Best Irish Politics Podcasts (2025)

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Gaza and Loss on Every Level

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12h ago

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Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshackDima Al-Madhoun is a translator in Gaza and joins us from her displacement tent in Al-Mawasi. She speaks of losing her home, moving from place to place, the heartbreaking loss of some members of her family and how she is greatly concerned that the current generation of children have now lost two years of t…

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Jonathan Gullis, Will Hutton, Zoe Strimpel & Natasha Devon 52:17

23h ago52:17

52:17

Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question this evening are former Conservative MP, Jonathan Gullis, Political Economist, Will Hutton, Columnist for the Sunday Telegraph, Zoe Strimpel and LBC Presenter, Natasha Devon.By LBC

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Fighting Class War is Proper Climate Action

1d ago

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Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshackIt’s a lot at the moment. So rejoining us to wallow in the misery is lecturer at TUD, Dr Ciarán O’Carroll, and to be honest this assessment of where we are and what needs (must) be done was clarifying and somehow hopeful.The latest SWF with Black 47's Chris Byrne is out now:https://www.patreon.com/posts/pa…

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'Will we live to see a Taoiseach not in Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil?' More listener questions answered 35:12

1d ago35:12

35:12

It's part two of our summer Ask Me Anything, with the panel tackling questions sent to [email protected] by listeners. Hugh, Pat, Jack, Ellen and Cormac address topics from disapora voting rights to the lack of representation of migrant communities in Dáil Eireann, the meaning of populism and the efficiency of government spending. Host…

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Polly Toynbee, Andy Preston, Aisha Ali-Khan & Daniel Johnson 51:06

2d ago51:06

51:06

Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question this evening are columnist for The Guardian, Polly Toynbee, former independent Mayor of Middlesbrough, Andy Preston, Human rights campaigner Aisha Ali-Khan and Editor of and columnist for TheArticle, Daniel Johnson.By LBC

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Christina McAnea, Laila Cunningham, Samuel Kasumu & Paul Richards 53:07

3d ago53:07

53:07

Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question this evening are General Secretary of UNISON Christina McAnea, Reform UK member of Westminster City Council Laila Cunningham, Social entrepreneur Samuel Kasumu & Former Labour candidate, including for last year's general election, Paul Richards.By LBC

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'Why are there no pro-Israel voices in the Dáil?' Listener questions answered 33:43

3d ago33:43

33:43

It's summer holiday season and that means it's time to open the floor to questions from the Inside Politics audience. Hugh, Pat, Jack, Ellen and Cormac sift through the [email protected] inbox and pick out questions on the presidency, Gaza, the State's struggle to solve complex problems, and more. Thanks for listening to Inside Politic…

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Gaza versus Western Journalism 39:57

5d ago39:57

39:57

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshackThe Self-Critical Columnist - Colin SheridanColin Sheridan is a writer, journalist and columnist with the Irish Examiner. He is also a former Irish Army Officer and it is perhaps this lived experience that shapes his writing in ways that you don't read too often in our opinion pages. This is the first of w…

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Will Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin abstain from the presidential race? 40:42

6d ago40:42

40:42

Ellen Coyne and Pat Leahy join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics: · With Independent TD Catherine Connolly and former MEP Mairead McGuinness having declared their candidacy, there will now be at least two names in the race for the Áras. But with no sign yet of a clear candidate for Fianna Fáil or Sinn Féin, are any of the potential …

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They Are Deliberately Starving Us

8d ago

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Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshackAhmed Al-Najjar is a Palestinian journalist and academic based in Khan Younis, Southern Gaza Strip. He is reporting on the ongoing Israeli genocide and rapidly growing famine. He joins us on the PalCast to discuss the latest developments on the ground, his own heartbreaking personal loss and why those “who…

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Will the Government's big projects survive the next downturn? 36:20

8d ago36:20

36:20

The Government’s updated National Development Plan (NDP) proposes to spend a vast sum of money on capital infrastructure. But beyond three ‘mega projects’ there is little detail and the vagueness of the document has led to some skepticism. In part one of today's podcast Pat Leahy joins Hugh Linehan to discuss the NDP and whether the Government's pr…

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Natasha Irons, Baroness Arlene Foster, Anne McElvoy & Jack Elsom 51:48

9d ago51:48

51:48

Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question this evening are Labour MP Natasha Irons, former Northern Ireland first minister Baroness Arlene Foster, POLITICO's Anne McElvoy and The Sun's Jack Elsom.By LBC

