The Irish Question

Poland's Constitutional Crisis: A Deep DiveUnderstanding the Constitutional TribunalFilip Styczynski outlines the role of the constitutional tribunal in Poland, likening it to a court that ensures laws passed by parliament align with the constitution. Currently, Poland is experiencing significant political turmoil, with allegations that Prime Minister Donald Tusk has overstepped legal boundaries in an attempt to assert control over this tribunal. In a move reminiscent of authoritarian tactics, Tusk reportedly sent riot police to take over the court while President Karol Nierowski was out of the country, causing a major constitutional crisis.The political landscape in Poland has been shaken by a constitutional crisis that raises serious questions about the rule of law and democracy. In this mini-episode, Elaine Mullally engages with experts Filip Styczynski and Sebastian Meitz to unpack the complexities of the current situation.A Clash of LeadershipThe conflict between President Nierowski and Prime Minister Tusk stems from a power struggle that has evolved since the elections last year. Sebastian Meitz explains, "The current government is actually using whatever means they have in their power to overthrow a constitutional body." He describes Tusk’s actions as a potential ‘constitutional coup,’ highlighting a trend of undermining democratic institutions that began with the takeover of public broadcasting a few years back.The Role of MediaBoth speakers lament the lack of coverage by mainstream media, pointing out that crucial events are often ignored or downplayed. Elaine notes, "Mainstream media are bought by our government... they're not there to represent the people." This absence of reliable information hampers public awareness and discourse around the ongoing crisis.The Future of Polish DemocracyAs the situation develops, concerns grow about the government’s intentions and the possibility of further undermining democratic norms. Meitz warns that if the current trajectory continues, the very foundations of Polish democracy could be at risk. The discussion underscores the importance of vigilance in safeguarding democratic institutions and the need for transparent dialogue among political leaders.This mini-episode offers a crucial lens on the unfolding events in Poland, highlighting the delicate balance between power, law, and democracy. For those interested in understanding the implications of this crisis, the full episode provides deeper insights and analysis.

Is Ireland heading towards another fiscal crisis—and who is prepared to take responsibility?

Ivan Yates joins Nick Delehanty, Paul Treyvaud and Elaine Mullally on The Irish Question for a frank discussion about public spending, political accountability, housing, immigration and the future of Irish media.

The former politician, businessman and broadcaster explains why he believes Ireland is building permanent spending commitments on unreliable tax revenues, describes the current Dáil as the worst he has seen, and sets out what he would change as Taoiseach.

There’s also a spirited debate over the triple lock and neutrality, his account of the controversy surrounding podcast regulation, and practical lessons from his new book, The Game of Life and How to Win.

What would YOU change first if you were Taoiseach? Let us know in the comments, and subscribe for more from The Irish Question.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Welcome to The Irish Question
00:43 Ivan Yates and The Game of Life and How to Win
04:39 “A Garda wouldn’t ask me that!” — Nick tests Ivan’s advice
05:35 Turning contacts into relationships
06:27 How do you get a politician sacked?
14:39 Welfare, public spending and Ivan’s fiscal warning
19:02 Mainstream media, housing statistics and RTÉ
26:56 What is a fiscal crisis?
28:05 “The worst Dáil I’ve ever seen”
32:05 The triple lock, defence spending and sovereignty
34:11 Ivan’s case on neutrality and Ireland’s defence responsibilities
41:30 If Ivan were Taoiseach: housing, planning and infrastructure
45:41 What the hosts would change: NGOs, energy and public spending
50:25 Leadership and renewable energy planning
52:20 Ivan’s views on immigration
53:38 Media power and the future of podcast regulation
55:38 Ivan’s experience with Coimisiún na Meán
56:38 Have Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael abandoned their core voters?
1:02:13 Ivan reflects on life, politics and Ireland’s future
1:06:26 A racing tip and final thoughts

