The Last Word with Matt Cooper

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News & Politics

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On Ireland’s most cutting edge current affairs show, Matt and his guests provide a running stream of intelligent opinions and heated debates on the issues that matter most to Irish listeners. You might not always agree, but you’ll never want to miss a Word.

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Do We Need A 'No Take' Mari...

12.02.2021

Currently, over 90% of Irish territorial waters are completely unprotected from being overfished. A No Take Marine Area around Ireland would be a way of combatting two types of fishing, overfishing and bottom-trawling. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2021/12/02182438/0212Marine.mp3"][/audio] John Gibbons, Environment Commentator joined ...

The Last Word with Matt Cooper episodes:

12.02.2021 Do We Need A 'No Take' Marine Space In Ireland? Currently, over 90% of Irish territorial waters are completely unprotected from being overfished. A No Take Marine Area around Ireland would be a way of combatting two types of fishing, overfishing and bottom-trawling. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2021/12/02182438/0212Marine.mp3"][/audio] John Gibbons, Environment Commentator joined ...
12.02.2021 Dáil Debate On Hotel Quarantine & Possible Further Restrictions The government has decided to reinstate mandatory hotel quarantine for people arriving in Ireland from high-risk countries. The rationale for this step is to slow the amount of covid cases coming into the country at a point when cases are ...
12.02.2021 Dáil Debate On Hotel Quarantine & Possible Further Restrictions David Cullinane, Sinn Féin health spokesman and Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Fine gael TD for Dun Laoghaire joined the Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the Play button on this page.
12.02.2021 Dáil Debate On Hotel Quarantine & Possible Further Restrictions David Cullinane, Sinn Féin health spokesman and Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Fine gael TD for Dun Laoghaire joined the Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the Play button on this page.
12.02.2021 Dáil Debate On Hotel Quarantine & Possible Further Restrictions David Cullinane, Sinn Féin health spokesman and Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Fine gael TD for Dun Laoghaire joined the Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the Play button on this page.
12.02.2021 What Are The Causes Of An Overactive Bladder? Overactive Bladder affects one in six adults and becomes more common as we get older. Because the ailment relates to urination, patients will wait until it is at an advanced stage before reporting it to a doctor. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2021/12/02174036/0212Health.mp3"][/audio] Dr ...
12.02.2021 Culture Club: Peter Stringer This week's Culture Club inductee is former Ireland and Munster rugby union player and scrum-half, Peter Stringer. First Single Bon Jovi – You Give Love a Bad Name Favourite Album U2 – Rattle & Hum Best Gig Rod Stewart in ...
12.01.2021 Will The Latest Covid Measures Work? The use of face masks has been extended to primary school children of the age of 9 and up from today. This cohort does not have to wear masks in school if they have a medical exemption in the form ...
12.01.2021 An Post Achieves '0' Gender Pay Gap An Post have achieved a Zero Gender Pay Gap today, the company have moved from a 4% gender pay gap in just two years. The company found that as employees moved through the ranks the gender representation wasn't what it ...
12.01.2021 Is It Smart To Switch Mortgages And How To Do It? Mortgage switching is a way that the mortgage holder can save significantly but very few people do it. The Central Bank are saying that 60% of Mortgage holders are vulnerable to any increase in rates. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2021/12/01185326/0112Mortgages.mp3"][/audio] Charlie Weston, personal ...
12.01.2021 Jack Dorsey Interview With The Last Word 2010 Twitter chief executive officer Jack Dorsey stood down from his role yesterday. Chief technology officer Parag Agrawal will now lead the company, the social networking site announced on Monday. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2021/12/01182505/0112Dorsey.mp3"][/audio] This is the full interview from Trinity College Dublin ...
