At this YPN Christmas Special, the IIEA welcomes nationally renowned former RTÉ News newscaster Eileen Dunne, and Donnacha Ó Beacháin, Professor of Politics in the School of Law and Government at Dublin City University (DCU), Mark Tighe, Legal Correspondent of The Sunday Independent and co-author of the award-winning book, ‘Champagne Football’, and Patrick Costello TD, Green Party Spokesperson for Justice.

On this occasion, Eileen Dunne, who recently retired following a distinguished 42-year career in RTÉ, provides her analysis of the events of the year and reflect on her career in RTÉ, which led to her becoming a familiar face in sitting rooms all across Ireland and a national treasure.  

Professor Donnacha Ó Beacháin, Professor of Politics at DCU, and one of Ireland’s leading experts on the geopolitics of Eastern Europe, provides his expert analysis of the event which became the most consequential development in international affairs of the year: Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine.  

Mark Tighe, Legal Correspondent of The Sunday Independent, and co-author of the award-winning book ‘Champagne Football’, assesses the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, as well as the controversy caused by associated human rights issues within the country.  

Patrick Costello TD, Green Party Spokesperson for Justice, discusses his successful Supreme Court case taken in respect of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the EU and Canada, and reflects upon domestic political developments during the year.