Your Politics

Fine Gael's Patrick O'Donovan, Minister of State for the Office of Public Works, says people are "withered" with COVID. He joins host Paul Cunningham - together with David Murphy, Mary Regan and Micheál Lehane - and says "make room for the river" is pure nonsense, insists his socks can't go any further up, and blames the floods on the Vikings.

As Sinn Féin's Public Expenditure Spokesperson, Mairead Farrell's experience in high finance pays dividends. Host Paul Cunningham and Mary Regan hear why she is "astounded" at the Government being put "on the back foot" by omicron; unforced errors and U-turns, and the joys of the Galway Christmas Market (and of Berlin's COVID testing facilities).

Fianna Fáil's Cathal Crowe is calling for urgent action to prevent lay-offs. The Clare TD joins host Paul Cunningham, along with Sorcha Ni Riada and Micheál Lehane, to discuss the omicron body blow being dealt to businesses, cuts to the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme and communication breakdowns.

He's commonly known as the Father of the Dáil. Now entering his fifth decade in the Oireachtas, 76 year old Bernard Durkan has hit the headlines over his campaign for more transparency on the Lotto prize. Sandra Hurley and Micheál Lehane hear that his office has been swamped with messages, as he demands action on an epic roll-over.

After clashing loudly with the Ceann Comhairle, Gary Gannon tells us what's up with antigen testing for Oireachtas members. The Social Democrat TD joins Micheál Lehane and Tommy Meskill to deny he's rushing to the media and insist testing must be free.

With Kevin Lunney's torturers convicted, Sinn Féin's Martin Kenny - himself a target of violent intimidation - joins Sandra Hurley and Micheál Lehane to warn that "a fascist mentality" on social media is fueling hostility. We ask if Sinn Féin's acceptance of the Special Criminal Court is driven by conviction, or pure pragmatism.

The much anticipated multi-billion-euro Climate Action Plan is published, and while the Taoiseach vows that failure is not an option, halving emissions by the decade's end is a gargantuan task. RTÉ Radio's Philip Boucher-Hayes, just back from COP26, joins host Sandra Hurley and correspondent Paul Cunningham, to put the plan in perspective.

Did the Taoiseach go more Cork, clashing horns with the Kingdom's Danny Healy Rae? Fine Gael's Jennifer Carroll MacNeill joins host Paul Cunningham and Sandra Hurley to discuss antigen testing, professional mothers being disadvantaged, and corporate culture's opposition to fathers on a 4-day week.

Changes to childcare, taxes on fuel and help for remote workers - but what does the Budget mean for you? The opposition criticise it as shameful and lacking in ambition. But Ministers Donohoe and McGrath insist it will help the COVID recovery. Host David Murphy, and colleagues Will Goodbody, Micheál Lehane and Sandra Hurley examine Budget 2022.

Ireland takes the plunge - sacrificing the 12.5% tax rate that has been credited with being the secret of our success. At a cost of €2bn a year, the Government insists it is the right thing to do. Join the RTÉ Politics team, David Murphy, Micheál Lehane, Sandra Hurley and host, Paul Cunningham, to assess the scale of this radical departure.