11.30.2021 All The Latest From The Ghislaine Maxwell Trial The trial of Ghislaine Maxwell began yesterday with both the prosecution and the defence laying out their cases. The defence is claiming that this is a witchhunt being persecuted against Maxwell. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2021/11/30193153/3011Maxwell.mp3"][/audio] Cal Thomas, nationally syndicated columnist and Marion ...
11.30.2021 9 Further Cases Confirmed In Munster Team The Munster Rugby team have just this morning reported a further 9 positive covid cases amongst their players in South Africa. They were due to leave South Africa on Sunday but had to re-enter isolation due to one of their ...
11.30.2021 Donegal Residents Slam MICA Redress Scheme A support package for families affected by the MICA crisis will see recompense limited to €420,000 per home. The package was announced by Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien this afternoon. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2021/11/30190144/3011MICA.mp3"][/audio] Professor Paul Dunlop - Ulster University & Mica Homeowner ...
11.30.2021 Businesses Affected By Latest Restrictions And Covid Cases Businesses based around children's activities have had hundreds of bookings cancelled due to the increased restrictions. Businesses began getting calls 48 hours after it was mooted last week that kids over a certain age would have to wear masks. [audio ...
11.29.2021 Why Did Twitter Chief Executive Jack Dorsey Step Down? Twitter CTO Parag Agrawal will replace Jack Dorsey as CEO. Jack Dorsey made the statement today with much speculation about the reason for him leaving the company. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2021/11/29193522/2911Biz.mp3"][/audio] Ian Guider - Columnist, Business Post joined the Last Word to ...
11.29.2021 Part Of Munster Squad Cleared To Return Home From South Africa The Munster Rugby team were sent back from Capetown Airport to isolate in their hotel this morning. They have since been given permission to leave South Africa by the local health authority there, via chartered plane. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2021/11/29191603/2911Sport.mp3"][/audio] Simon Lewis ...
11.29.2021 Omicron Covid Variant Poses Very High Global Risk, Says WHO The WHO's advice to EU member states is based on the overall impact of covid with the additive effect of Omicron. The organisation have said the transmissibility of the variant and how much protection the current vaccines offer against it ...
11.29.2021 11 Suspected Cases Of Omicron Variant In Ireland The Omicron variant of Covid has 32 mutations in the spike protein making it difficult to create a vaccine for. Previous variants with spike protein mutations can increase transmissibility and increase the likelihood of contracting covid-19. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2021/11/29180009/2911Omicron.mp3"][/audio] Professor Paul ...
11.26.2021 Financial Markets Fall Sharply In Reaction To News Of New Covid Strain The newly identified strain of Covid-19 has resulted in a fall off in the financial markets of the US and Europe. Travel, leisure and hospitality stocks were hit hardest in this initial stage of the reaction. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2021/11/26193243/2611Biz.mp3"][/audio] Lorcan Allen ...
11.26.2021 Extra Measures For Children Loom As Concern Turns To New Variant NPHET have advised that children should curtail their indoor socialising over the next couple of weeks. In primary schools from 3rd class upwards it has been advised that children should wear masks for some part of the day. This means ...
11.26.2021 Boris Johnson's Infamous ''Peppa Pig'' Speech Given To Business Leaders The British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave a speech to business leaders this week in which he raved about Peppa Pig World. He also lost track of his script halfway through the process and there was an embarrassing pause where ...
11.26.2021 Report Shows Octopus, Lobster & Crab Feel Pain A government report in the UK has found that Octopus, Lobster and Crab can feel pain and are deemed to be sentient beings. The findings showed that octopus, lobster and crab have highly complex brains and nervous systems. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2021/11/26175104/2611Lob.mp3"][/audio] ...
11.24.2021 The Last Word Gadget Show: The Very Best Black Friday Deals Around It is time for The Last Word Gadget Show, the annual radio event celebrating technology deals galore. First Matt and the contributors looked at televisions, speakers, headphones and soundbars. The New Sony XM4 Noise-cancelling Bluetooth headphones are Andy's pick in ...
