{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/6155db9059a3fa00137f30a9/6516e796c8d4ce0011049dff?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Sinn Féin gain, no giveaway budget, Leo on Benefits Street ","description":"<p>Harry McGee and Pat Leahy join Hugh Linehan to discuss the week in politics:</p><p><br></p><ul><li>The latest Irish Times / Ipsos opinion poll <a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2023/09/29/mary-lou-mcdonald-most-popular-choice-for-taoiseach-irish-times-poll-finds/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">shows Sinn Féin continuing to gain</a>. Other poll results foreshadow the potential for difficult negotiations if the party needs to form a coalition with Fianna Fáil.</li></ul><p><br></p><ul><li>Beyond the next election, the poll shows long term problems for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael when it comes to attracting young voters. </li></ul><p><br></p><ul><li>Budget 2024 is just over a week away and for now the <a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/2023/09/27/budget-2024-window-to-prepare-for-economic-headwinds-is-rapidly-closing-minister-for-finance-will-say/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">message is that this will not be a pre-election giveaway</a> - but will that hold?</li></ul><p><br></p><ul><li>Taoiseach Leo Varadkar <a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/oireachtas/2023/09/28/varadkars-reference-to-benefits-street-in-disability-payments-reforms-discussion-not-appropriate/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">dropped an unusual and somewhat controversial reference</a> this week, prompting our panel to speculate about his TV viewing habits.</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Plus the panel select their favourite reads of the week:</p><p><br></p><ul><li>Without even mentioning the song, <a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2023/09/29/diarmaid-ferriter-it-doesnt-matter-which-songs-ring-out-in-the-stands-what-matters-is-what-happens-on-the-pitch/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Diarmaid Ferriter has (hopefully) the last work on Zombiegate.</a></li></ul><p><br></p><ul><li>Michael McDowell <a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2023/09/27/michael-mcdowell-only-thing-standing-in-the-way-of-a-beautiful-capital-is-dublin-citys-councils-suffocating-paralysis/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">calls for a new agency</a> to reverse Dublin's decline</li></ul><p><br></p><ul><li>And Pat commends our reporters' wide <a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2023/09/27/seizure-of-ship-carrying-drugs-puts-focus-back-on-irelands-ability-to-patrol-waters/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">coverage</a> of this <a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/2023/09/28/us-sanctions-colombian-cartel-leader-linked-to-157m-irish-cocaine-haul/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">week's historic</a> <a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/2023/09/27/south-american-irish-and-european-gangs-behind-cork-drug-ship-seizure/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">drugs bust</a>.</li></ul><p><br></p>","author_name":"The Irish Times"}