The Candidate

Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan joins us in studio for a sit-down interview. We asked him what needs to change after the M9 collision, whether the State is failing the small group of young people its youth justice system can't reach, and why the government's approach to migration has changed.He also spoke about his stand-off with criminal legal aid solicitors and why he won't revoke the new regulations. And, when we asked about the future of Fianna Fáil, O'Callaghan was clear: he still wants to lead the party. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Dáil has risen, Leinster House is quiet, and TDs are all off doing constituency work (as they tell us every year), so it's time for our political awards. Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews and Sinéad O'Carroll analyse Christina Finn's report card naming the winners and losers of the term just gone: why Jennifer Carroll MacNeill won the term by picking fights with everyone from the Rotunda to BAM, whether Jim O'Callaghan really belongs on the losers' list, and how Holly Cairns turned the Social Democrats into the party with a buzz about them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nigel Farage resigned as an MP on Tuesday to trigger a byelection in which he's going to run in, and waited for the establishment to line up against him. They didn't. A handful of minor parties have put their names forward, but the candidate getting all the headlines is Count Binface, an Oxford graduate in a bin costume who has previously stood against Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak and Theresa May. It would be funny if there wasn't so much riding on it (and even at that... it is still pretty funny).Christine Bohan, Christina Finn and Sinéad O'Carroll dig into why the stunt hasn't gone to plan, why the five million pound "unconditional gift" is following Farage around, and what a Reform UK prime minister would mean for Ireland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Housing Minister James Browne has announced the biggest shake-up to rural planning rules in two decades. It should be easier for people to build homes in the countryside, but there's no target for how many new homes this will deliver and no new transport or services to go with it. These changes were "imminent" in 2021. Now, five years and one Green Party exit later, here they are.Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews and Rónán Duffy ask whether this is real policy or vibes-based housing.Also: Ireland took over the EU Council presidency this week and most of the country barely noticed. The ceremony at Dublin Castle was lovely but it was Zelensky who made the headlines. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An Oireachtas committee spent years researching drug policy in Ireland and came back with a clear recommendation: decriminalise possession of all drugs for personal use, a shift from treating drug use as a criminal justice issue to treating it as a health one. The committee was cross-party and had extensive evidence to draw from. The government's response? Lukewarm at best.Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews and Rónán Duffy unpack what could be next for this proposal - and also the Citizens Assembly process that it originated from.Also: the parking crisis in new housing estates is making people's lives miserable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Something unusual happened in the Dáil this week when a Sinn Féin proposal to scrap the three-day waiting period for abortion passed. An opposition bill getting through is rare enough, but this one came with a free vote that split the government parties wide open. Micheál Martin and Simon Harris both voted in favour. Most of their TDs voted against. Senior ministers like Jim O'Callaghan, Norma Foley and James Browne all voted no (and said nothing during the debate before doing so).Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews, Christina Finn and Rónán Duffy unpack how a waiting period that was never recommended by the Citizens' Assembly or the Oireachtas committee survived for eight years, and whether scrapping it is the beginning of a bigger conversation about abortion legislation the government doesn't want to have.Also: Ireland is getting a derelict property tax. Again. The government announced it in October's budget and announced it again this week. They love doing that. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Tánaiste and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris joins us in studio for a sit-down interview. We asked him why a man on a doorstep in Dublin Central called him the minister for press releases, about how Ireland is a country that's never been richer but has never felt poorer, and what his guiding philosophy is as finance ministerHe told Christine Bohan, Christina Finn and Jane Matthews that childcare at €200 a month is "entirely doable", that the tax system is "screwing people", and that there will be no stamp duty relief for first-time buyers.Harris also spoke about the online abuse that nearly drove him out of politics, describing the "bomb that goes off in your home" when someone threatens to kill your children. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Michael Healy-Rae resigned as minister in April, he walked out of the Dáil, put his fist in the air outside the gates, and told reporters he was standing with the people of Kerry. This week, he told a different story, that it was his brother Danny's surprise interview calling on the Taoiseach and Tánaiste to resign that cost him his job. Two versions, two months apart... and Michael somehow making both of them work for him.Christine Bohan, Christina Finn and Jane Matthews unpack the most public split in the Healy-Rae dynasty, and ask whether this is really about what happened in April, or about what comes next.Also: consultants at the Rotunda are seeing private patients despite being on public-only contracts, and the government isn't happy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Byelection fallout continues for Sinn Féin as Labour says Mary Lou's party is left-wing no more. And while Holly Cairns says a left-wing government is within 'touching distance', the question being asked now is just how big could the Social Democrats get and could they end up eating everyone's lunch? Aside from the opposition benches, the government is in a spin over its climate targets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's count day and we have the latest analysis live. In Dublin Central, Daniel Ennis of the Social Democrats has opened up a comfortable lead in what could potentially be a big moment for the party. Sinn Féin's Janice Boylan is in second but the transfers don't look like they'll save her, meaning the party could miss out on a crucial seat. And yes - Gerry Hutch is in the mix. In Galway West, it's a nailbiter between Independent Ireland's Noel Thomas and Fine Gael's Sean Kyne.Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy break down the tallies, the transfers, and what it all means. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Polls open on Friday in Dublin Central and Galway West, and both races are still wide open. The cost of living is the dominant issue on the doorsteps, rents have just hit record levels, and the fuel protests are still fresh. But that anger hasn't settled neatly behind any one party or candidate.Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews and Rónán Duffy make their (reluctant) predictions, look at how Fine Gael have outrun Fianna Fáil in both races, and ask whether the change vote has somewhere else to go now (including a Hutch campaign that's been surprisingly active this time round).Also: One sister in London meeting King Charles, the other being detained by Israel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The vultures are circling Keir Starmer in a way that just doesn't happen in Irish politics. We ask why, and whether the difference between a prime minister on 19% approval and a Taoiseach on 38% is less about likability and more about having an economy on performance enhancing drugs.Christine Bohan, Christina Finn and Rónán Duffy compare the Starmer psychodrama with Micheál Martin's version of the same problem. What Ireland can learn from a country that's about to get its sixth prime minister in seven years, and vice versa?Also: Bertie Ahern was secretly recorded on a canvas saying he worries about immigrants, which is very awkward timing given the Fianna Fáil ard fheis is on this weekend. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reports suggest Britain's King Charles is likely to visit Ireland on an official trip, possibly as soon as next year. His mother's visit in 2011 was a landmark moment, but it had a clear purpose along the lines of healing and 'turning a new page'. This one doesn't have a script yet. Christine Bohan, Christina Finn and Rónán Duffy discuss what kind of visit this should be, and whether Ireland has moved on enough that it's just another head of state dropping by.Also: the byelections are two weeks out and the team have been out on the doors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Dublin Central, Sinn Féin should be the favourites but the Social Democrats are quietly eating into their vote, and Gerry Hutch is back with a first-preference base that nobody should be ignoring. In Galway West, Catherine Connolly's seat is up for grabs and the left parties that united to get her into the Áras have gone straight back to fighting each other. Sinéad O'Carroll, Christina Finn, and Jane Matthews walk through both constituencies Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's been nine days since a court heard that a former TD gave a character reference for a man convicted of sexually exploiting a 13-year-old boy at a children's camp. We still don't know their name, their party, or why they wrote it. The Tánaiste has called on them to come forward, but there is no law, no mechanism, no compulsion that can make them reveal themselves. The legislation that was supposed to prevent this has not done so.Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews, Christina Finn and Rónán Duffy unpack the gap in the law.Also: We're already talking about Budget 2027, and Sinn Féin head to Belfast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The fuel protests may be over but the fallout inside Fianna Fáil is only getting started. Young TDs are issuing statements about the need for radical change. Malcolm Byrne is on television saying Micheál Martin is a good Taoiseach but a bad party leader. There was a four-hour marathon meeting on Monday. Yet nobody is actually willing to do anything about it. A lot of grumbling and then walking back down the hill.Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews, Christina Finn and Rónán Duffy ask why Fianna Fáil keeps flirting with a heave it never has the nerve to follow through on, and whether the party has managed to a national crisis into a party crisis.Also: If some lads with tractors can cause such chaos, what happens when the EU presidency rolls around in July? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It started on Tuesday with tractors and trucks on major roads. Dublin city centre ground to a half. By Thursday, protesters were blockading Ireland's only oil refinery, the army had been called in, and the Taoiseach was calling it an act of national sabotage. Three days! That's how fast this has escalated, and nobody seems to know how it ends because nobody's entirely sure who's leading it.Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews, Christina Finn and Rónán Duffy dig into why the government came out with the strongest language we've heard in years, and whether they've boxed themselves into a corner by refusing to talk to the protesters.Also, on a lighter note: would you like another bank holiday? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Finance Minister Simon Harris has outlined (again) what his much-flagged personal savings and investment scheme is going to going to look like. Well, kind of. We still don't know the exact details but we have the broad strokes: it'll encourage people to put money into a government-run investment account, rather than letting it languish in a savings account. The Social Democrats aren't impressed so far, though. They say the scheme is basically a "tax break for millionaires".Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Rónán Duffy and Jane Matthews look at whether this might finally be the thing that moves Irish people away from savings accounts and buying property to make money.Also: Do we have enough TDs? Michael McDowell thinks so. The Senator has called for a referendum to cap the number of TDs, saying if the population continues to grow, it'll cost a lot more money to accommodate them all in Leinster House. Should this happen? And more importantly: will it?Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The National Children's Hospital has just missed its 18th deadline, and when an Oireachtas committee asked when it would actually be ready, the answer was: we'll need another 15 days to come up with a new date. Meanwhile, 570 staff still need to be hired in a city where nurses struggle to afford to live.Christine Bohan, Christina Finn and Rónán Duffy ask why the government keeps treating its most expensive project like something that's happening to someone else.Also: the excise cuts on fuel have landed and barely made a dent, and Michael Healy-Rae got very annoyed about fox hunting on the radio,  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The reviews are in from the Oval Office, and the verdict is... it wasn't a disaster? Martin met Trump, defended Starmer, stifled a grin during a rant about windmills, and told the US president he's doing his bit for peace in the Middle East (gulp). The bar for success remains firmly on the floor: don't poke the bear, don't make headlines, get out alive.Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews and Rónán Duffy debrief on the visit, with Christina reporting on her experience in Oval Office and Jane from Boston, where Joe Biden made a surprise appearance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fuel prices have been climbing higher, and higher... and higher. The government's response? We're monitoring it. Wait and see. Let's not make any knee-jerk decisions. But as one of our team puts it: everyone can see what's happening in Iran, everyone can see what's happening at the pumps, so how much more evidence do you need that this isn't going to blow over?Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews, Christina Finn and Rónán Duffy ask why the same government that cut excise within two weeks of the Ukraine war is dragging its feet now, and whether the real problem with Irish fuel prices started long before the first bomb dropped.Also: James Browne wants to loosen the rules on one-off rural housing. Is it a genuine fix or populism now the Greens are gone? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's day six of the US-led war on Iran and Ireland's government still can't bring itself to say two crucial words. With the White House visit just weeks away, Micheál Martin is leaning hard on phrases like "rules-based international order" - but what rules do we need to actually pay attention to? The government called out genocide in Gaza, but has suddenly gone quiet.Christine Bohan, Christina Finn and Rónán Duffy ask what's happened to Ireland's moral voice, and whether the St Patrick's Day trip is already dictating the Taoiseach's response. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sinn Féin's Dublin Central selection convention was meant to be a formality. Campaigner Gillian Sherratt was widely tipped to get the nod. Instead, the party's own members backed long-standing local councillor Janice Boylan. Was it a grassroots revolt against a parachute candidate?Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews, Christina Finn and Rónán Duffy dig into why Irish politics keeps rejecting outsiders, what it means for the Dublin Central by-election,Also: 'Gougers’, ‘hooligans' and a plague on all our rents. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The government's plan to review how SNAs are allocated lead to a U-turn that was almost as sharp as the backlash. Letters landing in principals' inboxes triggered a political firestorm, TDs lined up to call it an own goal, and the plan was shelved. Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy ask: how did the government walk into this one?Also: is there a snobbery problem with how we talk about hot school meals? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another St Patrick's Day trip to the White House, another thorny issue to navigate. This time, it's the detention of an Irish citizen in a US immigration centre. Despite reports of grim conditions and rising concerns for other undocumented Irish people, Micheál Martin seems reluctant to put it front and centre with Donald Trump.Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews, Rónán Duffy and Christina Finn unpack whether the Taoiseach can really afford to sidestep it.Also: Once again tourists trump renters in the eyes of the government. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The government wants e-bike and e-scooter users to wear helmets and high-vis gear, but critics say that’s missing the point. Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews and Rónán Duffy dig into the backlash to this latest safety proposal and why the cycling debate in Ireland seems to hit a nerve every time.Also: Should politicians be using AI to write speeches? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The most powerful political force in Ireland? Flooding.Storm Chandra has kicked off a public row between Housing Minister James Browne and Met Éireann. After Browne suggested Met Éireann 'guarded' information and should change how it issues warnings, question are now being asked: is the warning system fit for purpose, and who is accountable when flooding hits?Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews and Rónán Duffy examine what this tells us about Ireland’s preparedness for more extreme weather - and if politicians are able to handle the fallout themselves.Also: why are defections a running drama in UK politics, but not in Ireland? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The annual St Patrick’s Day trip to the White House used to be a low-stakes photo op. Now? It's a perennial (somewhat tiresome, perhaps) news story and moral dilemma: will we, or won't we? Should Micheál Martin go, and if he does, what does Ireland actually gain and risk?Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews, Rónán Duffy and Christina Finn unpack the political calculations around this, whether there's a 'red line' which we need to accept has been crossed, and how much leverage Ireland really has during Trump's second termAlso: why are most political parties still posting on X? And what could the government’s planned digital wallet could mean for kids’ safety and civil liberties? