Jack Horgan-Jones and Cormac McQuinn join Hugh to talk about the readmission to Fianna Fáil of former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, who led the party for 13 years before leaving under a shadow. 
How is Ahern's return being received within the party, and what are his ambitions?
Then they discuss the imminent lapsing of various cost-of-living measures introduced by Government last year to help hard-hit citizens. But living in Ireland remains too expensive for many. Could payments like the energy credit be repeated? Could mortgage interest relief make a comeback? 
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Bertie's back

The best analysis of the Irish political scene featuring Irish Times journalists, political thinkers and the occasional politician. Hosted by Hugh Linehan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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As voters go to the polls, Hugh Linehan, Pat Leahy, and Jack Horgan-Jones make some final predictions about how the weekend will play out. Which European candidates should be safe in their constituencies, and who is at risk of being sucked into a days-long transfer battle to seize a third, fourth or fifth seat?



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Election Daily: Who will top the poll and who will get sucked into 'the bear pit'?

Hugh Linehan is joined by Jennifer Bray and Sarah Burns to discuss Thursday on the campaign trail:
With polling day almost upon us, some running in the European elections have been engaging in a ‘war of words’, with members of Fine Gael and the Green Party butting heads on the campaign trail. Is all this ‘clawing at each other’ simply a final bid for cut through before votes are cast, or a taste of what a general election could look like?
And is the broadcasting moratorium relevant or wise anymore given the amount of stories that seem to break right before polls open? Even the Minister for Housing is sceptical.
Plus: Jen’s how-to guide will arm you with all the necessary knowledge as you set off with your polling card on Friday.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Election Daily: Tempers flare among candidates as polling day approaches

Hugh Linehan is joined by Jennifer Bray and Pat Leahy to discuss Wednesday on the campaign trail:
Independent candidates are “wolves in sheep’s clothing”, warned People Before Profit at a campaign event today. What does that mean, and why are the small parties so worried about the impact of this rag-tag category of opponent on election day?
The Nitrates Derogation is something that matters hugely to rural Ireland, so in election week you don’t want to wade into controversy over whether it should be retained, as Fianna Fáil’s Chris Andrews discovered today.
Plus: An element of Pat’s analysis of the Dublin European election came in for sharp criticism from Social Democrats candidate Sinéad Gibney when she was asked about it by RTE’s Sarah McInerney during a televised debate. 
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Election Daily: Small parties versus independents, nitrate debate, Soc Dem criticism

The run-in to Friday's local, European and Limerick mayoral elections is now underway and so is the daily elections podcast from The Irish Times. Hugh Linehan is joined by Jack Horgan-Jones and Harry McGee to look at the stories from the campaign trail:
As Aontú launches its campaign, party leader Peader Toibin is bullish about the party's prospects in local elections.
More polls showing disappointing levels of support for Sinn Féin. Can the party pick up momentum in the final days?
The same polls show surging support for independent candidates. Some of them will be fighting for the final European seat in Dublin.
But with many voters yet to make up their minds, the panel agree there is a lot left to fight for in these elections. To help you keep up with the latest from the campaign, new episodes of Election Daily from Inside Politics will be in your feed every day this week after 5pm. 
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Election Daily: A dogfight in Dublin, Aontú's hopes, Sinn Féin's numbers

Hugh is joined by Pat Leahy and Cormac McQuinn to look back on the week in politics: 
The conviction of former US president Donald Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to an alleged hush money payment to Stormy Daniels is unprecedented in American political history. But will it make any difference on election day?
More evidence emerged this week that Ireland is failing to meet legally-binding climate change targets.
Will a scandal that engulfed Fine Gael local election candidate Marian Agrios dent the party outside of Louth, or even her Drogheda constituency?
 Plus, the panelists pick their favourite IT reads of the week: 
Our new columnist Mark O’Connell on why students keep schtum when asked why they are protesting.
Revelations that the Irish State is in the pocket of Big Smoky Bacon.
Ireland’s Chief Rabbi Yoni Wieder criticises President Higgins.
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Bertie's back

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