Episode Details

Jack Horgan-Jones and Ellen Coyne join Hugh to look back on the week in politics:

• Simon Harris has lobbied the European Commission over the prospect of Ireland's Central Bank once again being responsible for approving Israeli state bonds. Opposition parties have said the bonds are used to raise money for Israel's military campaigns. Ultimately, aside from some political messaging, it's an issue the Government can do little about.

• Excise cuts implemented in response to last spring's fuel protests are due to start tapering next month, just as fuel prices are beginning to rise again. With the disruptive protests still a painful memory and the Budget coming into view, Jack Chambers and Simon Harris are in an unenviable position. How will they play it?

• News that the Department of Children and Equality will spend money on a campaign to warn about the misogyny of the “manosphere” and “tradwife” influencers who “promote restrictive, stereotypical roles for women and girls” has enraged culture warriors and prompted a debate on the socioeconomic pressures that make working and caring in the home an impossibility for many families. Should the Government stay out of such debates and focus instead on structural issues that hold people back from living their lifestyle of choice?

• The Government's recent lack of transparency around two reports, one on Aughinish Alumina and another on data centres, left a lot to be desired.

• Entertaining documents released to The Irish Times under the Freedom of Information Act have cast light how two prominent pols - Mayor of Limerick John Moran and Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan - go about their business.

• And finally the panel pick their favourite IT stories of the week.

Would you like to receive daily insights into world events delivered to your inbox? Sign up for Denis Staunton's Global Briefing newsletter here: irishtimes.com/newsletters/global-briefing/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.