11.23.2021 Possibility Of A New Dublin Suburb Between Lucan & Castleknock JP McManus, Michael O'Flynn and JP Magnier have begun exploring the possibility of a housing development between Lucan and Castleknock. The plot size is about 860 acres of land and the company has begun talks with Fingal and South Dublin ...
11.23.2021 Why Is Cabinet Delaying The Decision On Antigen Testing? It has become a commonplace occurrence in the last few weeks for people to wait 2-3 days for a PCR test. The argument being made currently by experts is that when a patient is symptomatic of Covid they should take ...
11.23.2021 What Tech Products To Buy This Black Friday That Are Sustainable? The carbon emissions of the manufacture of a single smartphone is the equivalent of 10 years of use of the same product. Experts note that consumers rarely have a smartphone for longer than two to three years. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2021/11/23190717/2311Tech.mp3"][/audio] Andy ...
11.23.2021 Survey Finds That The Majority Of Irish People Want More Restrictions The Taoiseach has acknowledged that there is significant pressure on the health system with widespread delays in HSE PCR tests. Due to the current surge in Covid cases in Ireland, the walk-in PCR HSE service was cancelled. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2021/11/23184939/2311Restrictions.mp3"][/audio] Prof ...
11.22.2021 Spending Frenzy Expected This Coming Black Friday AIB are forecasting that there will be over a million transactions this coming Friday. The most in-demand item is expected to be clothes, with €8,000 to be spent every minute. Black Friday is typically an American phenomenon and occurs the ...
11.22.2021 Protests Against Covid Restrictions Grow Across Europe Around 35,000 people took to the streets of Brussels yesterday in relation to the Covid Restrictions. The protests did turn violent with water cannons used and projectiles thrown at the police. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2021/11/22183338/2211Euro.mp3"][/audio] Shona Murray, Europe correspondent for Euronews joined ...
11.22.2021 Ireland Faces Further Restrictions As Covid Cases Continue To Increase NPHET have announced that there are 5,634 new cases of Covid-19 in Ireland today. Of these cases there were 684 Covid-19 patients in hospital, of which 126 were in ICUs. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2021/11/22182219/2211Covid.mp3"][/audio] Dr Ilona Duffy, GP Monaghan, Prof Eoin Feeney, ...
11.22.2021 Sentence Hearing Begins For Three Men Who Falsely Imprisoned Kevin Lunney Kevin Lunney stated that the physical scars and mental trauma will remain with him for the rest of his life. In his victim impact statement he said that he worries what the long term impact of this will have on ...
11.19.2021 Ballybofey's Jason Quigley Faces Demetrius Andrade To Become WBO Middleweight Champion Quigley is up against the odds tonight against Andrade who is a two-weight world champion. Quigley has been a European champion at amateur level previously and is known for his sincerity and charisma amongst the Irish media. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2021/11/19190601/1911Box.mp3"][/audio] Kieran ...
11.19.2021 Has The Lotto Become Unwinnable? An investigation into the National Lottery has been called for as a result of the main prize not being won for a long period of time. The Lottery in Ireland helps many charities with funds derived from ticket sales. [audio ...
11.19.2021 Warnings Of 'Unthinkable' Consequences As Hospitals Move Into Crisis Footing At least one-third of the ICU beds in the country are currently occupied by covid patients presently. Out of 300 ICU beds that are staffed daily there are 118 covid patients in these as of today. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2021/11/19184256/1911Covid.mp3"][/audio] Christine Loscher, ...
11.19.2021 Austria To Introduce Mandatory Vaccination And 10-Day Lockdown The Austrian Government has decided to introduce both mandatory lockdowns and a 10-day lockdown. This lockdown is likely to be extended to a 20day lockdown due to the high level of cases in the country. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2021/11/19182915/1911Trend.mp3"][/audio] Lorcan Nyhan - ...
11.18.2021 The Nation Holds Its Breath George Hamilton has enthralled and captivated his audiences with his ability to paint a picture with words. Hamilton first commentated in Cyprus on a soccer match in 1979 for RTÉ. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2021/11/18185851/1811Hamilton.mp3"][/audio] Author and Broadcaster George Hamilton joins the Last ...