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Gaza and the Cracks in Western Imperialism

9d ago

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Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshackIn this Echo Chamber Pod we’re joined by economist, author and editor of the Irish Marxist Review, Dr. Brian O’Boyle to discuss how, even now, in the depths of despair during the ongoing genocide and famine in Gaza, we can see the cracks developing in the settler colonial project. There's a crack in everyt…

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Alex Davies-Jones, Mark Garnier, Hilary Wainwright & Ali Miraj 52:48

10d ago52:48

52:48

Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question this evening are victims minister and Labour MP Alex Davies-Jones, shadow treasury minister and Conservative MP Mark Garnier, campaigner Hilary Wainwright and broadcaster Ali Miraj.By LBC

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Eamonn Casey's remains removed from Galway cathedral 4:07

12d ago4:07

4:07

Ailbhe Conneely, Social Affairs & Religion Correspondent, reports that the remains of the late Bishop Eamonn Casey have been removed from the crypt of Galway Cathedral.By RTÉ Radio 1

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National Development Plan to be published in the coming days 22:25

12d ago22:25

22:25

Michael Healy-Rae, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine; Martin Kenny, Sinn Féin TD for Sligo–Leitrim; Paul Lawless, Aontú TD for MayoBy RTÉ Radio 1

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The full attention of political watchers turns to Presidency 5:35

12d ago5:35

5:35

Michael Healy-Rae, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine; Martin Kenny, Sinn Féin TD for Sligo–Leitrim; Paul Lawless, Aontú TD for MayoBy RTÉ Radio 1

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Proposed changes to the EU Common Agricultural Plan budget 16:59

12d ago16:59

16:59

Aisling Meehan, Agricultural Solicitor, Tax Consultant & farmer; Josephine O’Neill, President of Macra na Feirme; Michael Healy-Rae, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine; Martin Kenny, Sinn Féin TD for Sligo–Leitrim; Paul Lawless, Aontú TD for MayoBy RTÉ Radio 1

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Kerry Case of Electoral Fraud 4:09

12d ago4:09

4:09

Michael Healy-Rae, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine; Martin Kenny, Sinn Féin TD for Sligo–Leitrim; Paul Lawless, Aontú TD for MayoBy RTÉ Radio 1

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Gaza and a Smile of Hope

12d ago

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Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshackHuda Skaik is a writer from Gaza, who was displaced 12 times during the ongoing genocide. After being under siege in Gaza City for 9 unrelenting days, the Israeli Military forced her and her family to move to the south. She started writing in a tent and returned to her home a year later to find it in rubbl…

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Do Sinn Féin need to change tack after slump in the polls? 38:36

13d ago38:36

38:36

Cormac McQuinn and Jack Horgan-Jones join Pat Leahy to look back on the week in politics: · The latest Irish Times/Ipsos B&A opinion poll shows Sinn Féin on 22 per cent (down four), with Fianna Fáil on 22 per cent (no change) and Fine Gael on 17 per cent (up one). Given just 14% of voters feel Government is successfully tackling the country’s probl…

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Oppo hammers Govt for 'epic waste' as Dáil shuts up shop 24:27

14d ago24:27

24:27

In the last Leaders' Questions, the Opposition hammered the Govt as "feckless and reckless" for failing on cost-of-living supports. Sinn Féin suffered a supermarket malfunction in a noisy exchange. The Occupied Territories Bill faced intense scrutiny in heated committee hearings. And it's game on for Catherine Connolly in the race for the Áras.…

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Fast Fashion and the Bonfire of Human Rights Regulations

15d ago

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Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshackIn this Echo Chamber podcast Soc Dem Senator, Patricia Stephenson joins us to discuss the EU’s ongoing drive to undo the human rights and environmental protection policies that they signed up to in the last EU parliament term.Read more here:https://eeb.org/omnibus-a-trojan-horse-for-aggressive-deregulation…

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Will Stone, Jess Brown-Fuller, Anita Boateng & Tim Loughton 47:20

15d ago47:20

47:20

Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question this evening are Labour MP Will Stone, Lib Dem MP Jess Brown-Fuller, political commentator Anita Boateng and Tim Loughton, former Conservative minister who's now running to be the first Sussex mayor.By LBC

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Tariffs: Why has Donald Trump threatened the EU again? 47:35

16d ago47:35

47:35

EU negotiators thought a deal with their US counterparts on trade and tariffs was near. Then US president Donald Trump ended those feelings of optimism by threatening to apply 30% tariffs from August 1st. Is this another negotiating tactic or does he mean it this time? And what is the mood in Dublin and Brussels about Trump's threats? Jack Horgan-J…

