Mooney on Irish Politics

Is the DUP facing a split? Can Stormont survive the current pressure? And what does unionism make of the Shared Island Unit? In this episode of Mooney on Politics, Derek is joined by Alderman Aaron Callan, a DUP Councillor on Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council. They discuss the DUP’s leadership, Michelle O’Neill, unionist unity, the Shared Island Unit, Northern Ireland’s economy, and the Ulster-Scots story in America.

In this episode of the #MooneyOnPolitics podcast, Derek chats with Jamie Mac Giolla Bháin about his book on the remarkable events of Oct 1976, sometimes known as the #ThunderingDisgrace #crisis Jamie’s book will be published next week, to coincide with the 50th anniversary. The saga started with the killing of the British Ambassador in Dublin. The then Fine Gael / Labour Party government responded with emergency powers legislation, which the then Irish President Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh, a former senior lawyer and judge, decided to refer to the Irish Supreme Court, to test its constitutionality. This is a presidential prerogative. The Irish government, particularly the Taoiseach, was deeply irritated by his actions. On the night the President signed the legislation into law, after the Supreme Court ruled the Act was constitutional, the provisional IRA murdered a young garda, named Michael Clerkin. Jamie is a relation of Garda Clerkin. Two days after the killing of Garda Clerkin, the Irish Defence Minister, Paddy Donegan, delivered a speech criticising the Irish President, while at an army barracks. He called the President’s actions in referring the legislation a “thundering disgrace”. The minister subsequently apologised for his comments, but the Taoiseach, Liam Cosgrave refused his resignation, though his comments had been made to an audience of defence personnel whose commander-in-chief was the president.

In this episode of Mooney on Politics , Derek Mooney speaks to Wexford councillor, Michael Sheehan about his decision to leave Fianna Fáil after 25 years and to join Independent Ireland. They discuss Michael’s political career, his new role as Independent Ireland’s spokesperson on finance and enterprise and the challenges of operating outside the Oireachtas. With the Budget less than a week away the conversation also examines the cost of living, government spending, USC, inheritance tax, housing, food and energy prices, and what Michael expects from the forthcoming Budget. They look ahead to the 2029 general election and Independent Ireland’s ambition to expand nationally... and Michael's experience of working in American politics.

President Donald Trump's comments on backing Unity have turbo-charged the debate, while Taoiseach Micheál Martin's desire to slow that discussion down (while having a go at Sinn Féin) has resulted in the Scottish and Welsh First Ministers becoming Dublin's collateral damage. Not his finest hour.

In this episode of the upcoming Mooney on Politics podcast, I chat with good friend and acknowledged referendum campaign expert Tiernan Brady. We discuss the lessons he learned from directing the successful marriage equality referendums in Ireland Australia, and how they could apply to any further referendum on Irish Unity. With UK PM Andy Burnham saying a border poll is off the table, for now, Tiernan sets out why fixating on the "when" and seeking a date for a border poll on Irish Unity is a distraction. He urges everyone to focus now on the harder, and much more urgent question: how those of us who want unity start working to persuade of the positive case for Unity. (Yes, I have new theme music via foximusic.com ) There is a video clip with this podcast https://youtube.com/shorts/Hv7rYfgT9JY?feature=share

Is Ireland's peacekeeping legacy at risk? Derek Mooney chats with Prof Roger Mac Ginty (Durham University), a key contributor to the 2023 Consultative Forum on International Security Policy, to unpack Irish neutrality, the future of UN peacekeeping, and the government's push to scrap the triple lock. They dig into the OSCE's untapped potential, a "weak" UN Secretary-General, Europe's abdication on Ukraine, and why cross-party consensus on defence matters more than ever. A sharp, honest look at Ireland's place in a fracturing world order.

In this episode I look at some of the paradoxes of Irish politics... the government is hugely unpopular (on a par with Trump in the US) but the opposition cannot capitalise on it. Meanwhile Taoiseach Micheál martin attempts to deflect from his own vulnerabilities by going to war with his own backbenchers in a way that just further highlights those vulnerabilities... !

