{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/6155db9059a3fa00137f30a9/662bb7b2b5e62000138a442b?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Harris delivers on Stardust as McEntee fumbles the border question ","description":"<p>Hugh Linehan is joined by Pat Leahy and Harry McGee to look back on the week in politics:</p><p><br></p><ul><li>Taoiseach Simon Harris’s <a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2024/04/23/harriss-empathetic-apology-to-stardust-families-shows-he-has-a-quality-that-is-key-in-modern-politics/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">sure-footed performance</a> as he delivered an apology to the Stardust tragedy victims.</li></ul><p><br></p><ul><li>Less good was Minister for Justice Helen McEntee’s appearance at an Oireachtas committee, where she <a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/housing-planning/2024/04/25/new-laws-needed-to-deal-with-asylum-seekers-arriving-into-the-state-from-north-says-taoiseach/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">struggled to answer a question</a> about the State’s handling of international protection applicants.</li></ul><p><br></p><ul><li>Discussions about <a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2024/04/23/coalitions-budgetary-war-chest-balloons-as-election-nears/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">budget spending</a> are starting early this year, a sign of the auction politics to come in the run-up to the general election.</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Plus the panel pick their Irish Times articles of the week:</p><p><br></p><ul><li>Justine McCarthy on <a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2024/04/26/justine-mccarthy-why-are-so-many-journalists-leaving-to-work-for-the-government/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">the growing number of journalists becoming Government advisors</a>.</li></ul><p><br></p><ul><li>Finn McRedmond<a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2024/04/25/snobbery-about-snobs-is-misplaced-just-ask-foodie-eoin-o-broin/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"> in defence of snobbery</a>.</li></ul><p><br></p><ul><li>And coverage of <a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/health/2024/04/25/systemic-failures-at-university-hospital-limerick-led-to-death-of-aoife-johnston-says-coroner/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">the dysfunction in University Hospital Limerick</a>, as revealed by a coroner’s report on the tragic death of teenager Aoife Johnston.</li></ul><p><br></p><ul><li><em>Sign up for </em><a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/media/2023/11/07/stay-informed-with-push-alerts-from-the-irish-times-delivered-straight-to-your-phone/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Politics push alerts</em></a><em> and have the best news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone</em></li></ul><p><br></p><ul><li><em>Find </em><a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/media/2023/10/27/find-the-irish-times-on-whatsapp-and-stay-up-to-date/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><em>The Irish Times on WhatsApp</em></a><em> and stay up to date</em></li></ul>","author_name":"The Irish Times"}