The Candidate

... well, we're afraid you'll have to wait until our producer/barman counts the votes in accordance with PR-STV and reveals the winner at the end of the episode.The team — Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews, and Sinéad O'Carroll — break out the non-alcoholic mulled wine and alcoholic mystery red cocktails and decide on the winners of The Candidate's 2024 Politics Awards.From Whoopsie of The Year to The Late Debate Debater Award, we look back on the year that was and look at the moments and people that really mattered.Thank you to everyone who tuned in to The Candidate over the past year. We'd love to hear any thoughts or suggestions you have on the podcast — just drop a message to nicky@thejournal.ie.

We're now stuck in government formation purgatory amd struggling to keep track of which group-of-the-day is vying for a seat at the Cabinet table. There's also murmurings of who the next Ceann Comhairle could be (spoiler, it could be the same person as the previous two Dáil terms).But, on top of all of this, we have the Social Democrats facing their first real post-election headache. A link between Eoin Hayes, one of the party's recently elected TDs, and a company whose AI systems are by used by the Israel Defence Forces, emerged. But how damaging will it be to the party, or are people finding it hard to wrap their head around?

The general election is... over? And it's clear that the team have gone a little stir-crazy after a few too many hours in count centres.Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, and Sinéad O'Carroll sit down to look at the case of Stephen Donnelly, and how the Cabinet minister ended up losing his seat — there were some early warning signs that Fianna Fáil feared he was in trouble, and possibly because of a weak campaign on the ground.The team also chat about what exactly happened with the exit poll, and which Independents are waiting in the wings to prop up the next government?Also: Would you rather a duck with small feet to come at you or... sorry, we can't remember how this meme is meant to go. It's been a long week.Produced by Nicky Ryan.

The media scrums in the RDS were growing bigger and bigger as the count went on... and then Gerald Hutch arrived.The gangland figure's failed election bid drew huge attention from national and international press, but has he achieved his ultimate aim? Could his unexpectedly strong performance shine a light on Dublin's north inner city and the reasons why people voted for him?With Christine Bohan and Sinéad O'Carroll in studio, and Christina Finn and Jane Matthews in the RDS, we look at the big headline talking points that are now coming out of the election results.

It's all systems go: the votes have been cast, the exit polls revealed, the ballots separated, and the counting is now underway.A picture of general election 2024 is starting to come together piece-by-piece. Christine Bohan and Christina Finn (the latter joining us from a car park outside the Wicklow count centre) chat about the big talking points so far, and ask: is it really viable anymore for any party to rule out coalition with Sinn Féin?

Just days to go now, and we've had our first real talking point of the campaign — but also another lacklustre debate.Sinéad O'Carroll, Christina Finn, and Jane Matthews chat on today's episode about the final stretch and what could really make a difference in the minds of undecided voters. Or maybe, instead of undecided voters, do we need to focus on the undecided coalition partners?

Heading into this election, it was disaster after disaster for Sinn Féin. The timing couldn't been worse. It wasn't going to be theirs for the taking, but literally anyone else.But is the party now having a normal election campaign? Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews and (another new character unlocked) Muiris O'Cearbhaill examine how the coming days might pan out for Sinn Féin, and whether they or another party will be able to conjure up some real momentum.We also look at Aontú and the alleged media bubble the party is trying to pop, and ask whether we are forever caught in the orbit of rotating taoisigh.

A low-key, cranky election campaign manifested as a low-key, cranky election debate last night.Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews and Rónán Duffy sit down to unpack last night's 10-way special on RTÉ's Upfront. Did anyone really come out on top in the end, or did the main party leaders let themselves down in the end?We also examine Fine Gael's John McGahon problem, and look at the feeling on the ground in some battleground constituencies (yes, that includes Dublin Central).

We're now almost a week into the election campaign, and the children are fighting. Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have traded a series of jabs that might across as surprising to hear from two parties who are currently in government together and may likely have to work together again in future. Is it all a show? Is it believable?Also, how important will appearances on podcasts be for candidates?