Let Me Tell You

In this week’s episode, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe speaking openly for the first time reveals the drama behind the scenes in March 2020, when over two weeks, the acting government took unprecedented action to save the country from Covid-19. He also reveals the extent of the tensions between the Government and Nphet over many months, including Nphet’s failures.

In this week’s episode, former Fianna Fáil minister and current Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher talks about his role in helping Micheál Martin oust then Taoiseach Brian Cowen. He speaks about being assaulted as a minister during the period of the IMF Troika bailout and the damage Confidence and Supply did to his party since 2016.

In this week’s episode, Paul Hosford speaks to People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy about his dramatic election to the Dáil in 2014 off the back of the water charges protest movement. Murphy speaks candidly about the tactics used by the radical left to become a mass movement, his role in the controversial Jobstown protest and why he does not believe Joan Burton was terrorised.

In this week’s episode, Sinn Féin’s Louise O’Reilly sits down with Paul Hosford to talk through the early troubled days for Mary Lou McDonald after she succeeded Gerry Adams. She reveals how and why the party got it so wrong in the 2018 Presidential Election and the 2019 Local and European elections, only for the party to enjoy its greatest election success in early 2020. O’Reilly also makes clear her party will talk to anyone about forming the next Government when the time comes.

In the final episode in Series 1, we look at the circumstances of the resignation of then Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald and the snap Christmas General Election that nearly was in 2017. Befuddled by a failure to answer clearly about the State’s treatment of Garda whistle-blower Maurice McCabe, Fitzgerald found herself at the epicentre of a firestorm and demands for her resignation from Fianna Fáil, which was supporting the minority government. O’Callaghan sits down with Daniel McConnell to detail his central role in those dramatic events.

With the 50th anniversary of Ireland’s entry into Europe upon us, in this episode former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern discusses his historic presidency of the EU in 2004, the enlargement of the union from 15 to 25 countries on his watch and the successful negotiation of a new EU constitution. Ahern also speaks candidly about his troubles with the Mahon Tribunal and why he turned down the offer to be President of the EU Commission.In this series, we look back at some of the most dramatic episodes in recent Irish political history from the unique perspective of one of the key players.Produced by Paul Hosford and Daniel McConnell.

Very few people know it, but in 2012, Ireland developed over many months a secret plan to reprint the punt as fears of a collapse of the Euro currency came close to being a reality.In this episode, former Labour leader and then Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin reveals the details of that secret plan, which could have led to a new currency with the face of Michael D Higgins on it.In this series, we look back at some of the most dramatic episodes in recent Irish political history from the unique perspective of one of the key players.Produced by Paul Hosford and Daniel McConnell.

In Episode 3, we look back on the furore surrounding the FAI set off by the revelation that CEO John Delaney provided a €100,000 loan to the association in 2017.Delaney said this loan was for a “very short-term cash flow issue” but Sport Ireland were amongst those who demanded a greater explanation. After much wrangling, Delaney and members of the FAI agreed to appear before the Oireachtas Sports Committee, but even that would only be the beginning of the fireworks. One of the leading questioners of Delaney that day, Social Democrats leader Catherine Murphy recalls her role in the saga.In this series, we look back at some of the most dramatic episodes in recent Irish political history from the unique perspective of one of the key players.Produced by Paul Hosford and Daniel McConnell.

In Episode 4, we look at the events surrounding how Ireland led the way in public health policy when it banned smoking indoors in 2004. In this episode, Tánaiste Micheál Martin tells us how he as Minister for Health and the Government of the day navigated public opinion, publican resistance and tobacco industry fightback to pass the landmark ban. Mr Martin also tells us how he believes that the tobacco industry has fought back against the ban since.In this series, we look back at some of the most dramatic episodes in recent Irish political history from the unique perspective of one of the key players.Produced by Paul Hosford and Daniel McConnell.