Mooney on Irish Politics

In this episode of Mooney on Politics, Derek Mooney speaks to Wexford councillor, Michael Sheehan about his decision to leave Fianna Fáil after 25 years and to join Independent Ireland.

They discuss Michael’s political career, his new role as Independent Ireland’s spokesperson on finance and enterprise and the challenges of operating outside the Oireachtas.

With the Budget less than a week away the conversation also examines the cost of living, government spending, USC, inheritance tax, housing, food and energy prices, and what Michael expects from the forthcoming Budget. They look ahead to the 2029 general election and Independent Ireland’s ambition to expand nationally... and Michael's experience of working in American politics.

President Donald Trump's comments on backing Unity have turbo-charged the debate, while Taoiseach Micheál Martin's desire to slow that discussion down (while having a go at Sinn Féin) has resulted in the Scottish and Welsh First Ministers becoming Dublin's collateral damage. Not his finest hour.

In this episode of the upcoming Mooney on Politics podcast, I chat with good friend and acknowledged referendum campaign expert Tiernan Brady.

We discuss the lessons he learned from directing the successful marriage equality referendums in Ireland Australia, and how they could apply to any further referendum on Irish Unity.

With UK PM Andy Burnham saying a border poll is off the table, for now, Tiernan sets out why fixating on the "when" and seeking a date for a border poll on Irish Unity is a distraction. He urges everyone to focus now on the harder, and much more urgent question: how those of us who want unity start working to persuade of the positive case for Unity.

(Yes, I have new theme music via foximusic.com )

There is a video clip with this podcast https://youtube.com/shorts/Hv7rYfgT9JY?feature=share

Is Ireland's peacekeeping legacy at risk?

Derek Mooney chats with Prof Roger Mac Ginty (Durham University), a key contributor to the 2023 Consultative Forum on International Security Policy, to unpack Irish neutrality, the future of UN peacekeeping, and the government's push to scrap the triple lock.

They dig into the OSCE's untapped potential, a "weak" UN Secretary-General, Europe's abdication on Ukraine, and why cross-party consensus on defence matters more than ever. A sharp, honest look at Ireland's place in a fracturing world order.

In this episode I look at some of the paradoxes of Irish politics... the government is hugely unpopular (on a par with Trump in the US) but the opposition cannot capitalise on it.

Meanwhile Taoiseach Micheál martin attempts to deflect from his own vulnerabilities by going to war with his own backbenchers in a way that just further highlights those vulnerabilities... !

In this episode I set out the 7 core leadership lessons for Irish political parties from Andy Burnham's ascent to No 10:

1. Don’t make it personal

2. Timing matters – no delays

3. Prepare properly

4. Take risks

5. Keep control of the message

6. Day one counts

7. Don’t fear blood

This is my Summer 2026 holiday political reading list... these are the 8 books I recommend to take away with you to read while on your summer holidays. All eight are political and should be of interest to any Irish politico... whatever their political hue. This podcast also looks at the books that almost made the list... and the one that most definitely didn't. You can read the original blogpost via my website: www.derekmooney.ie

New episode out now: Derek look at Sinn Féin’s recent unity bill, the Government’s decision to oppose it, and what that says about the real politics of constitutional change, Shared Island, and the principle of consent.

What does enduring or durable consent mean? And should we be worried by it?

#IrishPolitics #GoodFridayAgreement #SharedIsland #Unity

With the government planning abolition, Derek answers 7 critical questions:

• Why it's not sovereignty loss,
• Why reform, not abolition is sensible
• How the Fianna Fáil leader shifted from 2020's "fully maintain" pledge to backing abolition
• What public support means,
• Why defence mustn't be politicised
• Value of military neutrality, and
• Brutal reality that the Defence Forces is at less than 70% of its 11,500 target strength.

Martin, Harris, McEntee and Byrne cannot Triple Lock their way out of their massive capability gap

In this episode I look at events and developments over the last few weeks, since the two bye-elections and consider the lesson for the leadership of Fianna Fáil... and remind TDs that several EU countries have changed prime minister during an EU presidency... and it didn't hurt anyone.