With Harry McGee and Jennifer Bray 

Jennifer Bray and Harry McGee join Hugh to talk about the latest Covid-19 moves being considered by Government, an eye-catching ruling by the Standards in Public Office Commission and what we learned from the State papers released over Christmas.

Covid calm despite case avalanche, Sipo's intervention, State papers

A new book tells the inside story of the Government handling of the pandemic 

Pandemonium: Power, Politics and Ireland’s Pandemic, is the new book by Irish Times political reporter Jack Horgan-Jones and Hugh O’Connell, political correspondent for the Irish Independent. It examines the government handling of the coronavirus pandemic, revealing the moves, power-plays and tactics of those in charge. The co-authors join Pat Leahy, to discuss the extensive work and research that went into the book, the pivotal moments along the way and what lessons can be learned by the state’s response.

Pandemonium: Jack Horgan-Jones and Hugh O’Connell

Freya McClements, Mary Minihan and Pat Leahy

Freya McClements, Mary Minihan and Pat Leahy join Hugh to analyse the results of last week's Northern Ireland Assembly elections. The major talking point is Sinn Féin taking the largest number of seats for the first time, while the Alliance Party's unprecedented success signals the importance of the middle ground in Northern Ireland.

Stormont election special: Seismic or not, a significant result for Northern Ireland

London Editor Denis Staunton and Mick Fealty, editor of Slugger O’Toole

Tomorrow Northern Ireland goes to the polls, in what’s been dubbed the most important vote in a generation. For the first time in more than a century, there is the prospect of a nationalist being elected to the top job in government. What could that mean for power sharing?&nbsp;In the rest of the United Kingdom, local elections are taking place. Will disgruntled Tory backbenchers use the results as an excuse to get rid of Boris Johnson?&nbsp;Hugh talks to our London Editor Denis Staunton and Mick Fealty, editor of the Slugger O’Toole political news and opinion website.

Voters go to the polls in Britain and Northern Ireland

Pat Leahy and Jennifer Bray join Hugh

Pat and Jen join Hugh to talk about all the political stories of the past week including tension within the coalition over a proposed ban on the sale of turf, the prospect of an increased number of TDs due to a growing population and what that will mean for politics, and an argument in the Seanad over remarks by one Senator during a debate on surrogacy legislation.

Turf wars, TD numbers and a row over surrogacy

Next weekend, French voters decide whether Emmanuel Macron should remain president or Marine Le Pen should replace him. The latter result would transform France and Europe. Next month, Northern Irish voters elect their MLAs in a vote that could see a Sinn Féin First Minister appointed for the first time. Freya McClements and Lara Marlowe report on these two consequential campaigns.

Two very different elections, two defining moments 

Pat Leahy talks to Harry McGee about poll findings

There is overwhelming support for a retention of Ireland’s current model of military neutrality, according to the latest Irish Times/Ipsos poll.&nbsp; Two- thirds of voters do not want to see any change in neutrality, with less than a quarter (24 per cent) saying they wanted to see a change.&nbsp; Pat Leahy explains the poll results in detail.

Poll exclusive: majority favour keeping neutrality 

Harry McGee and Cormac McQuinn join Pat Leahy

Part one: The political controversy over the appointment of Dr Tony Holohan to a position in Trinity College has raised some awkward questions for Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly and his departmental Secretary General extraordinaire Robert Watt. Part two: The Dáil is in recess this week - time to run the rule over the performance of the various political parties and the challenges that lie before them in the rest of 2022. Guests: Harry McGee and Cormac McQuinn

Watt in the spotlight / State of the parties

Neoliberalism means different things to different people. As a set of economic policies it is mainly associated with reducing state intervention in commerce and society. In the course of its late 20th century heyday, neoliberalism transformed the world - for better or worse. But now its dominance is challenged by different models, such as the authoritarian capitalism of China.&nbsp; In his new book The Rise and Fall of the Neoliberal Order, Gary Gerstle looks at how neoliberalism took hold, how it shaped society in the United States and beyond, and what its decline means.&nbsp; Gary Gerstle&nbsp;is Paul Mellon Professor of American History Emeritus and Paul Mellon Director of Research at the University of Cambridge.

What is neoliberalism - and is it over? 

Ukraine's President thanked Ireland for the humanitarian and financial support 

Hugh is joined by Jennifer Bray, Cormac McQuinn and Harry McGee to discuss the big political stories of the week, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s historic address to a joint sitting of the Oireachtas earlier this morning, the debate surrounding the impending carbon tax increase and the result of the recent Seanad by-election.

Zelenskiy’s historic address to Oireachtas, carbon tax increase, Seanad by-election

The best analysis of the Irish political scene fe…

The best analysis of the Irish political scene featuring Irish Times journalists, political thinkers and the occasional politician. Hosted by Arts & Culture Editor Hugh Linehan.

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Covid calm despite case avalanche, Sipo's intervention, State papers

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Stormont election special: Seismic or not, a significant result for Northern Ireland

Voters go to the polls in Britain and Northern Ireland

Turf wars, TD numbers and a row over surrogacy