Podcasts about The Irish Times

Irish Times columnist Brianna Parkins joined Brendan on the line from the scene at Sydney's Bondi Beach where 12 people so far have been confirmed to have lost their lives in a terrorist shooting.

Inflation is at its highest level since February 2024, after growing by 3.2% in the year to last month. Business reporter at the Irish Times, Ian Curran, joins Bobby to discuss.

Joining Anton to go through the main stories from the Saturday papers is Mark Hennessy, Ireland and Britain Editor at the Irish Times & Noelle O'Connell, Outgoing CEO of European Movement Ireland.

In recent months, Ireland's defense posture has come under renewed scrutiny, from concerns about our capacity to monitor our own airspace to wider questions about how prepared we are for emerging geopolitical threats. Anton takes a closer look at what Ireland's vulnerabilities actually are, why they matter, and what kind of response is realistically required. Joining Anton is Stephen Collins, columnist and former political editor of The Irish Times; Cathal Berry, former Independent TD and former Commandant in the Army Ranger Wing; and Raluca Saceanu, CEO of Smartech247.

Ellen Coyne and Jack Horgan-Jones join Hugh to look back on the week in politics:Next week Fianna Fáil will get the long-awaited review into the circumstances around Jim Gavin's disastrous presidential campaign. Has the wait taken the sting out of the issue for Micheal Martin? The Government is worried about political fallout if it fails to vote against the EU's Mercosur trade deal. But any such vote could be purely symbolic. Another thorny issue for the coalition: lengthy waiting lists for assessments of need, the process by which children with additional needs are assigned educational supports. The situation has long been untenable but the proposed solution is also controversial. Hugh addresses some of the many comments that have come in about Wednesday's interview with Eoin Lenihan. Minister Patrick O'Donovan wants Ireland to move ahead of the EU to restrict how younger teenagers access social media. And finally the panel pick their favourite Irish Times journalism of the week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Irish Times reports that the State agency in charge of air traffic control was not told about drones near the approach to Dublin Airport on the night Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrived.Because of this, air traffic controllers couldn't warn pilots even though several incoming flights were carrying hundreds of passengers. For more on this we heard from Kevin Byrne, Retired Lieutenant Colonel and Airport Safety and Security Auditor.

The Irish Times reports that the State agency in charge of air traffic control was not told about drones near the approach to Dublin Airport on the night Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrived.Because of this, air traffic controllers couldn't warn pilots even though several incoming flights were carrying hundreds of passengers. For more on this we heard from Kevin Byrne, Retired Lieutenant Colonel and Airport Safety and Security Auditor.

If you're looking for a gift for the book lover in your life, The Women's Podcast Book Club has you covered. In today's episode Niamh Towey, Bernice Harrison, Róisín Ingle and Ann Ingle are discussing what books they'll be giving as gifts this Christmas and the ones they'd like to receive. Their recommendations include a biography for art lovers, a self-help book about setting “healthy boundaries” and a 2020 novel which has just been made into a film starring Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley. Whether it's a gift for family, friends or even for yourself, we hope there's something for everyone here. But first, Irish Times podcast producer Suzanne Brennan is here to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week including the introduction of a social media ban in Australia for anyone under 16 and a new taxi service coming to Dublin which allows customers to choose a female driver. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah Burns, Irish Times

Minister for Defence Helen McEntee today unveiled a €1.7 billion defence spending plan that will run until 2030.The Minister described this plan as "absolutely essential". Its aim is to speed up the modernisation of the Defence Forces and improve defence capabilities across land, air, and sea, as well as online from cyber attacks.Joining Ciara Doherty to discuss this is Paul Murphy, People Before Profit TD for Dublin South-West, Catherine Callaghan, Fine Gael TD for Carlow-Kilkenny and member of the Oireachtas Committee on Defence and National Security and Conor Gallagher, Crime and Security Correspondent for The Irish Times.