Elaine Mullally sits down to have a conversation with Sall Grover, founder of the app Giggle, as she shares her journey navigating the contentious landscape of gender identity and women's rights. In a recent conversation, she reflects on her legal battles and the implications for women-only spaces.Birth of Giggle Sall Grover's journey began with the creation of Giggle, a social networking app designed exclusively for women. Grover describes it as a space where women could connect on various topics, from motherhood to politics. "It was a really lovely space... I was honored to run it," she shares. However, this endeavor led to unexpected legal challenges when a man attempted to access the app, prompting a significant legal battle that would test the limits of gender identity laws.Pivotal Legal BattleThe case, known as Tickle versus Giggle, became a landmark for gender identity discrimination. Grover faced accusations after removing a user who claimed to be a woman from the app. Despite her efforts, the Australian High Court recently declined to hear the case, leaving Grover to grapple with the financial and emotional fallout. "One of the positives that has come out of this case is that while we may have lost in the court of law, we have won... in the court of public opinion," she reflects.The Challenge of Advocacy In her discussion, Grover highlights the difficulty of maintaining hope in the face of systemic challenges. "Nothing prepares you for how much energy it takes to not become a really cynical person," she notes. Yet, she remains optimistic about the future of women's rights and the importance of public discourse. "We just need to make sure... that women were still included in the one piece of legislation in the country that was created for us."Address MisconceptionsGrover also addresses common misconceptions surrounding gender identity, particularly the narrative that sex is not binary. "Intersex is actually an incredibly outdated term... it doesn’t make you a third sex," she asserts. This underscores her belief in the importance of biological definitions in discussions about gender and rights.Call for ClarityThe conversation delves into the implications of current gender ideologies on societal norms, especially regarding children and education. Grover argues against the notion of fluid gender identity being taught in schools, emphasizing the need for clarity and protection of vulnerable groups. "There’s a fear among parents... that there is a serious push within our school system," she cautions.In the end, Grover’s journey is not just about one app or one legal case; it is about the broader struggle for women's rights in an evolving societal landscape. As she continues to advocate for clarity and women's spaces, her story serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing conversation surrounding gender and identity. For a deeper dive into Sal Grover's insights and experiences, listen to the full episode.

Chapters

00:00Introduction to Sal Grover and her background

02:13The creation of Giggle for Girls and its purpose

04:00The incident with the man claiming to be a woman on the app

06:06The legal case: Tickle versus Giggle and its significance

07:59The Australian High Court's decision and its implications

10:54The societal and legal challenges of gender identity laws

13:08The debate over intersex and sex binary concepts

16:08The influence of gender ideology on language and law1

9:04The importance of free speech and public opinion in societal change

21:58The role of activism and speaking out against gender laws

24:53The future of women's rights and societal debates

29:53Sal Grover's ongoing fight and call for support

Is Ireland learning the right lessons from France? Are trade unions demanding policies their own members will have to pay for? And why is supporting young families so far down the political agenda?

Paul Treyvaud, Elaine Mullally and Nick Delehanty return for a packed episode of The Irish Question, covering immigration, Ireland’s demographic future, public-sector strikes, gender legislation, climate politics and more.

The discussion opens with the tragic church accident in Ecuador before turning to footage of unrest in France. The panel debates integration, political leadership and social cohesion, asking what Ireland should learn from the experiences of other European countries.

Nick then discusses the Irish Government’s long-term demographic projections: falling fertility, an ageing population and the role of migration in sustaining the workforce. The conversation turns to housing costs, the pressures facing young couples and whether government should do more to make starting a family affordable. Paul proposes redirecting resources towards parents, while Elaine argues that decades of housing and economic policy have undermined family life.

A lively disagreement follows over public-sector strikes and the role of trade unions. Elaine makes the case for supporting nurses, teachers, prison officers and other workers seeking better pay. Nick challenges the unions’ wider spending and taxation agenda, discussing school meals, schoolbooks, childcare, welfare, carbon taxes and proposals affecting self-employed PRSI. Paul asks whether the self-employed should organise their own response, before the panel considers the relationship between public-sector pay and productivity.

