The Last Word with Matt Cooper

Cal Thomas, nationally syndicated US columnist and Marion McKeone the US Correspondent for the Business Post joined The Last Word to discuss the latest updates in the Trump New York Trial.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Daniel McConnell the Editor of the Business Post and Edgar Morgenroth, Professor of Economics at DCU Business School joined The Last Word to discuss why the USC is back on the political agenda and whether Fine Gael might phase it out entirely.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Senator Mary Seery Kearney of Fine Gael, and Elaine Burke from the For Tech's Sake podcast joined The Last Word to discuss a new proposal from Fine Gael senators to see smartphone devices banned in Ireland for children under the age of 13.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

How does the Irish public really feel about prioritising national action against climate change?John Sweeney, Emeritus Professor in Climate at Maynooth University, and Oisin Coghlan, Chief Executive at Friends of the Earth joined The Last Word to discuss.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

A major awareness campaign has been launched to remind dog owners of the responsibilities they have over their own pet.Gillian Bird, Head of Education and Media for the DSPCA, and Adrian Gallagher, Chair of the IFA Sheep Committee joined The Last Word to discuss.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Sarah Slattery from travelexpert.ie is back with a list of the best new cruises available for holiday makers of all ages!Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

The Munster Hurling Championship kicks off on Sunday with a bang when Clare take on Limerick in Ennis.Jamesie O'Connor, Former Clare Player, Seamus Hickey, Former Limerick Player, and John McIntyre, Former Galway Manager, joined The Last Word to discuss.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Aoife Barry, Journalist and Author of Social Capital, and Ian Power, CEO of Spunout.ie joined the Last Word to discuss the week's biggest trending stories, including the ever controversial topic of the price of a pint in Ireland, and Meghan Markle's jam making skills!Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Dee Reddy joined The Last Word to discuss the surprise release of global popstar Taylor Swift's latest album.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Dr. Catherine Baker from the Anti-Bullying Centre in DCU joined The Last Word to discuss a new DCU study into the affect of toxic social media content on teenage boys.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

A new study claims that climate change will wipe out 20% of global GDP by 2050.John Gibbons joined The Last Word to discuss.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

From flower monitors to robo lawnmowers, Andy O'Donoghue joined The Last Word to discuss his picks for the latest and greatest in garden tech!Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

43 years later, the Stardust inquests have found that 48 people people died by unlawful killing on the 14th of February 1981.Lisa Lawlor, daughter of Francis and Maureen who died in the fire, Samantha Mangan, daughter of Helena Mangan, and Stephanie Rohan from the TodayFM Newsroom joined The Last Word to discuss the news and pay tribute to the victims of the fire. Listen by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

New law discriminates against less wealthy people going through divorce, barrister saysPaul C McCarthy, Chair of The Family Lawyers Association Of Ireland joins Matt to discussFor the full chat click the 'Play' button on this page.

Tara Mines in Navan have just announced they will be reopeningIan Guider, Columnist, The Business Post joins Matt to discussFor the full chat click the play button below.

EIR staff were told not the obey the law by their managementCharlie Weston, Personal finance editor with The Irish Independent joins Matt to discussFor the full chat click the play button below.

Janet Horner, Green Party and Dublin City Councillor, and Geraldine Herbert, Motoring Editor for The Sunday Independent joined The Last Word to discuss the latest in motoring stories, including news that may cause hassle for EV drivers.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

What is next for Israel after Iran's major attack over the weekend?Dr. Patrick Bury, Senior Lecturer in Security at the University of Bath and Former NATO Analyst, and Hannah McCarthy, Journalist in Beirut reporting on the Israel-Hamas war, joined The Last Word to discuss.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Sarah Slattery from travelexpert.ie is back with her recommendations for the beautiful region of Tuscany, Italy.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

900 schools have been added to the new hot school meal programme, bringing the total to 2,000.TD Heather Humphries, Minister for Social Protection joined The Last Word to discuss.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Fianna Fáil's final Ard Fheis before the general election takes place today and tomorrow, Minister for Finance, Michael McGrath joined The Last Word to discuss the challenges being faced by Ireland as we approach another election.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Michael Clifford, Special Correspondent with The Irish Examiner, and Laura Byrne from thejournal.ie joined The Last Word to discuss the week's biggest stories, including Ireland's new Taoiseach, and the death of OJ Simpson.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

With the numbers of deaths on Irish roads rising dramatically, Gardaí have been instructed to conduct 30 minutes of high visibility road policing during each shift.Former Transport Minister, Shane Ross joined The Last Word to discuss.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Is the EU scaling back on it's environmental ambitions?John Gibbons 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 with the latest and greatest in laundry tech to help you keep your clothes clean with less stress!Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

OJ Simpson has died aged 76.Marion McKeone, US Correspondent for The Business Post joined The Last Word to discuss.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

How well has the National Cancer Strategy actually been implemented?Averil Power, CEO of the Irish Cancer Society joined The Last Word to discuss.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

According to the annual CPL Jobs Survey has found that 60% of people would turn down a job if it doesn't offer an option for hybrid working.Ian Guider, Columnist for The Business Post joined The Last Word to discuss.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Are banks guilty of discriminating against those who can't qualify for a 'green mortgage'?Charlie Weston. Personal Finance Editor for The Irish Independent joined The Last Word to discuss.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Designer Helen Steele joined us this week for The Culture Club!Press the 'Play' button on this page to hear her choices.

