on Friday?
What does a two-horse race look like in our PR-STV electoral system? What happens when you throw a zombie candidate and a 'spoil your vote' campaign i...
Election Daily: Who came out on top in the final debate?
The two remaining candidates in the presidential election came into the final televised debate of the campaign needing different things.
Well be...
Election Daily: Can the 'Vicar Street Alliance' hold after this election?
Harry McGee and Jack Horgan-Jones join Hugh to talk about today's news from the presidential campaign trail:
A concert in support of Catherine C...
Election Daily: Has Fine Gael's 'new low' attack video backfired?
Ellen Coyne and Pat Leahy join Hugh to talk about the all the latest from the presidential election campaign.
There is one topic dominating the...
Election Daily: Is it all over bar the shouting for Heather Humphreys?
With Catherine Connolly showing an unprecedented lead for a presidential candidate one week out from polling day, could her campaign only be derailed...
POLL: Catherine Connolly opens huge lead in presidential race
Catherine Connolly holds a commanding lead in the presidential election with just over a week to go before votes are cast, according to the latest Iri...
Election Daily: Is Humphreys playing it too safe?
As independent candidate Catherine Connolly and Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys enter the final nine days of the campaign, Jack Horgan Jones and...
Is this the end of the gay rights revolution?
Hugh talks to Ronan McCrea, professor of constitutional and European law at University College London, about his new book, The End of the Gay Rights R...
Head-to-head: Presidential election gets confrontational
Ellen Coyne and Harry McGee join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:
· With Jim Gavin gone, the presidential electio...
'Cooking the books': Is Budget 2026 a 'cynical wheeze'?
Yesterday’s budget spelled out the Government’s tax and spending plans for next year. But what happens after that?
Barra Roantee of Trinity Coll...
Calamity for Fianna Fáil as Jim Gavin drops out of the presidential race
Ellen Coyne and Jack Horgan-Jones join Hugh to talk about the stunning news of Jim Gavin's withdrawal from the presidential race, leaving Heather Hump...
Jack Chambers channels 'Margaret Thatcher' as 'big squeeze budget' looms
Pat Leahy and Jack Horgan-Jones join Hugh Linehan to talk about the week in politics:
We already know next Tuesday’s budget is going to be a mu...