The Last Word with Matt Cooper

A series of Government reports show that the Irish labour market is slightly more exposed to AI because of our knowledged based economy. Elaine Burke, host of For Tech's Sake podcast and Neil McDonnell, CEO of ISME, discuss the findings of the reports.Catch the full conversation by pressing the 'Play' button below.

Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor at the Irish Independent joined Matt to discuss how Ireland’s energy regulator could add a charge to household electricity bills in October in order to subsidise renewable energy operators.Click the ‘Play’ button on this page to listen to the full conversation.

Paul McLoone joins Matt for Culture Club.They're chatting music, film and everything that's happened within 25 years of The Undertones!

Hunter Biden has been convicted of three charges in his federal gun trial, making him the first son of a sitting US president to receive a criminal prosecution. Cal Thomas, nationally syndicated US columnist, and Marion McKeone, US correspondent for The Business Post joined The Last Word to discuss this and more of the week's biggest stories from the United States.Catch the full chat by pressing the ‘Play’ button on this page!

With interest rates in the news at the moment, is the economy in a healthy state?Gabriel Makhlouf, Governor of the Central Bank joins Matt to discuss the biannual financial stability review.

Kevin Barry, author of Dark Lies the Island, City of Bohane and Night Boat to Tangier returns with his new book The Heart in WinterBarry joins The Last Word to discuss his career to this point and the writing behind his new bookCatch the full conversation by pressing the 'play' button below...

Sarah Slattery from TravelExpert.ie joins Matt to relive a recent trip to Cork and gives tips on the best places to stay, great spots to eat and some great activities for family'sTo catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button below...

Ian Guider joins Matt to talk through all the new changes Apple have announced will be added to the iPhone and iPad. Plus they discuss the companies that have offered to build the power connections to connect their data centres.

Fine Gael TD and Minister of State for EU Affairs & Defence, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, and Sinn Féin TD & party Finance Spokesperson Pearse Doherty joined The Last Word as counting for the local and European elections on Monday evening.Click the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the full chat.

Rishi Sunak ditches D-Day event, AI in elections and Gail leaves Coronation Street...Writer and broadcaster Aoife Barry and Eoghan Tomas McDermott, managing director of the Communications Clinic, joined The Last Word to discuss the week's trending stories. Catch the full chat by pressing the ‘Play’ button on this page!

Gavin Cooney, Sports Writer with the42.ie speculates on what might be next for former Ireland striker Robbie Keane as he steps down as manager of Israeli team Macabbi Tel Aviv.To catch the full conversation press the 'Play' button below.

Junior Minister for Sport, Thomas Byrne, has warned GAA clubs and county boards that state funding would be withheld for facilities if female players are not given equal access. Sinead O'Carroll, Editor of the Journal.ie and Professor of psychology at University Limerick, Orla Muldoon, join Matt to discuss.To catch up on the full conversation, press the 'play' button below...

John Gibbons joins The Last Word to discuss news that the Un Chief is considering banning fossil fuel advertising as new studies have revealed new climate change records have been hit.To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button below...

For Tech Thursday on The Last Word, Andy O'Donoghue put together a list of the latest essential tech and gadgets for anyone going to a festival this summer.Catch the full chat by pressing the ‘Play’ button on this page!

The European Central Bank has announced that it will cut interest rates by 0.25%.Dan O’Brien, Chief Economist at the Institute of International & Economic Affairs and Martina Hennessy of Doddl.ie joined Matt to explain what this could mean for mortgage holders in Ireland.Click the ‘Play’ button on this page to listen to the full chat.

Author of Evenings and Weekends Oisín McKenna joined The Last Word this week for The Culture Club!Press the 'Play' button on this page to hear his choices.

Several local election candidates with a migrant background from across the country have said they are "too scared" to go out and canvass ahead of the polls opening this Friday due to the racist abuse they have faced.Teresa Buczkowska, Political Participation Coordinator with the Immigrant Council of Ireland and Gary Murphy, Professor of Politics at the School of Law and Government in DCU join The Last Word to discuss the impact this is having on the migrant candidates as well as the legislation surrounding the migrant populations right to voteTo catch the full conversation press the 'play' button below...

Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor with The Irish Independent, joined Matt to discuss what benefits you could receive if you’re paying PRSI.Click the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the full chat.

SSE are set to submit planning applications for the development of a second windfarm off the shore of Wicklow that would see up to 56 turbines installed.Ian Guider joins The Last Word to discuss this and other headlines in the world of business with thanks to Forvis Mazars, the next exciting chapter for Mazars. Same local team, new global reach.Press the 'play' button below to catch up on the full conversation...

Cal Thomas, and Marion McKeone join Matt to discuss the updates on Joe Biden's Mexican Border executive order, Hunter Biden on trial, and Donald Trump saying that 'Americans won't stand for him to be imprisoned' after his guilty verdict.Catch the full chat by pressing the ‘Play’ button on this page.

The Road Safety Authority is calling for emergency legislation to double the number of penalty points given to drivers for speeding and mobile phone use.It comes as 81 people have died on Irish roads so far this year, the worst record in a decade.Geraldine Herbert, motoring editor of the Sunday Independent, and Susan Gray, chairperson and founder of PARC Road Safety Group, joined The Last Word to discuss whether increasing penalty points would help make roads safer.Catch the full chat by pressing the ‘Play’ button on this page.

A Garda investigation has been launched after Taoiseach Simon Harris was confronted by protestors whilst on the campaign trail in Co. Mayo last weekend.Louise Burne, Political Correspondent with The Irish Daily Mirror and Daniel McConnell, Editor of The Business Post, joined Matt to discuss whether such incidents could lead to politicians needing more protection.Click the ‘Play’ button on this page to listen to the conversation.

Following the news of former US President Donald Trump being found guilty of all 34 counts of falsifying business records in a New York court room last night, Matt is joined by Cal Thomas, nationally syndicated columnist and Marion McKeone, US correspondent for the Business Post.Larry Donnelly, Law Lecturer at University of Galway & Political Columnist with TheJournal.ie joins the show to explain what may happen now that the former President and soon to be Republican presidential nominee is now a convicted felon.Catch up on the full conversation by pressing the 'play' button below...

The 2024 Junior and Leaving Certificate exams get underway on Wednesday, June 5th.Psychotherapist Helen Vaughan joined Matt to give students and families some tips and tricks on how best to combat the stress that comes with exam time.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Respiratory Nurse Specialist Ruth Morrow and Biola Wyrwas, mother of six-year-old Leon who suffers from hay fever and allergies, outline the advice from the Asthma Society on managing hay fever and asthma during high pollen days.Press the 'play' button below to catch up on the full conversation.

Andy O'Donoghue joins Matt to share his best tips to help you have a digital detox, monitor how long you spend online and put in limits for you and your family.Press the ‘play’ button below to catch up on the full conversation...

Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor of The Irish Independent joined The Last Word to talk through Bank of Ireland’s reaction to Revoult’s new savings account  Press the ‘play’ button below to catch up on the full conversation... 

Businesses in Dublin are considering a legal challenge to plans that would restrict car access in the city centre because they worry it will damage their footfall.Richard Guiney, chief executive of Dublin Town, and Prof Brian Caulfield, Professor in Transportation in Trinity College Dublin, joined The Last Word to debate the traffic management plans for Dublin city.For the full podcast click the 'Play' button on this page.

Travel journalist Eoghan Corry and Graham Keely, a journalist in Spain, joined Matt to discuss protests across Spanish Islands against overtourism and why many countries across the world are looking at ways to limit tourism in their famous cities.Press the ‘play’ button below to catch up on the full conversation...  

Sheila O'Flanagan and has written more than 30 novels and sold more than 9 million copiesHer new novel is The Honeymoon Affair and she joins Matt to share her very favourite film, tv and music picks.For the full podcast click the 'Play' button on this page.