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's a new Dáil term and a new season of The Candidate, but issues at home are taking a back seat right now. Non-consensual, AI-generated sexual imagery has become the flashpoint after X’s Grok tool made it easier to create and share this content. With gardaí investigating suspected child sexual abuse material, and ministers floating half-formed calls to ban the AI chatbot completely, the government is under pressure to explain what it can and will actually do.Sinéad O'Carroll, Rónán Duffy and Jane Matthews unpack the political response, the muddled messaging, and the question Ireland keeps avoiding: how do you regulate powerful tech firms when the State also relies on them? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy share their favourite political shows - the ones that helped them escape (or make sense of) real-life Leinster House drama. From The West Wing to Veep, The Thick of It to Borgen, they offer recommendations for what to binge over Twixmas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy hand out their now-traditional end-of-year political awards, from the Michael Myers Award for Hanging On In There to the MGMT Difficult Second Album Award. The team reflect on the wins, flops, scandals, and surprises of 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A video aimed at young people moving back in with their parents, shared by the Department of Housing, was meant to be helpful... but it didn't land like that. At all. No sir. Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews and Rónán Duffy unpick why the backlash was so immediate and the lessons needed for the government on talking about the housing crisis. Do decision makers really understand just how hard things have become for an entire generation of renters?Also: If you don't understand why Ireland’s nitrates derogation is controversial, you will after this episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s first visit to Ireland was smooth, symbolic, and tightly stage-managed. Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, and Jane Matthews unpack the carefully curated optics of the visit, and examine what was said vs what wasn't.Also: how we are still talking about the Occupied Territories Bill? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A judicial review filed against the long awaited MetroLink has sparked a backlash from both government and a public fed up with delays. Ministers are treading carefully, defending the right to object while clearly hoping the residents of Dublin's leafiest of leafy suburbs back down. Will this be a short planning skirmish or a defining infrastructure war?Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, and Jane Matthews look at why this case has touched a nerve and what comes next.Also: a shift in tone and policy on migration raises questions about what’s driving the government’s tougher stance. Public pressure or EU alignment? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a move that has raised some eyebrows across Leinster House, Simon Harris has made himself the country's new Minister for Finance. This meant skipping over the entire Fine Gael front bench team in his search to fill the gap left by Paschal Donohoe’s high-profile exit to the World Bank.Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy unpack why Harris did it, and how this could shape the next two years of government. The team also examines what Donohoe’s departure will actually mean for the Fine Gael party, and whether the upcoming by-election means a certain Monk might make another surprise appearance... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Catherine Connolly’s first speech as president was careful, critical, calm, with just a few pointed lines that hinted at how she’ll approach the role. But for such a major democratic moment, it felt stilted and oddly empty.Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy examine why the inauguration itself felt so disconnected from the public, in contrast with Connolly's people-first outlook.Also: Fianna Fáil eagerly await Micheál Martin's promised review of the election campaign. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fianna Fáil’s hiring of Ivan Yates to help prep Jim Gavin for grillings during the presidential election rate has sparked (or perhaps fanned) tensions with Fine Gael. Then there's the broader questions about media transparency and political training (and let's not forget: who Matt Cooper's new podcast co-host will be?). Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy unpack the past few days.Also: Simon Harris poorly timed, vaguely worded remarks on migration were not what the country needed right now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Collison, billionaire Stripe co-founder, lobbed a political bombshell in the direction of Kildare Street with a 2,500-word Irish Times think piece (manifesto, perhaps). Is it a bold vision or simply Silicon Valley naivety?Sinead O’Carroll, Christina Finn, and Rónán Duffy break down the response to Collison’s 'Make Politicians Powerful Again' call, from ministers nodding along to critics pointing out all the things he left out. They also ask: why can Irish governments deliver for the Ryder Cup, but not for housing? What does that say about leadership, blame, and priorities?Also: will we have a new taoiseach this time next week? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Catherine Connolly’s presidential victory was more than decisive (but we're not going to call it stonking because Christine hates that word).In this post-election episode, the team unpack what went so right for Connolly, and but where to even begin about where it went wrong for Heather Humphreys? Between Fine Gael’s incoherent campaign and the truly remarkable scale of spoiled votes, this race was far more revealing that anyone expected. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With just days to go before the public go to the polls, we sit down with presidential candidate Catherine Connolly. She joins Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy in studio for a wide-ranging conversation. We delve into her campaign so far - its origins, its controversies, and its future. We look ahead to after the election, and whether the movement she has built up has the strength to continue. The team also unpicks her views on the role of the media, and look back on her time as a barrister. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're turning the corner into the final stretch of the presidential election. Catherine Connolly is pulling ahead in the polls, and it's starting to look a lot like Heather Humphrey's campaign just hasn't landed - and she's running out of time to change that.Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews and Rónán Duffy unpack a (somewhat) turbulent week of resignations and pointed remarks, from the Green Party’s internal backlash to Labour’s at times reluctant support. Is this what unity on the Left really looks like? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eh... what just happened? Jim Gavin’s shock, abrupt, and unprecedented withdrawal from the presidential race has sent an earthquake through Fianna Fáil and will reshape the campaign. Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy unpack the landlord-payment story, Fianna Fáil's vetting processing, the big questions this poses for the party's leadership, and what a narrowed field means for Connolly and Humphreys in the final stretch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first presidential debate is unlikely to be one that anyone will ever really remember, but it gave voters their first real close-up look at how the three candidates perform under pressure. Humphreys tried to steer clear of any mistakes, Jim Gavin attempted to appear less “low energy”, while Catherine Connolly appeared to be in the most control.Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy unpack who came out strongest (and maybe even who 'won'), if any awkward moments might stick, and whether this campaign will ever move beyond safe talking points. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the presidential election campaign kicks off in earnest, we're back with a new season of The Candidate. However... we have just three candidates in the race: Catherine Connolly, Heather Humphreys, and Jim Gavin. It's the smallest field in years.Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy examine why Maria Steen fell at the final hurdle, what it says about Ireland’s political spectrum, and whether it signals the need for change in the current system of nominations.Also: who can avoid making a major mistake in the weeks ahead? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a summer of speculation, six-time All-Ireland winning Dublin manager Jim Gavin has emerged victorious in the race to be Fianna Fáil's candidate for the presidency. There was a contest and Billy Kelleher ran him closer than many expected but Taoiseach Micheál Martin got his man in the end. The question now is whether Martin's vision is shared by the public and whether Gavin is the superstar signing the party leader clearly thinks he is.Sinead O'Carroll, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy unpack what all this means and also discuss the shocking threats made against the family of Tánaiste Simon Harris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The unexpected withdrawal of Mairead McGuinness has left a massive hole in the presidential race, one that has yet to be filled by any of the three major parties. Where do Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and Sinn Féin go from here?In this unscheduled episode, Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy look at what this means for the campaign timeline, whether Gareth Sheridan’s bid is being taken seriously, and ask if Catherine Connolly has a brand recognition problem. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ministers held their last Cabinet meeting this week, while TDs and senators have already cleared out of Leinster House for their break. That means it's time for us to hand out the report cards. We asked our listeners and readers to help us dish out some accolades for the performance of TDs in the current Dáil so far: Best Politician; Best Newbie; Comeback Kid; Must-Try-Harder Award; Quote of The Term; Clanger of The Term; Row of The Term; Best Political Moment. Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy make the tough decisions on this week's episode.The Candidate will be taking a break for a few weeks until Irish politics starts ramping up again (but don't worry, we'll have you covered if anything major happens). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The government unveiled its updated infrastructure spending plan this week and its plans to splash billions on projects around the country. But on what projects and where? Well, that type of detail was, oddly, not forthcoming...From MetroLink to housing and health, the National Development Plan was heavy on spin and light on specifics. It was followed by the Summer Economic Statement and a shift in mood: next year’s Budget might not be particularly cheery. Christine Bohan, Jane Matthews and Rónán Duffy unpack the two announcements.Also: the Social Democrats just turned 10. What explains their 'slow burn' staying power, and are they the exception to the rule about small Irish parties? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Dáil has wrapped up for the summer... again. But with a housing crisis, major legislation pending, and just 33 sitting weeks a year, should TDs still be clocking off this easily? Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, and Jane Matthews unpack whether Ireland’s political calendar is stuck in the past, and why a rethink of how the Dáil actually works should be on the cards.Also: the Occupied Territories Bill is drawing increasingly sharp criticism from the US. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mary Lou McDonald is finally sailing us out of the presidential election doldrums... without saying much at all, really. Her non-denial that she would be throwing her hat in the ring has ramped up speculation around her being Sinn Féin's candidate. But could she actually win? And why are all the other parties playing it so coy?Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy look at this continued quiet, cautious election tip-toeing that is continued.Also: could Leo's post-taoiseach persona win over former sceptics? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.