Podcast The Candidate terbaik (2025)

1
James Browne: struggling with housing, excelling at celebrating the Normans 31:10

1d ago31:10

31:10

Minister James Browne has been in the housing hot seat for four months — and with not much to show for it, he's now facing intense criticism. Is it justified, or just a symptom of political impatience with the biggest crisis in government? Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy debate his performance so far and whether he’s…

1
The big difference between Keir and Jim on immigration 31:42

7d ago31:42

31:42

This week, we look across the Irish Sea to Keir Starmer's decision to lean Labour into much blunter rhetoric around immigration. Back home, a similar policy shift is happening, but behind a much quieter tone. How are both countries are handling political pressure on migration, and is Ireland is heading in the same direction, just with fewer dog whi…

1
Ireland has a voice on Gaza, but no real power 35:48

15d ago35:48

35:48

Ireland’s position on Israel and Gaza is clearer than ever, with strong condemnation and urgent calls for action. Although the country remains at the forefront of calls for the destruction to end, the actual impact of all this is harder to spot. How can the government be more effective? Or is it too late, and some of its best chances have already p…

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Kneecap get the scrutiny Netanyahu doesn't 32:31

22d ago32:31

32:31

Kneecap have never been strangers to controversy, but they have now been pushed firmly into the political spotlight. The Belfast rap group's Coachella protest, resurfaced footage of older live performances, and a call to “urgently clarify” from the Taoiseach have triggered a row that now spans Westminster, the Dáil, and is even making a mark on the…

1
Be careful asking when an Irish infrastructure project might be ready 32:37

1M ago32:37

32:37

Cork is getting a Luas. When? Well... you know how these things go... Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy look at why big infrastructure projects in Ireland move so slowly and what the Cork project tells us about systemic bottlenecks (and even how to fix them). The big question is of course whether Ireland can unlock the…

1
Fine Gael wants the one job it’s never had 35:06

1M ago35:06

35:06

We're still months out from the actual vote, but the presidential election machine is slowly spinning up (despite McGregor's efforts to jump-start it proving fruitless so farit so). Some potential candidates are tentatively suggesting that they have their eyes on a nomination, though none have declared yet. At the forefront is Fine Gael, with Maire…

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Wait, is this going to be like 2008 all over again? 25:48

2M ago25:48

25:48

In a long, rambling press conference in the White House's Rose Garden on Wednesday evening, Donald Trump launched a historic global trade war - and Ireland is in the crosshairs. There's a real sense of shellshock since the announcement of the new tariffs: it's going to take weeks, if not months, for the impact to be felt, but there are some pretty …

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Two days (and two fingers) that shocked the Dáil 29:07

2M ago29:07

29:07

The speaking rights row has yet to be quelled. A truce or a compromise is nowhere in sight. It's only getting messier, causing deeper divisions between the opposition and government parties. And then, through a simple gesture given by Michael Lowry to Paul Murphy, the entire situation was elevated to new heights. Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, an…

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McGregor couldn't be more at home in Trump's White House 32:02

2M ago32:02

32:02

And just when we thought the dust had settled after Micheál Martin's visit to the Oval Office. Conor McGregor's appearance in the White House was somewhat foreshadowed by Trump, who had referred to him as his favourite Irish person, but it caught many off guard. At the same time, McGregor being in the White House for 17 March shouldn't really come …

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The Oval Office meeting veered between success and humiliation 38:53

2M ago38:53

38:53

Ireland watched the Taoiseach's Oval Office visit with bated breath. Would it be a disaster, an incredible success, or something in between? One of the biggest events in the Irish political calendar is over, and Micheál Martin has survived his 50-minute encounter with Donald Trump. Not without slipping on a couple of banana skins, of course. Christ…

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Micheál Martin better be practicing his plámás right now 30:25