The latest report from the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland shows that only the top 20 per cent of earners can afford to rent an average apartment built in Ireland in 2025, while just the top 40 per cent of earners can afford to buy one.Paul Mitchell, a chartered quantity surveyor and one of the authors of the Real Costs of New Apartment Delivery report, joins host Ciarán Hancock and Cliff Taylor of the Irish Times to drill down into the main findings of the report.And despite the numerous Government interventions, the cost of building apartments has soared in recent years, but Paul Mitchell is adamant that this report is actually a good news story.Produced by John with JJ Vernon on sound. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Department of Housing is an unexpected source of top tips for young adults on how to behave. “Help out around the house”, it advises, “Set house rules” and “Communicate with your family”.All generally sound advice but widely perceived as tone deaf as it is in an information campaign aimed at young people forced to move back into their family homes, to once again sleep in their childhood bedrooms.The housing crisis with its high rents and lack of choice has meant many young people stay living with their parents for far longer than they want. The average age for Irish people to leave the family home is 28.The video, created by youth group SpunOut for the Housing Agency, has sparked negative responses from online commentators and Opposition politicians.Irish Times political correspondent Jack Horgan-Jones explains why the messaging fell so flat and how the controversy is playing out in Leinster House.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the cost of living keeps rising PJ talks to Jen Hogan of the Irish Times about the rising cost of gifts for all the people who work with your child. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Independent Ireland Cllr. Fergus McDonnell joins our panel of Alison Comyn, Fianna Fáil Senator, Paul Lawless, Aontú TD for Mayo, Joanna Byrne, Sinn Féin TD for Louth and Harry McGee, Political Correspondent, The Irish Times, following a vigil in Edenderry tonight for Tadgh Farrell and Mary Holt.

Is Irelands defence strong enough for when we take on the European presidency next year? After a number of suspected Russian drones were spotted near the flight path of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, Ireland's ability to protect global politicians has come into question.Pat was joined on the show by Naomi O'Leary, Europe correspondent for the Irish Times to discuss further.

Wild has been on hiatus while I finish my most recent book. We'll be back with a fresh direction and new guests in the coming months, but in the meantime, I'm dropping in a small handful of interviews I've been doing on Substack that you might find interesting. They're far more rustic and casual than my usual offerings. You can, of course, watch the video versions over on Substack.My guest today is Dr Sharon Blackie a psychologist, mythologist, and author whose work lives at the meeting point of story, psyche, and ecology. In this conversation, we explore the role of fairytales and myths in hard and disorienting times, and what these old stories can teach us about the deeply human act of hospitality, how we welcome others, and ourselves, in moments of fear, change, and uncertainty. You can also watch the chat here.We anchor the discussion around a beautiful essay of Sharon's, The Meaning of Hospitality, which she has generously made available for free.A bit about Dr Sharon Blackie: An award-winning writer and teacher working at the intersection of psychology, mythology, and ecology. She's the author of the bestselling If Women Rose Rooted, and her work has appeared in The Guardian, The Irish Times, and The Scotsman. She lives on a smallholding in the mountains of Wales, where she continues to explore how myth and story can guide us through modern life.PS: My new book, I Eat the Stars, will be out worldwide in May/June 2026. If you're curious, you can read the serialised version over on Substack. Today's chat touches on a few of the themes I explore in that work.--If you need to know a bit more about me… head to my "about" pageFor more such conversations, subscribe to my Substack newsletter, it's where I interact the most!Let's connect on Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gardaí have opened a double murder investigation after a young boy, Tadhg Farrell (4) and his great-aunt Mary Holt (60) were killed in a suspected petrol bomb attack on a house in Co Offaly.Tadhg's grandmother, who was also in the house on Saturday evening, is in critical condition in hospital having suffered extensive burns in the blaze at Castleview Park, Edenderry.The house has been attacked before, in one incident all its windows were broken in what is believed to be an ongoing drug debt feud.Gardaí suspect a criminal gang involved in the drugs trade in the Midlands were behind the firebombing.Garda sources said the incident was probably intended as an intimidatory attack and they did not believe the people at the property were the intended targets.Irish Times crime and security correspondent Conor Gallagher reports from the scene.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Andrew McNair. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The giving season is fast approaching and, on top of your families and friends, you may be purchasing a present for the teachers in your life too.Has the Christmas time token gotten too much for parents?Andrea is joined by Jen Hogan, Journalist and Columnist with the Irish Times, as well as listeners, to discuss.

