{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/6155db9059a3fa00137f30a9/643fe0094561b10011c9bd88?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Does the Dowdall connection harm Sinn Féin? ","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/6155db9059a3fa00137f30a9/1663848537126-2dc1acf60b50c54b6ca5092e25cbfd6d.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>On today’s Inside Politics podcast Hugh Linehan is joined by Harry McGee and Jack Horgan-Jones from our political team to discuss this week’s stories, including:</p><p><br></p><ul><li>Focus on Sinn Féin’s <a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/2023/04/19/jonathan-dowdall-retreats-into-witness-protection-leaving-trail-of-questions-for-sinn-fein/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">link to discredited witness Jonathan Dowdall</a> since the conclusion of the Regency trial this week. Will the connection harm the party at election time?</li></ul><p><br></p><ul><li>Fine Gael TD John Paul Phelan’s <a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2023/04/19/fine-gael-td-john-paul-phelan-to-stand-down-at-next-election/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">intention to stand down</a> at the next election is on the grounds of ill health. But there is also a broader trend of politicians leaving politics behind. </li></ul><p><br></p><ul><li>A report into <a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/health/2023/04/17/uncivil-war-among-top-officials-on-botched-holohan-appointment-to-trinity-college-dublin/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">the botched appointment of Dr Tony Holohan to a state-funded position at Trinity College Dublin</a> showed how surprisingly sloppy the process had been and revealed a major dispute among senior civil servants over who knew what, when.</li></ul><p><br></p><ul><li>Will independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice really launch a new political party catering to farmers fed up with the Green agenda? </li></ul><p><br></p>","author_name":"The Irish Times"}