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Luke Murphy, Andrew Griffith, Reem Ibrahim & Aggie Chambre 52:24

16d ago52:24

52:24

Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question this evening are Labour MP Luke Murphy, Conservative MP Andrew Griffith, Reem Ibrahim from the Institute of Economic Affairs think tank and LBC's own Aggie Chambre.By LBC

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1481. Starmer’s Annus Horribilis and Why Democracy is a Participatory Sport

16d ago

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Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshackIn this Echo Chamber Podcast, the peerless Emeritus Prof Richard Murphy rejoins us to talk about the Labour Party's first year in Government in the UK, the lack of a plan, the dearth of ambition and how the political polarisation means the need for real radical change is becoming more urgent by the day. An…

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Polly Billington, Mims Davies, Neil Breakwell & Lara Brown 53:35

17d ago53:35

53:35

Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question this evening are Labour MP Polly Billington, Conservative shadow Wales secretary Mims Davies, filmmaker Neil Breakwell and the Spectator's Lara Brown.By LBC

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69. Israel Killed my Mother Twice

18d ago

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Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshackJournalist Ahmed Aldremly joined us from Gaza to discuss the latest massacres at the so-called Humanitarian Zones, Israel’s latest concentration camp plan, the daily search for food and to talk about his own experiences of the last 20+ months.The Prof Richard Murphy podcast is out now here:https://www.patr…

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The upcomming presidential elections 4:08

19d ago4:08

4:08

Barry Ward, Fine Gael TD for Dún Laoghaire; Paul Murphy, People Before Profit TD for Dublin South-West; Lynn Boylan, Sinn Féin MEP for DublinBy RTÉ Radio 1

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Does responsibility for abuse suffered in schools lie with the state? 20:41

19d ago20:41

20:41

Barry Ward, Fine Gael TD for Dún Laoghaire; Paul Murphy, People Before Profit TD for Dublin South-West; Lynn Boylan, Sinn Féin MEP for DublinBy RTÉ Radio 1

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The attendance of super junior Ministers at Cabinet 16:30

19d ago16:30

16:30

Órla O'Donnell, Legal Affairs Correspondent; Barry Ward, Fine Gael TD for Dún Laoghaire; Paul Murphy, People Before Profit TD for Dublin South-West; Lynn Boylan, Sinn Féin MEP for DublinBy RTÉ Radio 1

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What will banning imports from illegal Israeli settlements mean for the OTB? 10:31

19d ago10:31

10:31

Barry Ward, Fine Gael TD for Dún Laoghaire; Paul Murphy, People Before Profit TD for Dublin South-West; Lynn Boylan, Sinn Féin MEP for DublinBy RTÉ Radio 1

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Is Mary Lou McDonald about to enter the presidential race? 41:13

20d ago41:13

41:13

Ellen Coyne and Harry McGee join Pat Leahy to look back on the week in politics: · When Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald was asked on Monday if she was ruling herself out of this year’s contest to succeed Michael D Higgins, she replied, “we’re not ruling anything in or anything out.” But could a tilt at the presidency be a potential career-ender …

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Áras race starts to takes shape, but housing still stuck 26:19

21d ago26:19

26:19

Some movement on the race to the Áras, with Catherine Connolly's candidacy anticipated, and a growing sense that Mary Lou McDonald might just join her. Mairead McGuinness is keen. Will Fianna Fáil sit it out yet again? Where's the obligatory celebrity candidate? Govt softens limits on apartment sizes, amid warnings it will backfire.…

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1480. Gaza, Glastonbury and Cultural Capital with Lexi Alexander

21d ago

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Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshackIt was an fantastic to be rejoined by Academy Award nominated filmmaker, former stuntwoman and fellow troublemaker, Lexi Alexander, to discuss the role of art, acts like Kneecap, Bob Vylan, the use and misuse of cultural capital and the distraction theatre that Govts use in order to not address the ongoing…

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Dan Tomlinson, Anna Firth, Jacqueline McKenzie & Henry Riley 54:19

22d ago54:19

54:19

Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question this evening are Labour MP Dan Tomlinson, former Conservative MP Anna Firth, lawyer Jacqueline McKenzie and LBC's own Henry Riley.By LBC

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Srebrenica genocide: Why Bosnia is still divided 30 years on 39:42

