The State of Affairs

Joining Ciaran for the last episode of the year is Áine and Adam. Together they go through each month from the crazy year that was 2020, chatting about different events that grabbed the world's attention. The guys will be back early in 2021. Until then have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year! Enjoy the episode.

Joining Ciaran on this week's show is Áine and Adam. They discuss the return to Level 3 and the potential change in strategy from the Irish Government. We play a clipped version of Ciaran's interview with Eddie Hobbs (full interview now on Spotify), where they discuss Ireland's economic response to Covid-19 and take a look at global economics. Finally, with new opinion polls out this week, the lads discuss Sinn Féin's surge and chat about potential future leaders for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Happy Listening!

This week Ciaran caught up with celebrity financial planner and former RTÉ television presenter, Eddie Hobbs. The Cork man has been a critic of the Irish Government's economic response since the emergence of the pandemic. With another lockdown likely to come in the New Year, based on our current strategy, Eddie fears that many SMEs may not survive the winter. However, he nevertheless remains optimistic that the economy will recover relatively quickly. Check out what he has to say in this fantastic extra-long bonus episode.

This week Ciaran is back in studio where he is joined by Charlie Power and Adam Hallissey . They talk all things vaccine including whether they would be first in the queue to take it. We'll fly to France and chat with Ben Quigley, along with Áine O'Neill, about the contrasting behaviour amongst the public en France compared to Ireland, after videos emerged of social gatherings over the weekend in Cork City and Dublin. Catch all that and more on Episode 4.

This week, Áine O'Neill and Adam Hallissey were in the studio with Charlie Power to discuss Dominic Cummings leaving number 10, his legacy and Malcolm Byrne's efforts to enact the 7th amendment in the Seanad. Before that, Charlie caught up with UCC lecturer, Dr Mary C. Murphy, to hear her insights into how Biden, Boris and Brexit will work together.

This week Ciaran is joined in studio by Charlie Power and Adam Hallissey where they go through a US Election Debrief, perhaps discussing some points that haven't arisen in the mainstream media. We also hear from Aine O'Neill and Ben Quigley and the recent controversy surrounding both Leo Varadkar and Emmanuel Macron.

This week marks the official launch of The State Of Affairs following our pilot episode last Wednesday. We will join you every Monday 4-5, live on UCC98.3FM, to chat all things Current Affairs. I will be joined by regular panelists; Adam Hallissey, Aine O'Neill, Ben Quigley and Charlie Power. We also look forward to branching out from our inner circle and have interesting conversations with academics in UCC and maybe even further afield, #Notions. This week we talk Jeremy Corbyn, Lockdown in France, Essential Items and US Politics (apparently there's some election on). I hope you all enjoy!

Welcome to The State of Affairs