On immigration and accommodation, Elaine discusses a renewed planning application in Durrow, County Laois, and calls for ministers to engage directly with local residents. Nick questions whether changes to IPAS spending represent an overall reduction in costs or a shift towards larger centres and other accommodation budgets. The discussion also covers sentencing, freedom of expression, reporting restrictions and the panel’s concerns about equal treatment before the law.

The hosts examine Ruth Coppinger’s proposed gender-recognition changes, including the proposed use of an “X” marker on official documents and birth certificates. They debate parental decision-making, children’s interests, the Government’s likely response and the wider influence of campaigning organisations and academia on policy.

Internationally, the panel discusses British military-readiness warnings, the war in Ukraine and the possibility of negotiations involving Trump, Putin and Xi. They then turn to Mary Robinson’s comments on gender and climate leadership, Greta Thunberg’s activism, Irish climate targets and Nick’s argument that affordable energy deserves greater political priority.

00:00 Welcome & the tragic church accident in Ecuador
02:02 Unrest in France: what should Ireland learn?
11:27 Falling birth rates, immigration & Ireland’s future
16:32 Welfare, solar grants & public-sector strikes
20:08 Trade unions: spending demands & who pays
24:54 Should higher public-sector pay mean more productivity?
25:52 IPAS in Durrow: planning & community concerns
30:36 IPAS spending, larger centres & homeless accommodation
32:28 Sentencing, free speech & equal treatment
37:37 Ruth Coppinger’s bill: “X” markers & birth certificates
43:33 Gender recognition & the wider legal debate
45:52 Academia, NGOs & family policy
48:15 Britain’s war warnings, Ukraine & diplomacy
52:31 Mary Robinson, Greta Thunberg & climate politics
55:16 Nick’s case for cheaper energy
57:05 Leo Varadkar: solutions from the sidelines?
59:00 NBC’s Today show comes to Kenmare
1:00:41 Final thoughts & goodbye

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Why is Ireland on strike — and is the taxpayer getting value for money?

This week on The Irish Question, Nick Delehanty, Elaine Mullally and Paul Treyvaud debate public-sector pay, trade unions, council performance and whether better pay should come with greater accountability.

We also discuss the confrontation with Ray D’Arcy, politicians’ salaries, court backlogs, RTÉ funding, social housing and the pressures on Ireland’s welfare state. Brendan Courtney’s comments spark a debate about double standards, while Brian Dowling and Arthur’s documentary raises questions about public scrutiny.

Plus: Elaine’s new eyebrows, the hosts’ Instagram follower stats — and Paul’s popularity with older women!

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Welcome to The Irish Question
00:56 Public-sector strikes: pay demands and council performance
05:13 Trade unions, spending priorities and the taxpayer
08:49 The pay dispute: inflation and frontline workers
14:43 Government waste, benchmarking and spending transparency
17:25 The future of unions and working from home during strikes
19:58 Ray D’Arcy: questioning public figures or harassment?
25:51 Should politicians be paid more?
29:49 Elaine’s new eyebrows!
31:05 Instagram follower stats: who’s watching each host?
31:53 Court delays, overcrowded prisons and struggling services
36:21 Patrick O’Donovan, the culture card and RTÉ funding
37:52 The children’s hospital and political accountability
39:08 Ben Scallan, Gript and independent journalism
41:36 Social housing: who should qualify?
44:27 Welfare benefits and the incentive to work
47:56 Britain, France and Ireland’s reliance on corporation tax
51:09 Brendan Courtney’s comments and the double-standards debate
53:08 What is misandry? The Trinity College discussion
55:27 Brian Dowling and Arthur: parenting, surrogacy and public scrutiny
1:00:44 Global instability and emergency preparedness
1:03:38 Final thoughts and thanks to our listeners

Subscribe, share the episode and tell us what you think: should public-sector pay increases be linked to performance?