What if we were to focus our efforts towards environmental protection on moving forward, rather than looking back to an idealized past that is impossible to attain? Our guest on this week's show, writer and ecologist Richard Nairn, centers his most recent book, Future Wild: Nature Restoration in Ireland, on this very question.When Richard first started working on a nature reserve in the 1970s, awareness of conservation in Ireland was very poor. The passage of the Wildlife Act in 1976 marked a turning point, but despite having to comply with environmental laws and regulations as part of joining the European Union, Ireland had to be dragged kicking and screaming into the environmental world of Europe. Thankfully, things began to improve at a bit of a faster pace in the 1990s.Richard went on to become the first Director of BirdWatch Ireland, ran an environmental consultancy business for over 30 years, is an Irish Times columnist, and has published seven books. On this week's show, we speak with Richard about Future Wild and his thoughts on the state of nature restoration in Ireland. Beginning with an overview of Irish conservation history, we discuss greenwashing and paying lip service to environmental protection; the need for Ireland to address whole landscapes rather than isolated patches of land; and the tendency of the environmental movement to focus on loss.. Get full access to Sunwise at katemccabe.substack.com/subscribe

A leak of documents, including photographs, from the regime of Bashir al Assad has laid bare the bloody inner workings of his regime.More than 33,000 photographs of detainees, mostly believed to have been taken in 2015-2024, show the extent of the degradation and torture inflicted on them by Assad's regime.For some families, the leak to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), finally gives the tragic answer to what happened to their loved ones.Assad presided over Syria during the country's 13-year civil war during which about half a million people were killed including more than 200,00 civilians at the hands of the regime and more than 160,000 were forcibly “disappeared”.Many of the bodies in the leaked photographs bear clear signs of torture. Nearly half are naked and most show signs of starvation.Irish Times Beirut-based reporter Sally Hayden worked with the ICIJ on the leak and she explains the importance of this evidence.She notes that as soon as the Irish Times became aware of the existence of the leaked photographs in October, it has advocated for consulting victims' families regarding their release.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[English version below] - Gearrliosta 'Leabhar Ficsin Gaeilge na Bliana' ag Gradaim An Post 2025 Foilsíodh leaganacha d'fhormhór na scéalta seo i gcolún an údair ‘Crobhingne' san Irish Times aimsir na Nollag le fiche bliain anuas. Is geall le fabhalscéalta nó athinsintí samhlaíocha iad ar a bhfuil sa Bhíobla, nó neachtar acu, eachtraí atá bunaithe ar thomhaltachas Nollaig na linne seo. Scéal níos faide is ea ‘Lá Breithe' ar óige Íosa nach bhfuil aon leagan de le fáil sa Tiomna Nua in aon chor, in aon chor. Bhuaigh an scéal seo duais do shaothar spioradáltachta ag Comórtais Liteartha an Oireachtais 2024. Láithreoir: Seán Ó Catháin Aíonna: Sorcha de Brún [Leagan Gaeilge thuas] - Shortlisted for 'Irish Language Fiction Book of the Year' at the An Post Irish Book Awards 2025 Versions of most of these stories were previously published in the author's column ‘Crobhingne' in The Irish Times at Christmastime over the past twenty years. Some could be described as fables or imaginative retellings of Bible stories. Others are tales inspired by modern-day Christmas consumerism. ‘Lá Breithe' is a longer story about Jesus' childhood. No version of this story exists in the New Testament at all, at all. This story won a prize in the spiritual writing category at the 2024 Oireachtas Literary Competitions. Presenter: Seán Ó Catháin Guests: Sorcha de Brún Show less

Local residents of Brittas in Dublin are seeking orders to remove a set of modular homes that were allegedly built in the area without any planning permission. The developer is claiming the project is exempt from needing any sort of planning permission. To discuss this further was Mary Carolan Legal Affairs Correspondent of the Irish Times and Orla Hegerty Architect and Assistant Professor at UCD School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy.

