The Last Word with Matt Cooper
3,278 episodes — Page 21 of 66
Schools Told Not To Accept Psychologists’ Reports For Irish Exemptions
The Department of Education has contacted several schools In Ireland to say that they can’t award exemptions for studying Irish based on psychological reports alone. This decision comes as the number of students receiving exemptions issued by school principals has risen.Carl O’Brien, Education Editor at the Irish Times and Séaghan Ó Suilleabheán, Irish language presenter and content creator, joined Will O’Callaghan on Friday’s The Last Word to discuss the issue.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the conversation.
What’s In The Programme For Government For Climate Change?
The next government will consist of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, the Regional Independent Group and Independent TDs Michael and Danny Healy-Rae.How does their programme for government impact climate change?Environment commentator John Gibbons spoke to Matt on Thursday’s The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear their chat.
The Last Word On The US: Biden’s Exit Speech Warns Of The Rise Of US Oligarchs
US President Joe Biden delivered his exit speech on Wednesday night, issuing a warning about a concentration of wealth in the United States.Matt spoke to Marion McKeone and Larry Donnelly, Law Lecturer at University of Galway & Columnist with TheJournal.ie, about his comments.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the conversation.
Conor McGregor Ordered Not To Publish CCTV Footage Shown During Civil Rape Trial
MM fighter Conor McGregor has been ordered by the High Court not to publish or share the CCTV footage shown during the recent civil action taken by Nikita Hand.Frank Greaney joins The Last Word to outline what was heard in court.
Are Hospital Parking Charges A Toll On Ill Health
Irish hospitals took in almost €16 million in car parking charges in 2023 according to a new report from Irish Country Living. Hospital parking remains a burden on sick people and their families despite Taoiseach Simon Harris promising in 2020 that the charges would be capped at €10 per day.Ciara Leahy, editor of Irish Country Living, joins The Last Word to discuss the report.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page
What’s In The New Programme For Government?
A deal for the next government was agreed between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, the Regional Independent Group and Independent TDs Michael & Danny Healy Rae.Micheál Martin will be Taoiseach until November 2027, with Simon Harris taking over for the remaining two years of the government’s term.Matt was joined by Fine Gael TD Jennifer Carroll-MacNeill, Padraig Mac Lochlainn, Sinn Féin TD for Donegal, Sean Canney TD from the Regional Independent Group and Fianna Fáil’s Niall Collins TD on Wednesday's The Last Word to discuss this.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the conversation.
Culture Club: Roisín O’Donnell
Roisín O’Donnell has just released her debut novel, Nesting, a tense exploration of one women’s attempts to get away from a coercive partner, and a portrait of life inside the housing system.In the culture club, she spoke to Matt about the books, movies, music and TV that have influenced her.
January Is Divorce Month - How Can Couples Keep The Costs Down And Relationships Intact?
January is often considered 'divorce month' as the new year see lots of couples take the first steps towards splitting up.Michelle Brown, divorce consultant, specialist family mediator and author of Scars of Divorce, joins The Last Word to discuss how to get a divorce in Ireland while keeping the costs down and relationships as amicable as possible.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
The Last Word On The US: Six Days To Go To Second Trump Presidency
Marion McKeone, US correspondent with the Business Post, and Cal Thomas, nationally syndicated US columnist, join The Last Word to discuss the devastating LA fires and preparations for President Donald Trump's upcoming inauguration.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
How Reliable Are Fertility Tracking Apps?
A study in England and Wales has suggested that there has been an increase in the proportion of women seeking abortions, despite using “natural” methods of preventing pregnancy, such as fertility tracking apps.How accurate are these apps, and how much data is stored on them?Dr. Laura Cullen, Cork GP and Director of Women’s Health with the Irish College of General Practitioners and Elaine Burke, host of the For Tech’s Sake podcast, joined Matt to discuss this.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the chat.
Irish Charity Shops Inundated With Fast Fashion Products
Charity shops across Ireland have seen an increase in clothing donations purchased from fast fashion sites such as Shein, some of which have never been worn.Is fast fashion taken seriously enough when it comes to environmental and labour issues?Broadcaster and content creator Fionnuala Jones joined Matt on The Last Word to discuss this.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear their conversation.