22d ago39:42

39:42

This month marks 30 years since the Srebrenica genocide, when more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys were massacred by Serb forces in Bosnia. In today’s episode, Irish Times Eastern Europe Correspondent Daniel McLaughlin joins Hugh to reflect on his recent visit to eastern Bosnia. They discuss the enduring legacy of the atrocity, how the town is prepa…

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Gregor Poynton, Baroness Claire Fox, Theo Clarke & Jack Symes 55:05

23d ago55:05

55:05

Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question this evening are Labour MP Gregor Poynton, non-affiliated peer Baroness Fox, former Conservative MP Theo Clarke and philosopher Jack Symes.By LBC

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Alison Hume, Andrew Gold, James Bloodworth & Jo Gideon 52:20

24d ago52:20

52:20

Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question this evening are Labour MP Alison Hume, podcaster Andrew Gold, author James Bloodworth and former Tory MP Jo Gideon.By LBC

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1477. President Luke Ming Flanagan?

24d ago

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Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshackIn this very special podcast Martin sits down with MEP Luke Ming Flanagan, in a place that is now dear to them both. This is a conversation about politics, the personal and potentially the presidency.That's far too much alliteration. Enjoy.The Prof Richard Murphy podcast is out now here:https://www.patreon…

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What's gone wrong for Keir Starmer - and can he get things back on track? 35:27

25d ago35:27

35:27

It is just over a year since Keir Starmer’s Labour Party won a huge majority and took power in London, but Starmer’s political capital is already at a low ebb. It hasn’t all been bad: most noticeably here, he has managed to repair the UK’s relationship with Ireland after the fractious Brexit years. But he has also handled the Trump administration a…

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Rebel Music - Kneecap and Gaza 59:14

26d ago59:14

59:14

An Irish language rap group has improbably enough become the focus of global media attention and political debate. Why? For describing Israel's actions in Gaza as a genocide and accusing the United States of complicity before an approving crowd at the music festival Coachella. In this episode, Naomi and Tim explain the origins of Kneecap in the mov…

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How are small businesses affected by the uncertainty around tariffs? 9:47

26d ago9:47

9:47

Geraldine Magnier, Vice-President of the Small Firms Association; Niall Collins, Minister of State at the Department of Justice; Matt Carthy, Sinn Féin TD for Cavan-Monaghan; Laura Harmon, Labour SenatorBy RTÉ Radio 1

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Does row on third level fees show a disconnect between Govt and public? 19:16

26d ago19:16

19:16

Niall Collins, Minister of State at the Department of Justice; Matt Carthy, Sinn Féin TD for Cavan-Monaghan; Laura Harmon, Labour SenatorBy RTÉ Radio 1

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The use of restorative justice in Ireland 20:42

26d ago20:42

20:42

Ailbhe Griffith, Victim of sexual assault; Dr. Ian Marder, Associate Professor in Criminology at Maynooth University School of Law and Criminology; Niall Collins, Minister of State at the Department of Justice; Matt Carthy, Sinn Féin TD for Cavan-Monaghan; Laura Harmon, Labour SenatorBy RTÉ Radio 1

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Why does Ireland's presidential race still have no one at the starting line? 42:06

27d ago42:06

42:06

Jack Horgan-Jones and Harry McGee join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics: · The drive to inject some impetus into the Irish presidential race has not yielded anything of note just yet with the starter pistol not expected to sound until Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and Sinn Féin nominate their candidates. · The Coalition remains divided o…

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68. My Guitar vs Genocide – Gaza’s Birdsong 38:20

27d ago38:20

38:20

Please join us at patreon.com/tortoiseshackIn this PalCast, Yousef and Tony are joined from Gaza by musician, teacher and father, Ahmed Abu Amsha, to discuss his experience of the ongoing genocide and how he and some of his musician friends are using song as therapy for those carrying far too much trauma. A wonderful man who will light up your day.…

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Fees furore, Coalition friction as tariffs deadline looms 24:35

28d ago24:35

24:35

James Lawless unleashed a furore with his miscalculated comments on fees. Might budgetary vagueness and "options" offer a way back? But just how serious is the Coalition friction? Trump's tariffs still stalk the economy, threatening State coffers. As this term limps to the finish line, the Govt remains mired in the housing quagmire.…

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Sarah Pochin, Jim Dickson, Ali Milani & Steve Baker 53:25

29d ago53:25

53:25

Joining Iain Dale on Cross Question this evening are Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin, Labour MP Jim Dickson, commentator Ali Milani and former Tory minister Steve Baker.By LBC