In this episode I set out the 7 core leadership lessons for Irish political parties from Andy Burnham's ascent to No 10: 1. Don’t make it personal 2. Timing matters – no delays 3. Prepare properly 4. Take risks 5. Keep control of the message 6. Day one counts 7. Don’t fear blood

This is my Summer 2026 holiday political reading list... these are the 8 books I recommend to take away with you to read while on your summer holidays. All eight are political and should be of interest to any Irish politico... whatever their political hue. This podcast also looks at the books that almost made the list... and the one that most definitely didn't. You can read the original blogpost via my website: www.derekmooney.ie

New episode out now: Derek look at Sinn Féin’s recent unity bill, the Government’s decision to oppose it, and what that says about the real politics of constitutional change, Shared Island, and the principle of consent. What does enduring or durable consent mean? And should we be worried by it? #IrishPolitics #GoodFridayAgreement #SharedIsland #Unity

With the government planning abolition, Derek answers 7 critical questions: Why it's not sovereignty loss, Why reform, not abolition is sensible How the Fianna Fáil leader shifted from 2020's "fully maintain" pledge to backing abolition What public support means, Why defence mustn't be politicised Value of military neutrality, and Brutal reality that the Defence Forces is at less than 70% of its 11,500 target strength. Martin, Harris, McEntee and Byrne cannot Triple Lock their way out of their massive capability gap

In this episode I look at events and developments over the last few weeks, since the two bye-elections and consider the lesson for the leadership of Fianna Fáil... and remind TDs that several EU countries have changed prime minister during an EU presidency... and it didn't hurt anyone.

As Fianna Fáil marks its centenary, there are several lessons from the recent U.K. elections for the former big beast of Irish politics. UK Labour’s current attempt at renewal and the SNP’s successful reinvention contrasts with drift and lack of ambition under Micheál Martin's leadership. Fianna Fáil cannot wait much longer to change leader or to plan seriously for unity.

In this episode I use the famous Enoch Powell quote about political lives ending in failure "unless they are cut off in midstream at a happy juncture" to ask if any of the three leaders will know when to go? I consider Ireland's three main party leaders through Powell's lens: is Mary Lou McDonald in trouble as leader, is Micheál Martin now delaying the inevitable; and is Simon Harris, racing toward a juncture he may never reach. Does any party have a succession plan... or even see the merit of one?

In this 6 minute long episode Derek sets out why the government response was wrong to focus primarily on a security solution to a political problem... a political problem which its own senior members had flagged weeks ahead.

I have revised the opening 5 minutes of this previously published podcast to include clips from that March 2017 interview - after some extra research I found an audio recording of the full interview. see link below. In this Mooney on Politics podcast episode I consider how Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s stance on Irish unity has shifted since 2017. From promising a detailed white paper and “blueprint” for reunification to today’s emphasis on Shared Island, reconciliation and keeping constitutional questions at arm’s length. Link to that 2017 interview via YouTube: Link to print RTÉ March 2017 news report

In this episode I look at Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s unsurprisingly solid Oval Office performance with Donald Trump. I express regret that opposition parties here took such a overwhelmingly negative stance on his performance. But... even more... I regret that Martin fails to communicate as well on domestic issues as he does when in the White House. I also ask why, with government satisfaction on the floor, Sinn Féin still isn’t breaking through... and look to the Gerald Barry rule of politics... at some point every opposition leader is the worst ever opposition leader.

In this podcast episode I argue that Fianna Fáil TDs can’t afford to sleepwalk into 2027. Three Taoisigh in one year (2027) would make the party (and government) look ridiculous. There are several simple truths that must be faced: Micheál Martin’s time as leader is naturally running out 2026 is the year for renewal, not 2027 Fianna Fáil must decide what it stands for, and who best conveys that The alternative, the default position is just to continue with Micheál Martin... and wander meekly into the darkness

In this episode I argues for reforming Ireland's Triple Lock military deployment system by updating... not scrapping... multilateral criteria to include UN General Assembly resolutions and regional organisations. Indeed the whole Triple Lock debate is meaningless without addressing recruitment crises and investment shortfalls of the past decade and a half. Ireland's defence capability crisis was government made... it will not be sorted by Triple Lock three-card-chicanery. You can read the core script from this podcas t on my website.

In this final podcast of 2025 I look at a most consequential (but messy) year in Irish politics. I assess how the parties of government and opposition performed. I then conclude with a very personal league table of the newly elected TDs politicians who impressed most over the past 12 months.