The Last Word with Matt Cooper

Billy Hann, CEO of Dublin Bus, joined Matt to discuss the 20-week pilot scheme for Dublin Bus aimed at curbing the rise of anti-social behaviour on public transport.He also discussed the estimated costs of a contactless ticketing system for public transport.To catch the full conversation, press the ‘play’ button on this page.

For many when they go on holidays the food experience is just as important as the sites and activities.That's certainly the case for Russell Alford, co-restaurant critic at The Sunday Times and one half of the Gastro Gays. He joins The Last Word to discuss some of his top foodie destinations. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Does Kamala Harris need to step up before the election? Who are the polls favouring?Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone join Matt to discuss this weeks US election updates and where both candidates stand in the lead up to election day.

John Gibbons joins Matt to discuss the outlines of the environmental protection agency report and the deficits that have been highlighted in policy programs laid out.

Two years ago, Bernard Phelan was arrested in Iran and detained in a notorious prison for seven months after being falsely accused of spying.Phelan recounts this terrifying experience in a new book 'You Will Die In Prison' and he joins The Last Word to discuss.Hear the full conversation by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Education Minister Norma Foley spoke to Matt following Tuesday's Budget 2025 and proposals to spend €9m on a scheme for mobile phone pouches for secondary schools.Andy O'Donoghue reacted to the proposal and outlined how the scheme has worked in other countries.To catch the full conversation, press the play button below.

This week on The Last Word On The US, Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone join Matt to discuss the Vice President debate between JD Vance and Tim Waltz.

Illustrator and musician David Rooney joined Matt for the Culture Club this week, where he discussed the inspiration for his book, The Story Of The Great Irish Famine.To listen to the conversation, press the play button on this page.

Ireland's fiscal watchdog has slammed Budget 2025, calling on the Government to get "serious" and avoid repeating "the boom-to-bust pattern of its past."Ian Guider, columnist with the Business Post, joins The Last Word to discuss the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council's reaction to the budget and other business news.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Lots of money was given out in Budget 2025 but has it done enough to tackle high costs?Charlie Weston, personal finance editor with the Irish Independent, joins The Last Word to discuss whether you are really any better off after the giveaway budget. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

It's The Budget 2025!Matt is joined by representatives from 4 sectors; Restaurants Association, Construction Confederation, Retail Excellence Ireland and National Women's Council to discuss the impact of the Budget on their businesses and representatives.

It's the Budget 2025 special!Matt is joined by Dan O’Brien, Chief economist at the Institute of International and European Affairs, Holly Cairns, Social Democrats leader and Ged Nash, Labour finance spokesperson, to discuss who the Budget will actually benefit, and are we are set for another crash due to the dependence on the multinational sector?

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration & Youth and Green Party leader Roderic O'Gorman joins The Last Word to discuss Budget 2025 including housing, childcare and whether the Green Party would be happy to go back into the same coalition after the election.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Minister for Finance Jack Chambers joins The Last Word to discuss Budget 2025 including the USC cut, the €2.2 billion cost of living package and the supports for businesses.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe joins The Last Word to discuss Budget 2025, including a record health budget, investment in infrastructure and what will be done with the Apple tax. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Louise O’Reilly, Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade and Employment gave her reaction to today’s Budget 2025 announcement.She told Matt that if Sinn Féin were to get into government, their budget would be targeted at people on ordinary wages.Press the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the conversation.

Minister for Finance Jack Chambers and Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, today unveiled its multi-billion euro Budget for 2025.Ian Guider Columnist with the Business Post, Nancy Fallon, Tax Partner at KPMG and Daniel McConnell, Editor of the Business Post joined Matt to break down where the government’s finances will be spent over the coming year.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the conversation.

Ian Guider, Columnist with the Business Post, joined Matt for Monday’s business news.Up for discussion was how inflation in Ireland has dropped to a three-year low, Ryanair cutting 14 winter routes from Dublin Airport and Bank of Ireland appointing Akshaya Bhargava as its new chairman.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the conversation

On Tuesday, a €2bn Budget 2025 package is set to be unveiled by Finance Minister Jack Chambers.What should we expect from it, and how will it benefit your day-to-day spending?Gary Murphy, Professor of Politics at the School of Law and Government in DCU and Daniel McConnell, Editor of the Business Post, looked ahead at what’s to come.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the conversation.

Getting out of the country around the Halloween holidays can be super expensive.So Sarah Slattery has the best Halloween breaks closer to home.

Ian Guider spoke to Matt on Friday’s business news about how Meta has been fined €91m by the Data Protection Commission following an investigation into the storage of passwords.Meanwhile, a review by DNG has found that house prices in Dublin have risen by 8.4% over the past 12 months.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the chat.

Former guard and author of Traces of Truth, Ciaran Prior joins Matt to discuss his life as a crime scene investigator within the force.

Plans to cut university parking spaces, the phenomenon of Sally Rooney and the death of Oscar-winning actress Maggie Smith.Lorcan Nyhan, head of training at the Communications Clinic, and Roe McDermott, advice columnist with the Irish Times, join The Last Word to discuss the week's trending stories.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Brian Lloyd joins Mario to chat about Francis Ford Coppola's new release Megalopolis; a movie that has been postponed since the 80s.

Minister Heather Humphreys has briefed the cabinet on new regulations to ban the importation, breeding and sale of XL Bully Dogs. Dog Behaviourist Suzi Walsh and Veterinary Officer James Madden join Mario to discuss whether this is the correct solution.

Andy O'Donoghue joins The Last Word to discuss the best digital and Bluetooth radios to allow you listen to your favourite shows.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Sinéad Crowley joins Matt in the studio for this week's Culture Club and to discuss the release of her new book Author of A Maid on Fifth Avenue.Subscribe to The Ray Foley Podcast wherever you get your podcast!

