Your Politics

Jack Chambers is a keen sports fan and clearly not afraid of a fight. The Sports Minister and Chief Whip tells the Boxing Association to reform or face "complete crisis", and says our Euro 2028 bid is "moving positively". And having opposed repealing the 8th amendment, the Fianna Fáil deputy says meeting people directly affected changed his mind.

Appointed in the midst of a global pandemic, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly is again urging people to get their COVID booster as another wave hits. He insists Government will decide the future of Navan Hospital, and recalls marching against Tony Blair, almost moving to Joburg... and learning how to stay out of fights (get a black belt).

Labour is struggling despite the heave but Duncan Smith insists Alan Kelly had to go. He vows never "to hurt people again", but admits it's "a long road back" from its coalition "catastrophe". He tells Your Politics that Sinn Féin are "absolutely overpromising", reckons daa passengers are in "for a difficult time", and gears up for Garth at Croker.

In the face of massive delays, "Passport Express" gets binned. Housing Minister Daragh O'Brien shows some 'North Dublin swagger' taking Leaders' Questions, but just manages a draw in his bout with Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty. And echoes of Trump as Boris Johnson surfs a tsunami of negative headlines. The Your Politics team parse the week's news.

Paul Murphy says the Government has "done the deal" on the National Maternity Hospital, but is not convinced by its reassurances. The Solidarity-PBP TD joins the Your Politics team to discuss the coalition's shrinking majority, its "scandalous" opportunism, threats to journalists... and Otto von Bismarck.

A storm is raging over the term 'clinically appropriate' and the new National Maternity Hospital. Green Party and Government TD Neasa Hourigan, who sits on the Health Committee, foresees a court challenge if it is not clarified. She joins Your Politics to discuss lack of trust, red herrings, and being thrust into "a very difficult position".

Barry Ward describes the "harrowing" experience of visiting a mass grave in Bucha earlier, where more than 100 people are interred. The Fine Gael Senator recounts the "steely determination" of the population in the face of devastation. A lawyer, he tells Your Politics that the EU must take the lead in gathering crucial evidence of war crimes.

As a former Environment Minister, Independent TD for Roscommon–Galway Denis Naughten is well-versed in the debate over "dirty, messy" turf. He tells Your Politics that a child having an asthma attack is an indictment of fossil fuels, and urges Eamon Ryan to focus on "smoky retail fuels".

As Chair of the Climate Committee, Brian Leddin has strong views on hitting carbon reduction targets. But the Green TD warns Your Politics that it is an "absolute Herculean task", which demands no flip-flopping on carbon taxes. And he says there's a "serious question" over the secondment of Tony Holohan to TCD.

Fianna Fáil's James O'Connor, Dr Theresa Reidy of UCC and Sinn Féin's Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire join hosts Sandra Hurley and David Murphy for a wide-ranging live debate on pressing issues with students at UCC. The cost of living crisis, war in Ukraine, carbon tax and electoral prospects are among the many topics tackled.