Mooney on Irish Politics

Dec 04 2024 93 ep. 16 mins 20

Mooney on Irish Politics Podcast artwork

A sometimes jaundiced, but always informed commentary on today's Irish politics from Derek Mooney, an experienced campaigner, former ministerial adviser and now a public affairs consultant.

Copy RSS

Subscribe on Podcast Addict

Does FG know what parity of esteem means?

Dec 04 2024 7 mins

As the two main parties prepare for coalition talks, I offer Fianna Fáil some thoughts on how that government should be structured: Rotating Taoiseach 3 years FF + 2 years FG 15 Cabinet places split 8 to 7 FF to retain Finance (merged with D/Per) for 5 years FF takes Justice F/T Defence Minister

Day One of the Count... first thoughts

Nov 30 2024 9 mins

This is not so much a podcast, but just a rebroadcast of my comments on Times Radio (UK) from early this morning. Though based on the Exit poll which may have understated FF and overstated SF, the broad points remain correct. It has been my view from the start of the campaign that voters did not feel there was a viable alternative on offer... and that's not healthy for our politic

A race between SF and FF for first place?

Nov 25 2024 21 mins

After two polls showing Fine Gael in a steady decline has the three horse race become a two horse one with Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin competing fiercely for first place? I discuss this with former Sinn Féin MLA for Lagan Valley, Paul Butler, and get his perspective on the final few days.

Harris's Gordon Brown moment... only worse!

Nov 23 2024 11 mins

Even before the Kanturk fiasco it looked like Fine Gael's highly personalised campaign, built around its leader was in trouble. Harris has just had his Gordon Brown 2010 moment... only this one is much, much worse. Can FG slide back even further? Is it now at risk of coming 3rd?

From a 2.5 party polity to a 2.5 party govt

Nov 22 2024 21 mins

With just one week to go, I chat with Dr David McCann of the University of Ulster about government formation once the election is over. He suggests that 2.5 / 3 party governments will be the norm from here onwards. I suggest that Sinn Féin should be driving a wedge between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael rather than pushing the FFG line.

More Independent TDs... but with a lot less influence

Nov 21 2024 24 mins

With 8 days to geo I chat with old friend and self confessed "liberal hardline centrist" Jason O'Mahony about how he thins the election campaign has gone, so far. We discuss the part that independents may play in government formation and conclude that (counter intuitively) more independents will mean less influence.

We've plenty of opposition... but no alternative govt

Nov 19 2024 17 mins

With 10 days to go to polling day... I look at last night's RTÉ Upfront 10 podium leaders debate and conclude... there is no shortage of opposition parties... what we don't have is any alternative government.

GE2024... 12 Days to Go

Nov 17 2024 8 mins

Just under two weeks to go and any polling shifts are well within the margins of error. The fact that voters may not have switched on to the campaign is a not a permission slip for parties to forget the lessons of the global crash and indulge in auction politics.

GE2024 - A tour of the 5 Cork constituencies

Nov 15 2024 23 mins

In this episode I am joined by Stephen Spillane of the Green party. He is a long serving political activist who knows and well understands the Cork political scene. We do a tour of the 5 Cork constituencies and Stephen offers his insights on what to watch out for, in each. Check out his Cork GE2024 blog

GE2024 15 Days to to

Nov 14 2024 14 mins

With 15 days to go… what do we know now that we didn't know before it started… well... not a lot. One of the few things I think we can say for sure is that the voters are not yet fully engaged.