Three Wagamama restaurants in Dublin have closed after receivers were appointed to the restaurants that are part of the Press Up Group.Ian Guider, columnist with the Business Post, joins The Last Word to discuss this and more in the business news.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Eoghan O'Mara Walsh, chief executive of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation, spoke to Matt about calls for Government for the sector ahead of Budget 2025.To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

Nationally syndicated columnist Cal Thomas and US Correspondent with the Business Post Marion McKeone joined Matt for The Last Word’s weekly US slot where Matt began by asking about the significance of the Pennsylvanian vote in November’s presidential election.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the conversation.

Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor with the Irish Independent joined Matt to discuss how taxi fares are to rise by 9% in December. Will this lead to more people opting to stay at home instead of going out?Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the conversation.

Liam Gallagher has hit out at critics of his 'angelic tones', saying that 'imposters' are not welcome at the Oasis reunion shows. John Caddell and Dee Reddy join The Last Word to discuss this as well as news that Justin Timberlake will play two gigs in Ireland next year and more.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Laura Kennedy joins Matt int eh studio to discuss her new book, Some of Our Parts.As a philosopher and author, Laura takes us through the complexities of the labels we place upon ourself and how we can navigate these.

Driverless taxis have been operating in San Francisco since last August marking a significant milestone in the progress for autonomous vehicles.Elaine Burke, host of the For Tech's Sake podcast, was recently in the city and joins The Last Word to talk about her experience of being a passenger in a driverless car.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

The Government has been slammed for dropping plans for hate speech laws because of a lack of the consensus on the wording.Also, President Michael D Higgins has claimed that a letter he wrote congratulating his Iranian counterpart was leaked by Israel.Daniel McConnell, editor of the Business Post, Alan Shatter, former minister for justice and Fianna Fáil Senator Lisa Chambers join The Last Word to discuss the hate speech legislation and the President’s letter to Iran.President Higgins has also clashed with Taoiseach Simon Harris in relation to immigration and homelessness. Gary Gannon, Social Democrats TD, and Fine Gael Senator Barry Ward join The Last Word to discuss this.Catch the full chat by pressing the ‘Play’ button on this page.

Are you a binge watcher or do you space out your series?This week on the Last Word on TV and Streaming, Elaine and Joe give us the best in TV and streaming to get you through the week.

Sarah Slattery from TheTravelExpert.ie joined Matt for The Last Word’s weekly travel slot, giving you all the best tips and tricks for booking a ski holiday this winter.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the chat.

The United Rugby Championship kicks off this weekend with Leinster away to Edinburgh on Friday night, Munster hosting Connacht and Ulster facing Glasgow Warriors on Saturday.Matt spoke to Billy Holland, Liam Toland and Paul Wallace about each province’s ambitions for the season ahead.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the chat.

Exploding pagers killing at least 12 people and wounding 3,000 people. This has led to an exchange of strikes between Israel and Hezbollah and growing fears of further escalation.Matt spoke to our foreign correspondent in Beirut, Hannah McCarthy to see how the situation is escalating.

Molly Nic Céile, author of Gaeilge i mo Chroí, joins The Last Word to talk about learning to love the Irish language.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

John Gibbons joins The Last Word to discuss climate change causing the earth to vibrate, life or death for cities should the earth continue to warm and overcoming climate fatalism.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Tom Clonan, Independent Senator, retired Army Officer and former Lecturer at TU Dublin, joined Mario Rosenstock to give his assessment of this week’s walkie-talkie and pager attacks in Lebanon which left dozens dead and hundreds injured.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the conversation.

A study by Maynooth University has suggested that homework tasks of up to 15 minutes can be more beneficial than longer time periods.Mario Rosenstock was joined by Professor Andrew Parnell, Hamilton Professor and Director of the Hamilton Institute at Maynooth University and Jennifer Horgan, teacher and Irish Examiner columnist, to discuss the findings.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the conversation.

But for how long? Will it disband in November for the election or in January for a rumored February election?Gary Murphy, Elaine Loughlin and Kevin Cunningham join Matt to discuss the potential timeline.

Comedian Killian Sundermann was the latest inductee into The Last Word’s Culture Club this week.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear all his favourite music, book, film & TV choices!

Hezbollah has vowed to retaliate after wave of exploding pagers killed 12 people and injured thousands in cities across Lebanon. Hannah McCarthy, foreign correspondent in Beirut, joins The Last Word to outline the situation in Lebanon as there are reports of a second wave of explosions.Listen back to the full discussion by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Amazon has told its staff that they must return to the office five days a week in January 2025, ending its hybrid working policy.Meanwhile, Intel have announced that they are postponing new factories in Germany and Poland for two years, meaning that the Leixlip plant will remain as the company’s “lead European hub”.Ian Guider covered these topics on Tuesday’s business news.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the chat.

Many children in Ireland are overweight "because they have to be driven everywhere" according to the deputy leader of the Green Party.Senator Róisín Garvey joins The Last Word along with Prof Dónal O'Shea, HSE clinical lead on obesity, and Jen Hogan, parenting columnist with the Irish Times, to discuss the factors that are leading to around 20 per cent of primary school children being overweight or obese. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

The new book is out now; Sophie: The Final Verdict. Author Senan Molony joins Matt to discuss how the evidence is laid out in his book and why a case was never brought forward that ended in a life sentence for Ian Bailey.

Donald Trump has received criticism after conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer joined his campaign trail, with some Republican supporters concerned the move could cost him Georgia and North Carolina in November’s election.Nationally syndicated columnist Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone, US Correspondent with the Business Post, joined Matt to discuss.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the conversation.