3M ago30:25

30:25

First, it was Covid restrictions that called off Micheál Martin's visit to the White House for St Patrick's Day in 2021. Then, during his second chance, he ended up actually catching Covid on the trip. Will it be third time lucky, or, after last week's Oval Office scenes, will this be one of the biggest tests of his political career? Will Trump unl…

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Ireland gets DOGE-curious after x-ray scanner 'fury' 30:04

3M ago30:04

30:04

News about the National Gallery's never-used x-ray scanner worth €125,000 sparked 'fury' across the country... apparently. Did it really? If it did, how can that fury be used constructively? If it didn't, have we become numb to this type of wasted cash — or was this simply not that big of a deal? On this week's episode, Christine Bohan, Jane Matthe…

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Ireland's big defence question and back garden cabin fever 30:11

3M ago30:11

30:11

Europe is in disarray, to say the least, over Trump's rumblings about distancing the United States from all us on this side of the Atlantic, and his new spat with Volodymyr Zelenskyy. It will leave a massive hole in European defence if that happens, and that means Ireland is facing renewed attention over its military spend (or lack thereof). Christ…

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The government has put the fear of God into renters 30:25

3M ago30:25

30:25

Housing remains the single biggest issue for the Irish public. People want to see the crisis brought to an end or, at the very least, real action being taken. Any missteps are amplified. We saw that this week with talk of scrapping Rent Pressure Zones and the controversy around housing figures provided during the general election. Christine Bohan, …

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The most politically loaded bowl of shamrock to date 32:10

4M ago32:10

32:10

It's almost March, and you know what that means: all political attention turns to one particular bowl of shamrock. Trump's second-term actions so far leave Ireland faced with a renewed dilemma: go ahead with the traditional St Patrick's Day trip to Washington in the name of using it to make our case on the world stage, or face the new realities of …

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Leo's gift to the new Dáil is a possible constitutional mess 31:09

4M ago31:09

31:09

With the help of a column in the Sunday Times, Leo Varadkar has casually lobbed a grenade at the new Dáil: are the positions of some new junior minsters constitutionally sound? It now looks like likely that their status could be tested in the courts, and for the first time. Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, and Jane Matthews have a look at this, as …

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The government's next big test: survive five years 29:55

4M ago29:55

29:55

What a week. An unprecedented start to the Dáil term. A temporary and perhaps uneasy truce over speaking rights that allowed the government to get off the ground. The Opposition putting forward a rare, united front. Again, this is week one; there are five years left to go. Fully remote this week due to Storm Éowyn, with the occasional atmospheric w…

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Dáil chaos: We can’t stress enough how unprecedented today was 8:37

4M ago8:37

8:37

The process of voting in a new taoiseach is usually a fairly routine affair. The opposition parties have their say, the government parties and their supporters have theirs, the vote is ultimately passed by the party with the most seats, and then it's time for a day out in the Áras. All very tidy. Instead, Leinster House has been plunged into unprec…

1
A dash of Healy Rae won't liven up the government's five-year plan 27:35

4M ago27:35

27:35

Something we're enthusiastic about: we're back for a new season! Something we're not enthusiastic about: the new Programme for Government. Our team — Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, and Jane Matthews — examine the 162-page document which outlines the government's plan for the next five years. Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Regional Independents Gr…

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And our award for Politician of the Year goes to... 58:14

5M ago58:14

58:14

... 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 T…

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Well, that escalated quickly: the Eoin Hayes drama 34:10

5M ago34:10

34:10

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 the…

1
How Stephen Donnelly went from firebrand independent to unseated minister 37:27

6M ago37:27

37:27

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 …

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Hutch's failed election bid raises so many questions about Irish politics 30:02

6M ago30:02

30:02

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 reas…

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Sinn Féin: great at elections, not so good at actually getting into government 21:17