"When the night comes and she's asleep I just ask What am I doing wrong?"Lisa’s one year old daughter was born into homelessness and they’re living in emergency accommodation. We're all in for the Big Busk for Focus Ireland to help end homelessness in Ireland, are you?Get involved at TodayFM.com/Busk

Female members of the European Parliament, and those contesting seats in the forthcoming election have been warned of a risk of sexually explicit, 'Deepfake' images being used against them. Elaine Burke, Host of the For Tech's Sake podcast, and Maria Walsh, Fine Gael MEP for Midlands North-West joined The Last Word to discuss.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

According to the myhome.ie report, Ireland's housing market is 'heating up again'. Conall Mac Collie, Chief Economist for Bank of Ireland, and Author of the myhome.ie report, joined The Last Word to discuss.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Incoming Taoiseach Simon Harris has suggested that plans to increase the number of sick days workers are entitled to should be put on hold.Owen Reidy, ICTU General Secretary, John Barry, ISME National Council Member & MD of Management Support Services joined The Last Word to discuss.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Are there any good last minute deals to help you get away from the rain?Sarah Slattery says there are loads!Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Chloe works in the Focus Ireland coffee shop with those experiencing homelessness. We're all in for the Big Busk for Focus Ireland to help end homelessness in Ireland, are you?Get involved at TodayFM.com/Busk

Over 30 road safety advocate bodies have declared no confidence in the Road Safety Authority.Jason Cullen, Chairperson for the Dublin Commuter Coalition, and Janet Horner, Green Party Councillor joined The Last Word to discuss.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Roe McDermott, Irish Times Columnist, and Dave Hanratty, Host of the No Encore podcast joined The Last Word to discuss the week's biggest trending stories, including calls for Eurovision boycott. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Record rainfall which shows no sign of stopping is to worsen again with the arrival of storm Kathleen to Ireland. Richard Hackett, Agricultural Consultant, and Francie Gorman, IFA President joined The Last Word t discuss.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Writer and Irish language enthusiast Manchán Magan joined The Last Word to discuss the Irish language and it's place in contemporary Ireland.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

What is your opinion on climate change being introduced as a subject at Leaving Cert level in Irish schools?John Gibbons joined The Last Word to discuss.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

A new report suggests a united Ireland would cost €20 billion a year for 20 years. But how was this figure reached?Professor John Fitzgerald of Trinity College, and Padraig MacLochlainn, Sinn Féin TD for Donegal joined The Last Word to discuss.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

From robot window cleaners to smart bins, Andy O'Donoghue is back for Tech Thursday with the latest in tech for your spring cleaning!Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Keilie O’Danza is 25 years old and a care leaver. Keilie was taken into care at 10 and is still traumatised about the time Gardaí arrived to her home with social workers to physically take her into care. She remains upset that she was separated from her younger siblings and feels the familial bonds were broken. When she turned 18, she voluntarily returned to her family of origin, and while she is still in contact with them, she felt she needed to live alone.Keilie joined Matt Cooper on The Last Word to chat about her experience with homelessness in Ireland, and the important role Focus Ireland has played in her life.On April 12th Today FM's Big Busk for Focus Ireland is taking place, we are asking you to go all in to help end homelessness in Ireland.To take part head to todayfm.com/busk

Pat Gates, Coordinator for the Young People At Risk Programme in the North Inner City, and Richard Guiney, Chief Executive for Dublin Town joined The Last Word to discuss the challenges facing An Garda Síochána around policing Dublin City. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

World-class Musician and Composer Neil Martin joined us on The Last Word this week for The Culture Club!Press the 'Play' button on this page to hear his choices.

Alan O'Reilly from Carlow Weather, and Food Economist, Ciaran Fitzgerald joined The Last Word to discuss the effect the current record rainfall in Ireland is having on our agricultural business.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

The vacant homes tax has raised only €2 million since it's been introduced. With vacant properties all over Ireland, why is this figure so small?Charlie Weston joined The Last Word to discuss.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Minister Rodrick O'Gorman plans to spend up to €5 billion over the next 20 years on 10,000 asylum seeker beds.Aisling Moloney , Political Correspondent with The Irish Daily Mail joined The Last Word to discuss.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

What are the reasons for Simon Coveney's sudden departure from cabinet, and where does this leave Simon Harris as he takes over as Taoiseach?Danny McConnell, Editor of The Business Post, and Gary Murphy, Professor of Politics at The School of Law and Government in DCU joined The Last Word to discuss.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.