Closing arguments in Trump's trial, the Israel-Gaza conflict and Americans are choosing cannabis over alcohol.Cal Thomas, nationally syndicated US columnist, and Marion McKeone, US correspondent with The Business Post, joined The Last Word to discuss all the biggest news stories from the United States.For the full podcast click the 'Play' button on this page.

Ireland is on track to miss its legally-binding emissions reduction targets by a long way according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).The latest projections from the EPA show Ireland is set to reduce its total greenhouse gas emissions by only 29 per cent by 2030, compared to a target of 51 per cent.Hannah Daly, professor of sustainable energy at University College Cork, joined The Last Word to discuss why Ireland is so far behind and what can be done to get emissions reductions back on track.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Nick Ferrari joins Matt to discuss Rishi Sunak's new national service policy for 18 year olds.Why has the UK got a 6 week election campaign? And what happened in that Welsh pub?Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

A study by the Economic and Social Research Institute has looked at how teenagers’ relationships with their families and peers have changed over the last 10 years. It found that Ireland’s 13-year-olds now have fewer friends than they did a decade ago.Author of the report, Dr. Emer Smyth and Jen Hogan, Parenting Columnist with The Irish Times, joined Matt to discuss the findings.Catch the full chat by pressing the ‘Play’ button on this page.

Beaches, theme parks, movie stars and more!Sarah Slattery from thetravelexpert.ie joined The Last Word to give all the advice you need for a trip to Los Angeles, California.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

50 Migrants without Visas were refused 'leave to land' in the last week.Jim O’Callaghan, and Liam Herrick discuss the issues around these immigration and document checks.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Medical experts have expressed concern after the HSE published figures that show almost 5,000 people have been hospitalised with mental and behavioural disorders after taking cannabis products.Dr Garret McGovern, Medical Director of the Priority Medical Clinic and Ray Walley, GP and Associate Clinical Professor at UCD debated the issue.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Extreme turbulence, 2FM's presenter exodus and a surprise UK election...Orla Ryan, news correspondent with The Journal, and Dave Hanratty, host of No Encore podcast, joined The Last Word to discuss the week's biggest trending stories!Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Darragh Cassidy, Head of Communications for Bonkers.ie joined The Last Word to discuss Revolut's latest competitive offers for customers.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

The US Department of Justice have announced they will take a legal case against Ticketmaster's parent company Live Nation. Why is this?Ian Guider, Business Editor for The Business Post joined The Last Word to discuss.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Andy O'Donoghue joined The Last Word to talk the latest in foldable pones and tablets, as well as the return of Nokia's 'Dumb Phone'.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has applied for a number of arrest warrants, including Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu and Yahya Sinwar, Hamas' leader in Gaza. Aoife O'Donoghue, Professor of Law at Queen's University, Belfast joined The Last Word to discuss.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Could we really be saying goodbye to disposable vapes by the end of the year?Ossian Smyth, Minister of State with Responsibility for Public Procurement, eGovernment and Circular Economy joined The Last Word to discuss.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

How effective are election posters in 2024?Gary Murphy, Professor of Politics at the School of Law and Government in DCU, and Liz Carolan from thebriefing.ie joined The Last Word to discuss.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Travel expert Sinead Kennedy joined The Last Word to discuss Iceland's wonders and an itinerary to help plan your trip!Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Why are the Kinahans suddenly selling so many of their properties in Dubai?Conor Gallagher, Crime & Security Correspondent with The Irish Times joined The Last Word to discuss.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

John Gibbons joined The Last Word to discuss the way in which ancient fir trees are allowing scientists to measure climate change.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Andy O'Donoghue joined The Last Word to discuss the best tech available to make sure you get the most out of your 8 hours!Catch the full chat by pressing the ' Play' button on this page.

Keiran Cunningham, Chief Sports Writer with The Irish Daily star joined The Last Word to discuss comments made by Irish boxing star, Katie Taylor about her fighting on the same card as Mike Tyson. Listen by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

How much would it cost to bring Ireland's existing office buildings up to today's environmental standards?Ian Guider joined The Last Word to discuss.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.