Jack Horgan-Jones and Harry McGee join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:· Ireland, along with Spain, Slovenia and the Netherlands, will boycott next year's Eurovision Song Contest in protest of Israel's participation. RTÉ said in a statement on Thursday that it would be “unconscionable” for Ireland to partake in the event given the “appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there”.· Far more contentious was the proposal to rename Rathgar's Herzog Park in south Dublin. Named in honour of Belfast-born Chaim Herzog, Israel's president from 1983 to 1993, who spent his early childhood in Dublin. Perhaps including the Irish-Jewish community in the process might have dampened a lot of the controversy that has erupted this week.· Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was in Ireland this week, but it was drones more than diplomatic ties that made the headlines. It exposed the gaps in our national security, especially with Ireland holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from next July, when a lot of state leaders will be visiting these shores.· And will the Government's new infrastructure plan to accelerate the delivery of vital projects bear fruit before the next general election? Plus, the panel picks their favourite Irish Times pieces of the week:· Patrick Freyne's continuing vendetta against Kevin the Carrot, a row over state pensions could destabilise Germany's new coalition, and the sudden death of ‘low-key national treasure' Hugh Wallace. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Saoirse Hanley, journalist with the Irish Independent, and Harry McGee Political Correspondent with The Irish Times

This week on Taking Stock Susan Hayes Culleton looks at the projection by the WHO that global obesity levels will double by 2030 when she talks to Eric Finkelstein, Professor of Health Services Research and Population Health at Duke-NUS Medical School.Staying with health she is joined by Conor Pope of the Irish Times to look at why more people are taking out health insurance despite the rising costs.Plus, who are ‘Generation Alpha'? Susan talks to Professor Joe Nellis, economic adviser to Baker Tilly Ireland, about the generation born since 2010 and how they differ to all who have gone before.

Quiet quitting, or in other words - doing the bare minimum required of a job or task and putting in no more time, effort or enthusiasm than absolutely necessary, is all the rage in 2025.But, should we quietly quit at Christmas time?Should we just take a massive step back and enjoy the festivities for what they are?Joining Jonathan Healy to discuss this is Irish Times Columnist and Host of the Conversations with Parents podcast, Jen Hogan, as well as Aideen Finnegan, Presenter of the Early Edition podcast from The Irish Times.

The Government is launching a new research programme to determine the risk of Russian sabotage on our undersea cables. With a rise in Russian ships visiting our seas, the project hopes to map out all or Ireland's subsea cables, offshore windfarms and energy pipelines to assess how vulnerable we would be to an attackJoining Pat to discuss the research programme is Conor Gallagher, Crime and Security Correspondent of The Irish Times.

Ten years ago, a group of women in The Irish Times got together to envisage a podcast that told stories about the female experience and provided a space for women to share their passions, projects and plights. From there, The Irish Times Women's Podcast was born. Over the past ten years, the podcast has heard from political leaders, sexual abuse survivors, campaigners, comedians, health professionals, authors, academics, relationship experts and every(woman) in between. Earlier this week, to celebrate a decade of conversation, craic and captivating stories, The Women's Podcast hosted a live event at the Peacock Theatre in Dublin. On the night, Róisín Ingle and Kathy Sheridan reflected on the most memorable moments from ten years of telling stories - from Waking the Feminists to Repealing the 8th - with contributions from some special guests in the audience. Irish Times opinion editor Jennifer O'Connell was also there on the night to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week. Plus, poet and friend of the show Jan Brierton delivered a gorgeous poem called The Revolution will be Podcast. In today's episode, we're bringing you a selection of highlights from the nights festivities. Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We were so lucky to chat with the absolute queen that is bestselling author Kathleen Glasgow this week! We can't wait for you to hear all the amazing things she had to say, but first, here's more about Kathleen:Kathleen Glasgow started as a poet and somehow found herself writing novels. She's the author of the New York Times and internationally bestselling novels Girl in Pieces, The Glass Girl,You'd Be Home Now, and How to Make Friends With the Dark, She's the coauthor, with Liz Lawson, of the bestselling mystery series, The Agathas and The Night in Question. Girl in Pieces was a Target Book Club Pick and an Amelia Walden Honor book. The Glass Girl was named Target's Young Adult Book of the Year in 2024. How to Make Friends With the Dark was an ILA Honor Book. Her books have won numerous state reading awards for schools and been featured in People Magazine, Publishers Weekly, The Horn Book, The Irish Times, The Sunday Times, Cosmopolitan, and Vanity Fair. The Agathas was a Barnes and Noble YA Book Club Pick, a Parnassus Book Club Pick, and the sequel, The Night inQuestion was a Jenna Bush Hagar Today Show Book Club selection. She has an MFA in Poetry from The University of Minnesota.