Manchester United Knock Arsenal Out Of The FA Cup
Man United knocked Arsenal out of the FA Cup on Sunday, bringing a miserable week to an end for Mikel Arteta’s side.With the North London derby just two days away, can Arsenal rediscover their form?Miguel Delaney, Chief Football Writer with The Independent and Off The Ball’s Will O’Callaghan joined Matt on Monday to discuss the weekend's results.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the conversation.
Michael Flatley Saved From Receivership By Loan From Property Tycoons
The Commercial Court has heard that Michael Flatley is willing to repay a €5.6million loan at the centre of a dispute with a lender.It was made to Blackbird Film Productions Ltd by Novellus Finance Ltd, who says there has been default on repayment. Mr. Flatley denies this.Peter O’Dwyer, Head of News at the Business Post, joined Matt for Monday’s business news.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the conversation.
Employers Say Childcare Costs Are A Barrier To Staff Recruitment And Retention
The high cost of childcare is driving people, particularly women, out of the workforce and is damaging recruitment according to a new survey from Dublin Chamber.Karen Clince, chief executive of Tigers Childcare, and Neil McDonnell, chief executive of ISME, join The Last Word to discuss the challenge faced by employers and what can be done to address high childcare costs.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.
The Last Word On Travel: Best Holiday Deals on Offer In January
Sarah Slattery, from travelexpert.ie, joins The Last Word to give her rundown on the best January travel deals on offer.She has great tips from flight sales, cruises or bucket list trips to the Maldives, Barbados or Disneyland.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.
The Week Trending: Weather Warnings, LA Fires And Elon Musk
Ben Finnegan, Today FM news anchor, and Orla Ryan, news correspondent with TheJournal.ie, join The Last Word to discuss the week's trending stories including weather warnings, the Los Angeles fires, and Elon Musk's latest attempts to influence world politics.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
Concerns Over Nutritional Value Of Hot School Meals
How nutritional are hot school meals actually?Food policy consultant Ruth Hegarty joins Matt and Principal Regina Halpin to discuss the concerns around hot school meals and their impact on school children.
'The Bank Of Mum And Dad' Helping First Time Buyers Onto The Property Ladder
The average mortgage loan is now over €300,000 according to a new survey from MyHome.ie, but many homes cost much more than that. So how are buyers making up the difference?Michael Dowling, managing director of Dowling Financial joins The Last Word to discuss the phenomenon of the 'bank of mum and dad' helping first time buyers to get on the property ladder.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
Tech Thursday: How To Upgrade And Downsize Your Tech
Tech journalist Andy O’Donoghue was back on The Last Word to explain how to get the best out of your tech and the most effective methods of starting a digital detox.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the chat.
Culture Club: Jerry Fish
Singer Jerry Fish joins The Last Word this week for the Culture Club!He talks about his favourite music, books, movies and more as well as discussing his new album 'Dreaming of Daniel' featuring MayKay. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
Has Remote Working Had Its Day?
Owen Reidy, General Secretary, Irish Congress of Trade Unions, and Julie Galbraith, Head of Employment Law, Eversheds Sutherland discuss hybrid working in Ireland and the legislation around the right to request remote working.To listen to the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.
Why Does Donald Trump Want Greenland And Could He Get It?
US President elect Donald Trump says he wants to make Greenland a part of the United States, threatening tariffs and refusing to rule out military action.But why does Trump want the island, which is territory of Denmark, and does he have a chance of getting it?Tom Carstensen, journalist in Copenhagen, and Larry Donnelly, law lecturer at University of Galway and political columnist with The Journal, join The Last Word to discuss.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
Personal Finance: How To Claim A Tax Refund
If you’re looking to give yourself a financial boost in the new year, it may be worth preparing a tax return.Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor with The Irish Independent, explained how it can be done on Wednesday’s personal finance slot.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the conversation.
Meta Scraps Fact Checking Programme In The US
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has announced significant changes to its content moderation policies in the US which include replacing fact checking with a community notes system, similar to the one adopted by Elon Musk on X.Elaine Burke, host of the For Tech's Sake podcast, joins The Last Word to talk about the significant move which is seen as a further effort by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to cosy up to incoming US President Donald Trump.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
The Last Word On The US: Trump Won't Rule Out Using Military Force To Take Greenland
US President elect Donald Trump has refused to rule out using military force to take over Greenland. Trump said the US needs to purchase the Danish territory for "national security purposes".Cal Thomas, nationally syndicated US columnist, and Marion McKeone, US correspondent with the Business Post, join The Last Word to discuss this and more of the latest news from the United States.Catch the full chat by pressing the play button on this page!