11.18.2021 Proposed Legislation To Ban Cars With Idling Engines Within 100 Metres Of Schools The Social Democrats proposed legislation to put a ban on the idling of car engines within 100m of Schools. A car that is idling produces twice the amount of emissions than that of a car that is actually running. [audio ...
11.18.2021 Fears Grow Over Christmas Event Cancellations Figures published today suggest that the number of confirmed cases in the 19-24 category are soaring. The curfew on pubs, clubs and restaurants having to close at midnight comes into effect from this evening. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2021/11/18183356/1811Pubs.mp3"][/audio] Darrell Penney, group general ...
11.18.2021 How Common Is Osteoporosis In Adulthood? Osteoporosis is a condition that develops in adulthood as we age which involves a weakening of our bones. As a result over 50% of women and 20% of men will have a fragility fracture from Osteoporosis as they age. [audio ...
11.17.2021 Culture Club: Lawrence Donegan This week's Culture Club inductee is Founder and Editor of McKellar Magazine and former bass guitarist with Lloyd Cole & the Commotions, Lawrence Donegan. First Single Elvis Costello & The Attractions – Watching the Detectives Favourite Album Rattlesnakes – Lloyd ...
11.17.2021 Non-EU Black Friday Packages To Be Hit With Extra Taxes And Duties As Black Friday approaches next week thousands of parcels are being held up at post depots as a result of coming from outside the European Union. Customers are being advised to use websites that state clearly the VAT and customs ...
11.17.2021 Why Does ICU Capacity Continue To Be An Issue? From September 2020 to September 2021 over 6,000 extra staff have been hired by the healthcare sector. There are 130,000 staff members involved in healthcare in total in Ireland. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2021/11/17185157/1711ICU.mp3"][/audio] Liam Doran, former Secretary General of INMO and Priscilla ...
11.17.2021 'Cancelling Social Plans Is The Responsible Thing To Do' - Dr Tony Holohan The CMO stated that the vaccine as successful as it is, alone is not sufficient to deal with the transmission of the Delta Variant. Dr Holohan noted that with all the covid measures in place the reproductive number of the ...
11.16.2021 Antigen Testing Is More In Demand Than Ever: Can It Help Us? Antigen test comes from the word Antibody Generator and is often called a lateral flow test. The antigen test we use to test for Covid-19 is a lateral flow test, similar to a pregnancy test. These are tests that use ...
11.16.2021 Could We Be Facing A Circuit-Breaker? Minister Michael McGrath believes the Vaccination program has been a ''huge success in Ireland''. ''The Unvaccinated share of the population are completely disproportionately represented in hospitals and in critical care'' - Michael McGrath. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2021/11/16190331/1611Mcgrath.mp3"][/audio] Michael MacGrath, Fianna Fail TD ...
11.16.2021 Midnight Closing Time Announced, And 5-Day Isolation For Entire Households The Government are facing stern criticism for going back on their policy of ''What is open will stay open''. These restrictions are an attempt to reduce social contacts and combat the virulent Delta wave of Covid-19. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2021/11/16185241/1611Hospitality.mp3"][/audio] Liam Herrick, ...
11.16.2021 Government To Reintroduce Restrictions To Tackle Rising Covid Numbers Nightclubs, restaurants and pubs will be required to close at midnight, effective from Thursday night. This is following a Cabinet decision this morning, following increasing concerns about the pressure being put on hospitals from Covid-19. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2021/11/16183829/1611Restrict.mp3"][/audio] Daniel McConnell, Political ...
11.15.2021 There Has Been A 24% Drop In People Seeking Part-Time Work A report from the online Recruitment company Indeed.com has found a significant drop in people searching for part-time jobs. In the run up to Christmas experts say this will have a major impact on supermarkets and retail outlets. [audio mp3="https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2021/11/15205540/1511Worker.mp3"][/audio] ...
11.15.2021 What Needs To Be Done To Tackle Rising Covid Cases? NPHET have confirmed a further 4,570 cases of Covid-19 in Ireland today amid a surge in the virus. Of the cases 622 Covid-19 patients were in hospital, 117 are in ICU. Out of the 117 patients with Covid-19 in ICU, ...

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