Uniformed gardaí are being issued with Taser guns as part of a six-month trial.It has long been a point of pride in Ireland that the police force are not armed unlike their European counterparts. And while these guns fire electric shocks and not bullets, this is change in how the gardaí police the streets.So does this move bring closer the day when the Garda will be an armed force? How will it change the way the gardaí interact with the public? And why now?Irish Times crime and security editor Conor Lally explains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Catherine Ardagh, Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin South Central and party spokesperson for Social Protection / Roderick O'Gorman, Green Party Leader and TD for Dublin West / Louise Bayliss, Co-Founder of S.P.A.R.K. – Single Parents Acting for the Rights of Kids / Sarah Burns, News Reporter with The Irish Times

Catherine Ardagh, Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin South Central and party spokesperson for Social Protection / Roderick O'Gorman, Green Party Leader and TD for Dublin West / Louise Bayliss, Co-Founder of S.P.A.R.K. – Single Parents Acting for the Rights of Kids / Sarah Burns, News Reporter with The Irish Times

Catherine Ardagh, Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin South Central and party spokesperson for Social Protection / Roderick O'Gorman, Green Party Leader and TD for Dublin West / Louise Bayliss, Co-Founder of S.P.A.R.K. – Single Parents Acting for the Rights of Kids / Sarah Burns, News Reporter with The Irish Times

Talks between us and Ukraine resume today following Tuesday's meeting between US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Vladimir Putin in Moscow. It comes as Putin visits India today and French President Emanuelle Macron visits China.Pat discuss this further with Denis Staunton, China Correspondent, Irish Times.

Ellen Coyne, Political Correspondent for The Irish Times; Roderic O'Gorman, leader of the Green Party; and Jack Chambers, Minister for Public Expenditure

New figures from the Residential Tenancies Board are stark: the number of eviction notices issued by landlords in the third quarter of this year increased by 35 per cent on the same period last year.This at a time when rents have never been higher.The reason given most frequently by landlords is that they are selling up. Why?New rent regulations which improve the rights of long-term tenants are set be introduced in March 2026. Could this be the reason landlords are getting out of the market?And why are small landlords more likely to want to exit the market than big institutional investors who dominate the private rental sector?Irish Times housing reporter Niamh Towey has talked to landlords and estate agents to get a clearer picture.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon and Andrew McNair. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gerry Hutch, also known as The Monk, is eyeing up the Dáil seat left vacant by the resignation of Paschal Donohoe.Already it is believed that the convicted criminal, encouraged by his near success in last year's general election, is using what will be a long build-up to next year's byelection to get his campaign in order and to register hundreds, even thousands, of new voters in Dublin's north inner city.So will his €800,000 tax bill from the Criminal Assets Bureau put a stop to his political ambitions and could the man named as the head of the Hutch organised crime group become a TD?I talk to Irish Times crime and security editor Conor Lally who has long covered Hutch's career in crime.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and Andrew McNair. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pat Leahy and Jack Horgan-Jones join Hugh to talk through the week in politics:Jim O'Callaghan's message on migration The Taoiseach's fondness for overseas tripsNew data showing a rise in eviction notices Plus the panel pick their favourite Irish Times articles of the week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yes, this week's interview is with me. I've got some stuff to share.Thank you so much Una Mullally for facilitating this chat, check out Una's excellent podcast Saving the City here, and read her writing for the Irish Times here.To support the podcast and access bonus episodes, join the community on Patreon here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ireland has been slow to name its airports after people. Streets and housing estates, yes, but as Ronan McGreevy points out, the State is more inclined to honour those who died for Ireland rather than those who lived for it.A Bill to rename Dublin Airport after former taoiseach Seán Lemass has been brought forward in the Dáil.It is not the first time the suggestion has been made; four years ago Taoiseach Micheál Martin proposed it, but talk of it fizzled out.For McGreevy, an Irish Times journalist and historian whose next book is on Lemass, the former taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fáil (1959-1966) is a clear choice.He tells In the News how Lemass was a great moderniser and as minister for industry and commerce when the airport opened in 1940, was a a supporter of facilitating air travel both in and out of the country.The proposed legislation was introduced on Tuesday by Fianna Fáil TD Malcolm Byrne, who said the airport “owes much to his policies and foresight”.So will the Seán Lemass Dublin International Airport Bill 2025 succeed? And why are we so reluctant to honour our former taoisigh? He points out that Cork's Jack Lynch Tunnel is the only piece of State infrastructure named after a former leader.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 Kevin Doyle, Executive Editor at the Irish Independent and Olivia Kelly, Dublin Editor of The Irish Times  join Katie's in studio to look back at the big talking points of the week.