Dublin Is Europe’s Third Most Congested City, Survey Finds
Drivers in Dublin were delayed by an average of 81 hours in 2024 due to congestion in the city, according to a survey conducted by data company Inrix.Brian Caulfield, Professor in Transportation at the Department of Civil Engineering at TCD, spoke to Matt on The Last Word about the findings.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the chat.
Liverpool And Manchester United Play Out Thrilling Draw At Anfield
Manchester United came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday. Was this the first sign of significant progress of Amorm’s tenure at United, and what does the result mean for Liverpool’s title hopes?Miguel Delaney, Chief Football Writer with The Independent and Off The Ball’s Will O’Callaghan joined Matt on Monday’s The Last Word to discuss the weekend’s Premier League results.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear their chat.
The Last Word On Business: Corporation Tax Take Increases To €39bn
Corporation tax increased to €39bn last year, with the apple tax contributing to €11bn of that figure.The Department of Finance published the final exchequer returns on Monday, which saw an increase of €15.2bn on 2023.Ian Guider, Columnist with the Business Post, joined Matt for The Last Word on Business to discuss the findings.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the conversation.
Starmer Hits Back At Musk Over 'Spreading Lies'
Nick Ferrari, presenter of Nick Ferrari at Breakfast on LBC, outlined the response from UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to Elon Musk's attacks on Safeguarding Minister Jess Philips. Nick also explained the war of words that has broken out between Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and Elon Musk.To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.
The Last Word On Travel: Lisbon As A Food Destination
Russell Alford, food critic for The Sunday Times and one half of the GastroGays, joins The Last Word to discuss another of his favourite foodie travel destinations.This time he has chosen Lisbon in Portugal, a hugely popular destination for Irish tourists.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.
The Last Word On Business: Nick Clegg To Leave Meta
Former UK deputy prime minister Nick Clegg is to step down from his role at Meta.He is due to be replaced by former Republican White House deputy chief of staff Joel Kaplan, who served under George W Bush from 2006-2009.Ian Guider joined Will O’Callaghan for Friday’s business slot.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the conversation.
Be Kind To Yourself In 2025
Helen Vaughan, Psychotherapist with Maynooth Counselling & The Coast Counselling in Malahide, spoke to Will O'Callaghan about the importance of self care and she outlined 10 ways to be kinder to yourself in 2025.To listen to the conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.
How To De-Stress In 2025
Helen Vaughan, Psychotherapist with Maynooth Counselling & The Coast Counselling in Malahide, outlines eight strategies to help to de-stress in 2025.To listen to the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.
The Best Ways To Declutter Your Devices
Have you noticed that your phone’s performance has worsened recently, or are you struggling to free up some space in its memory?Tech Journalist Andy O’Donoghue joined Will O’Callaghan on The Last Word to explain the most effective methods of clearing space on your devices.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear their chat.
The Year In Sport: Premier League, Euro 2024, Ireland's Men And Women's International Teams
Matt was joined by Will O'Callaghan from Off The Ball and Gavin Cooney from The42.ie as they looked back on all the highlights from the soccer year.To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.