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Are Ireland’s workers and small businesses paying more—and getting less?

Eddie Punch returns to The Irish Question with Paul Treyvaud, Elaine Mullally and Nick Delehanty for a lively debate about citizenship, the cost of living and Ireland’s political direction.

Recorded ahead of the Budget 2027 announcement, the panel discusses minimum wage increases, employer PRSI, rising business costs and whether government spending is delivering value. Eddie makes the case for lower taxes, a longer-term economic plan and stronger leadership on EU fuel taxes.

Also up for discussion: multilingual housing and election guides, proposed citizenship changes, Garvaghy Road tensions, gender recognition proposals, developments in France and Spain, and Russian plague claims circulating online.

Is Ireland rewarding hard work? Let us know in the comments.

Subscribe to The Irish Question, share the episode and join the debate.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Welcome back, Eddie Punch
01:02 Housing, welfare and multilingual election guides
05:41 Citizenship: should the waiting period increase?
13:32 Garvaghy Road and the United Ireland debate
17:10 Budget 2027: will workers actually be better off?
21:33 Minimum wage, employer PRSI and rising prices
24:55 Eddie Punch: tax, spending and Ireland’s missing strategy
34:26 Why do voters keep backing the same parties?
37:30 Small businesses under pressure—and why Nick closed his
39:17 Gender recognition and political priorities
45:18 France, Spain and Europe’s political divisions
51:55 EU rules, carbon taxes and the cost of energy
58:28 Russian plague claims: concern or hype?
1:01:26 Paul’s closing conspiracy theory and sign-off

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The Irish Question Mini Podcast Series — No. 2Who is being allocated social and affordable housing in Louth?In this episode, Elaine is joined by Fianna Fáil Councillor Shane McGuinness to discuss his request for a breakdown, by nationality, of people allocated social and affordable housing by Louth County Council.We discuss why this information matters, the need for transparency, and how elected councillors can hold the council accountable on behalf of the communities they represent.We also examine the powers of local councillors. Have they lost influence over the decisions affecting their constituents? Where does decision making power now sit and can councillors get the information they need to do their jobs?Shane outlines his efforts to get answers for the people he represents. Whatever our political differences, asking questions and seeking clear, reliable figures is an essential part of public accountability.Watch the conversation and share your thoughts below. Should every council publish a breakdown of housing allocations based on nationality ?Subscribe to The Irish Question for more conversations about the issues affecting Ireland and our communities.#TheIrishQuestion #ElaineMullally #ShaneMcGuinness #SocialHousing #AffordableHousing #Louth #Transparency #LocalGovernment 00:00 Meet Fianna Fáil Councillor Shane03:38 Who Really Controls Planning and Housing?09:45 Who’s Getting Social Housing? The Data Debate14:58 Immigration, Citizenship and Housing Priority20:53 Speaking Out: Would Shane Leave Fianna Fáil?25:38 The Presidential Election and Maria Steen

Is Ireland making it impossible to run a small business—and giving its young people every reason to leave?

Declan Ganley joins Nick Delehanty, Paul Treyvaud and Elaine Mullally for a fiery discussion about the pressure on Irish businesses, the cost of living and the future facing the next generation.

Nick speaks candidly about closing his dog daycare business and responds to The Irish Times’ coverage. The panel debates minimum wage increases, VAT, employer costs and Ireland’s dependence on multinational tax revenues. Declan makes the case for rewarding hard work, entrepreneurship and risk-taking.