Dublin City Council has decided not to remove Irish tricolour flags hung in some parts of the city, saying today that doing so would carry risks and be counterproductive.But, how did we get to this place where the Irish flag is the subject of such controversy?Former Lord Mayor and current Green Party Councillor Hazel Chu and Irish Times journalist and Historian Ronan McGreevy join Ciara Doherty to discuss.

Although it's still November, it's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas over here on The Women's Podcast. To kick off this year's festive season, we've asked three business owners to share their Irish-made gift ideas. Joining Roisin Ingle in studio is illustrator Catherine Geaney, jewellery maker Maureen Lynch and Pat Kane, founder of reuzi, Ireland's one-stop shop for sustainably made, reusable goods. All three are showcasing their work at this year's Gifted craft fair at the RDS, along with hundreds of other talented makers and producers. In today's episode, they tell Ingle about what they'll be bringing to this year's event and what other Irish sellers to look out for. Some of their gift recommendations include Bernie Murphy socks, Conscious Convert bedding and children's toys from The Wonky Wollens.But first, Irish Times opinion editor Jennifer O'Connell is here to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week, including Italy's new femicide law, the introduction of women-only carriages on french trains and the inquest into the death of teenager Niamh McNally at University Hospital Limerick in 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Black Friday – a Thanksgiving shopping extravaganza imported from the US – isn't just one day any more. Retailers, both online and in the shops, started advertising their Black Friday deals as soon as the Halloween decorations came down. And it's set to continue into December.Irish shoppers have taken to bargain hunting with enthusiasm: a survey by PwC, which looked at Black Friday shopping habits in five European countries, found the Irish spend an average of €329, way more than our more frugal neighbours in Germany, France and Italy.Two-thirds of that is online which opens the digital door for scammers to get in.Irish Times consumer correspondent Conor Pope explains why Black Friday, with its “unbeatable bargains” and countdown clocks is a gift for scammers. He also tells how to beat the scammers at this distracting time of the year.And are their bargains to be had? Pope advises the best time to buy and how to spend you money so you'll get the best bargains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Denis Staunton has reported from Washington, London and Berlin. Now, as Irish Times China Correspondent, he is using his new vantage point to make sense of this turbulent era as it looks from outside the Western world. In a new newsletter exclusively for Irish Times subscribers, he writes about what's happening in geopolitics, why it matters and how it affects you. You can sign up for Denis Staunton's Global Briefing here. On today's podcast Denis talks to Hugh about some of those themes, including the growing tension between China and Japan, China's technological advancements and the economic policies of Xi Jinping and the developing situation in Ukraine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An méid a pléadh ag cruinniú G20 thar an deireadh seachtaine agus an méid a bheas le plé ag cruinniú mullaigh idir comhairle na hAfraice in Angóla inniu.