The Best Music Of 2024
John Caddell and Dee Reddy join The Last Word to look back on the last year in music and give their picks for the best music of 2024.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
The Last Word News Review Of The Year 2024
Tabitha Monahan, political reporter with the Independent, journalist Lise Hand, Dave Hanratty, host of the No Encore podcast, and Eoghan Tomás McDermott, MD of the Communications Clinic, all join The Last Word to look back on the biggest news stories of 2024.Stories include: • Donald Trump's return to the White House• General Election 2024• Nikita Hand’s civil rape case against Conor McGregor• Cillian Murphy's Best Actor win at the OscarsCatch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
Remembering The Actors, Musicians And Famous Faces Who Passed Away In 2024
The Last Word remembers some of the famous people who passed away in the last year.Journalist and broadcaster Tommie GormanJim Beard, keyboardist with Steely DanJohn Savident, who played Fred from Coronation streetTito Jackson from the Jackson 5Actor James Earl JonesMusician and producer Quincy JonesFormer Minister and TD Mary O’RourkeSinger Marlena ShawActor Dame Maggie SmithPaul Di’Anno from Iron MaidenJournalist and activist Nell McCaffertyWriter Edna O’BrienActor and musician Kris KristophersonActor Donald SutherlandActor Shelly DuvalPhilip Dadae Harvey from Soul II SoulActor Shannen DohertyActor and singer David SoulSinger Liam PayneJournalist Charlie BirdSinger Dickie RockComedian Jon KennyCommentator and national treasure Micheal O'MuircheartaighMusician Eoin French known as Talos
The Best Movies Of 2024
Roe McDermott and Brian Lloyd join The Last Word to chat about the best movies released in the last year.There's been huge blockbusters like Dune Part Two and hits from Irish stars like Cillian Murphy, Paul Mescal and Kneecap.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
The Biggest Business Stories Of 2024
Ian Guider, columnist with the Business Post, joined Matt to discuss the biggest business stories that made the headlines throughout 2024.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear their chat.
The Best Whiskeys, Gins, Vodka - And Poitín - For Christmas
Judith Boyle, beverages lecturer in TU Dublin, joins The Last Word to discuss her top choices for whiskeys, gins, vodka and even poitín. Perfect for a last minute gift or as something special to sip on Christmas Day.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
The Last Word Tech Gift Guide: Last Minute Gifts
From STEM gifts for curious minds to headphones and beer dispensers, Andy O'Donoghue has a comprehensive list of last minute tech gifts to suit everyoneTo listen to the conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.
Culture Club: Dave Fanning
Dave Fanning was the latest inductee into The Last Word’s Culture Club on Wednesday.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear his choices.
RIP.ie To Charge €100 For Death Notices
RIP.ie has announced it will be charging funeral directors €100 to post a death notice from January. Clare Ann Irwin of Irwin Funeral Directors in Galway City joins The Last Word to discuss the change to one of Ireland's most popular websites.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
The Cost Of Christmas Dinner Is On The Rise
The cost of the average Christmas dinner is on the rise, according to new figures from Kantar.Meanwhile, Chill Insurance is urging homeowners to keep their homes secure due to the fact that the Christmas period is a peak time for burglaries.Charlie Weston joined Will O’Callaghan for Wednesday’s Personal Finance slot.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the chat.
Comisúin Na Mean To Investigate Tik Tok Over Election Integrity
Coimisiún na Meán is to join a European Commission election integrity investigation into video-sharing platform TikTok.Andy O'Donoghue, tech journalist, joins The Last Word to discuss what this could mean for the social media company which is also facing an outright ban in the US. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.
The Last Word On The US: Concerns Trump Could Bring Series Of Lawsuits Against Media Outlets
ABC News has agreed to pay Donald Trump $15 million to settle a defamation action, sparking concerns that the incoming President could bring more cases against other media outlets. Cal Thomas, nationally syndicated US columnist, and Marion McKeone, US correspondent with the Business Post, join The Last Word to discuss this and more of the weeks news from the US.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
The Last Word On Sport: United Strike Late In The Manchester Derby To Heap More Misery On City
Ian Guider was joined by Off The Ball’s Will O’Callaghan and Chief Football Writer with The Independent, Miguel Delaney to discuss the weekend’s Premier League results.Man City’s poor run of form continued as they suffered a late defeat at home to Man United, meanwhile Gary O’Neil and Russell Martin became the latest managers to be sacked after Wolves lost to Ipswich Town and Southampton were hammered 5-0 at home to Tottenham.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the chat.
The Last Word On Travel: Christmas Gift Guide
Stuck for a Christmas present? Sarah Slattery, from travelexpert.ie, joins The Last Word to give her top gift ideas for anyone who loves to travel.She has great value short breaks, hotel vouchers, travel accessories and more.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.
The Best TV Shows Of 2024
Joe O’Shea and Elaine Burke spoke to Ian Guider on Monday’s The Last Word, where they gave their picks for their favourite TV shows of 2024.Among their choices were Ripley, Rivals and Wolf Hall.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the full list.