Podcasts · Inside Politics with Hugh Linehan

What is driving the abuse and intimidation of politicians here?

· 50 min

Episode What is driving the abuse and intimidation of politicians here?

0:00 49:46

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

• The unprovoked attack on Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae this week highlighted how vulnerable public representatives can be. But when did criticism of Irish politicians turn into abuse and physical violence? Is it the long tail of the financial crash or simply a shift from online discourse to something far more sinister?

• Donald Trump’s thoughts on a united Ireland grabbed the headlines during his visit last week, but the image of cheering golf fans at the Irish Open at his Doonbeg resort as he announced he was lifting tariffs on Irish whiskey, that he himself imposed, feels uncomfortable for a variety of reasons.

• European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen pitched the idea of Canada as an “associate member” of the EU during her annual State of the Union address on Wednesday – an idea roundly embraced by Canada PM Mark Carney who was in attendance.

• The Sinn Féin Bill to remove the three-day abortion wait looks like it will pass despite dissenting voices in Government.

• And Aontú and Independent Ireland are open to discussing a vote transfer pact.

For access to an exclusive episode of Inside Politics, please take our short survey at irishtimes.com/insidepolitics.

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

The episode on the publisher’s site (opens in a new tab)

Shows are listed from Apple Podcasts' charts and directory, and Podcast Index where it is used. Every show and episode belongs to its publisher and plays from the publisher's own feed; this site hosts none of them. Explicit shows are for adult profiles only, and children’s profiles hear only children’s shows. More about this list.