Also on the agenda: the Ireland–Israel football controversy, pressure on players, the Garvaghy Road dispute and prospects for a united Ireland. The episode closes with a discussion of the developing RAF Fairford story and the questions surrounding it.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Opening highlights
00:22 Welcome back, Declan Ganley
00:53 Ireland v Israel: should politics dictate sport?
04:02 Declan on political pressure and virtue signalling
10:21 Netanyahu, the UN and separating sport from government
12:58 Garvaghy Road: tensions and a united Ireland
19:45 Declan on reconciliation and common ground
25:50 Viewer support and the cost-of-living debate
27:13 Heating bills, budget promises and rising business costs
31:47 Why small businesses are running out of room
33:40 Nick on closing his business and The Irish Times’ coverage
38:34 Declan: “We need heroic risk taking”
43:27 Media coverage, housing statistics and business pressures
47:00 A message to business owners who are struggling
47:39 Young people, housing and emigration
53:40 Nick: where is Ireland’s vision for the future?
56:42 Rewarding work and giving young people reasons to stay
58:33 Home ownership and the broken social contract
59:22 Final topic: introducing the RAF Fairford story
1:00:05 RAF Fairford: reports, unanswered questions and speculation
1:01:52 Final thoughts and goodbye

What would you change first to make Ireland a better place to build a business, own a home and raise a family? Let us know in the comments.

Subscribe to The Irish Question, share the episode and hit Hype on YouTube to help more people find the conversation.

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Political scientist and author Eoin O’Malley joins Paul Treyvaud, Elaine Mullally and Nick Delehanty for a lively debate about Ireland’s media, political leadership and the issues dividing the country.The panel tackles the Ed Sheeran and Macklemore controversy, the backlash against Robbie Keane, coverage of Dublin’s housing statistics, rising fuel prices and whether carbon taxes are achieving anything.Eoin also discusses Ireland’s leadership problem, the Garda whistleblower controversy involving Helen McEntee, and whether Aontú and Independent Ireland could offer a credible alternative. Plus, a discussion on detransition, political consensus and what young people really think.

“I don’t want to agree with you… but I’m finding myself agreeing with you more than I should.”Political scientist and author Eoin O’Malley joins Paul Treyvaud, Elaine Mullally and Nick Delehanty for a lively debate about Ireland’s media, political leadership and the issues dividing the country.The panel tackles the Ed Sheeran and Macklemore controversy, the backlash against Robbie Keane, coverage of Dublin’s housing statistics, rising fuel prices and whether carbon taxes are achieving anything.Eoin also discusses Ireland’s leadership problem, the Garda whistleblower controversy involving Helen McEntee, and whether Aontú and Independent Ireland could offer a credible alternative. Plus, a discussion on detransition, political consensus and what young people really think.CHAPTERS00:00 “I don’t want to agree with you…”00:26 Welcome to The Irish Question01:22 Introducing Eoin O’Malley and Charlie versus Garret02:14 Ed Sheeran, Macklemore and the media backlash04:26 Robbie Keane and the politics of boycotts06:10 Free speech — but only for views we agree with?09:59 Is the celebrity controversy a distraction?12:27 Irish media bias and Dublin housing statistics15:30 Eoin pushes back: coordination or shared consensus?22:04 Media funding and the future of podcast regulation22:44 French fuel protests and the diesel crisis25:26 Do carbon taxes actually change behaviour?27:57 Should carbon taxes be scrapped?29:09 Green policies, fuel taxes and pressure on businesses33:37 More protests — and what should people do with their anger?35:33 Where have Ireland’s strong political leaders gone?37:04 Eoin on leadership, red tape and getting things done40:42 Why are politicians afraid to speak their minds?43:02 Garda whistleblowers and Helen McEntee48:34 Accountability and Ireland’s political talent pool50:38 Aontú, Independent Ireland and political alternatives53:24 Detransition: the Leinster House discussion56:09 Eoin on gender, consensus and political change1:02:46 What do young people really think?1:04:45 A hopeful finish: Ireland’s next generationSubscribe to The Irish Question, share the episode and tell us what you think in the comments.#TheIrishQuestion #EoinOMalley #IrishPolitics #EdSheeran #MediaBias