6M ago21:17

21:17

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…

1
Micheál Martin really doesn’t like being asked about Sinn Féin 30:17

6M ago30:17

30:17

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…

1
This election was supposed to be a disaster for Sinn Féin 34:00

6M ago34:00

34:00

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 …

1
That was a weird leaders' debate 31:01

6M ago31:01

31:01

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 Fi…

1
The two big parties turn into squabbling siblings 21:00

6M ago21:00

21:00

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…

1
Michael O'Leary and jiving, two unexpected political battlegrounds 29:38

6M ago29:38

29:38

Show us someone who had 'jiving' on their 2024 general election bingo card, and we'll show you a liar. Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews and Rónán Duffy look at how the campaign trail is progressing so far, and the need for politicians to pivot into the world of content creation (to very mixed results). We also hear about what Micheál …

1
Was it that obvious? 58:54

7M ago58:54

58:54

Was it that obvious?

1
Simon (and Micheál) set the date (finally) 31:17

7M ago31:17

31:17

Finally. Finally! Candidates are already out on the doorsteps and some politicians packing up their office in Leinster House. Now, the government has announced — in unexpectedly messy fashion — the date of the next general election. The Dáil will be dissolved on Friday, and the public will go to the polls on 29 November. Christine Bohan, Christina …

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Bonus episode: He's back 21:46

7M ago21:46

21:46

The US presidential election is all but lost for Kamala Harris. Donald Trump is preparing his return to power. The results are still coming in, but we're bringing you a quick bonus episode with two sleep-deprived reporters to examine how the night unfolded and what comes next. Christine Bohan and Rónán Duffy begin the postmortem on the Democrat's f…

1
Did Labour tax the rich or the poor? 1:02:20

7M ago1:02:20

1:02:20

Did Labour tax the rich or the poor?

1
Parents show great restraint not rioting over childcare 35:19

7M ago35:19

35:19

It's one of the biggest issues facing families across Ireland, and yet it never ranks highly in the list of people's political priorities. Could childcare still be the issue that wins or loses this election? On the latest episode of The Candidate podcast — which now takes a weekly look behind the scenes and beyond the headlines to focus on what’s r…

1
The #groping episode 45:56

7M ago45:56

45:56

The #groping episode

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Fine Gael is continuing to haemorrhage TDs 31:28

7M ago31:28

31:28

We're all caught up in the pre-election doldrums, but is one party's ship in particular trouble? On the latest episode of The Candidate podcast — which now takes a weekly look behind the scenes and beyond the headlines to focus on what’s really happening in Irish politics right now — Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, Jane Matthews, and Rónán Duffy e…

1
A trip to the Betty Ford Clinic 58:07

7M ago58:07

58:07

A trip to the Betty Ford Clinic

1
Ireland's chance to go it alone against Israel 31:53

7M ago31:53

31:53

It's a strange, strange week in Irish politics (and still with no election date in sight). On the latest episode of The Candidate podcast — which now takes a weekly look behind the scenes and beyond the headlines to focus on what’s really happening in Irish politics right now — Christine Bohan, Christina Finn, and Rónán Duffy turn their attention t…

1
Tipping The Scales 34:33

7M ago34:33

34:33

Tipping The Scales

1
Simon Harris goes to Washington 34:48

7M ago34:48

34:48

Simon Harris is on a flying visit to Washington DC. He isn't under the same pressure that Leo Varadkar faced during a US visit earlier this year but the big question is similar: will he bring up the US's arming of Israel? In this episode, Jane Matthews, Rónán Duffy and Christine Bohan are joined by The Journal's political editor Christina Finn in W…

1
No Debate 1-1 41:50

8M ago41:50

41:50

No Debate 1-1

1
How do you tell Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil apart? 28:09

8M ago28:09

28:09

We're back with a new format for The Candidate, with weekly episodes that will take you behind the scenes and beyond the headlines to focus on what’s really happening in Irish politics right now. This week, Christine Bohan, Rónán Duffy, Christina Finn and Jane Matthews examine how the country's two biggest parties are going to navigate their same-b…