Irish Times Inside Politics

Hugh Linehan is joined by Pat Leahy and Harry McGee to look back on the week in politics: Taoiseach Simon Harris’s sure-footed performance as he delivered an apology to the Stardust tragedy victims. Less good was Minister for Justice Helen McEntee’s appearance at an Oireachtas committee, where she struggled to answer a question about the State’s handling of international protection applicants. Discussions about budget spending are starting early this year, a sign of the auction politics to come in the run-up to the general election. Plus the panel pick their Irish Times articles of the week: Justine McCarthy on the growing number of journalists becoming Government advisors. Finn McRedmond in defence of snobbery. And coverage of the dysfunction in University Hospital Limerick, as revealed by a coroner’s report on the tragic death of teenager Aoife Johnston. Sign up for Politics push alerts and have the best news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone Find The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We focus on our next-door neighbours with London Correspondent Mark Paul

On today’s Inside Politics podcast, Hugh Linehan, Jack Horgan-Jones and Jennifer Bray look back on the week in politics: Two weeks in, Simon Harris has already experienced some minor controversies as Taoiseach. But how is he doing overall? As the Greens head into their National Conference this weekend, will the party be happy with their standing as an election draws near? The EU Migration pact has the potential to be a significant political flashpoint and raises the question: Do European matters receive enough scrutiny in the Oireachtas? Plus the panel pick their Irish Times articles of the week: Derek Scally on a German Luthern priest’s successful ploy to attract a younger congregation with help from Taylor Swift. Patrick Freyne’s unflattering review of a new RTE comedy sketch show. And Conor Pope’s reporting on the egregiousness of Eir. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With its fast-growing economy and increasing significance as a player in European security, Poland’s political direction will have a major bearing on the future of Europe. But the centrist coalition led by Donald Tusk is grappling with how to unwind some of the oppressive legacy of its predecessors, the right nationalist Law and Justice party.  Meanwhile, Poland’s neighbour to the West faces a different set of problems. An unpopular government, an economic recession and growing divisions over wars in Ukraine and Israel mean Germany is experiencing a crisis of confidence.  Hugh Linehan explores these political and social pressures in Poland and Germany with Irish Times Berlin Correspondent Derek Scally. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The podcast was live in Belfast