Pharma giant Eli Lilly manufactures the ingredients for its weight-loss drug Mounjaro and its diabetes drug Zepbound in Kinsale, Co Cork.The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (Ifac) has found that the unprecedented surge in Irish exports this year (exports to the US rose by 153 per cent to €71bn between January and May) was almost entirely driven by shipments of these ingredients.Ifac tracked about €36.4bn of this export surge to Indianapolis, where Eli Lilly is headquartered and where it has several manufacturing sites.The jump in exports is expected to see the Irish economy expand by almost 11 per cent in GDP terms this year, which is almost certain to make it the fastest-growing advanced economy in the world in 2025.So with such an over-reliance on foreign direct investment, notably in the pharma sector, at a time of tariff threats and uncertainty, how vulnerable is Ireland?Irish Times economics correspondent Eoin Burke-Kennedy explains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and Andrew McNair. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're happy to share an episode Early Edition, a new podcast from The Irish Times that brings you four of our top stories in under ten minutes. Find it in your podcast app and hit follow to get updates each morning from Monday to Friday. On today's episode:The Minister for Justice and the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces must hand over the names and contact details of people who may have blocked, or simply ignored, complaints of abuse within army ranks. Ellen Coyne has the details.Nursing home owners want immigration rules relaxed so they can hire more workers from outside the EU, UK and European Economic Area. Martin Wall says they're seeking changes to the so-called 50/50 rule.Tech workers in Ireland think the general public has an unrealistic idea of who they are and what they really do. Three of them have been speaking to Hugh Linehan in the first of our series, The Professionals, which looks at Ireland through the lens of different categories of worker.And winner of The Traitors Ireland, Vanessa Ogbonno, has been chatting to Tony Clayton-Lea for Me and My Money. She describes herself as a saver, but her most extravagant purchase ever was a bit of retail therapy to take the sting out of losing a football competition. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ellen Coyne and Pat Leahy join Hugh Linehan to look back on the week in politics:· As Paschal Donohoe departs for pastures new at the World Bank, will his absence weaken Government? And does Simon Harris possess the right skillset for the role of Minister for Finance? It might not matter if the qualified doctors who have run the Department of Health are anything to go by. · Paschal leaving has led to a Cabinet reshuffle with Fine Gael deputy leader Helen McEntee becoming the first woman to serve as the Minister responsible for both foreign affairs and defence. She will inherit many issues in need of urgent attention, not least the progression of the Occupied Territories Bill. · And the Oireachtas transport committee was told on Wednesday that Dublin's planned MetroLink will need about 8,000 workers for its construction. Speaking to RTÉ radio, transportation expert Brian Caulfield suggested that “something like an Olympic village” would be necessary to house workers on the project. Plus, the panel picks their favourite Irish Times pieces of the week:· Emerson Newton on how the Left are agitating for a border poll when conditions are far from ideal, and Diarmaid Ferriter on why authenticity matters more than spin in politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode, former senator and government minister Katherine Zappone joins Kathy Sheridan to discuss her new memoir Love in a Time of Politics. In this wide-ranging conversation, Zappone charts her journey through Irish politics, from a fresh-faced senator appointed by then taoiseach Enda Kenny, right through to her tenure as minister for children and youth affairs. She speaks about the campaigns she's most proud of and the scandals she'd rather forget. The 71-year-old also reflects on her relationship with her beloved wife, Dr Ann Louise Gilligan who died in 2017 and the grief that followed her devastating loss. She tells Sheridan how she eventually found love again with her South African partner Jennifer and what the future now holds for the pair. But first, Irish Times opinion editor Jennifer O'Connell is here to discuss some of the biggest stories of the week, including Trump's unhinged behaviour aboard Air Force One and how and why the global skincare industry is targeting products towards children as young as four.Did you know The Irish Times Women's Podcast is turning ten years old? To celebrate a decade of conversation, craic and captivating stories, we are hosting our ten year birthday bash at the Peacock Theatre in Dublin on Tuesday, December 2nd. For more information and to get tickets to the event, see here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.