
The Last Word with Matt Cooper
3,402 episodes — Page 52 of 69
Secret Deal Allows RAF To Defend Irish Skies
What is the existing deal between Ireland and Britain when it comes to the defense of Irish skies against hostile aircraft? Conor Gallagher, Crime and Security Correspondent with the Irish Times, and Patrick Bury, Defense and Security Expert at Bath University and Foreigner NATO Advisor joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

State To Oppose Application To Pay Gerry Hutch’s Court Costs
The state plans to oppose Gerry Hutch's bid to have his legal fees covered by the taxpayer after being acquitted of murder last month. Frank Greaney, Today FM courts correspondent joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.
The Best European Camping Sites For Family Getaways This Summer
Are you thinking about a summer holiday? Sarah Slattery joined The Last Word to discuss the best deals and options for a family camping getaway in the sun! Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Big Sam's Big Game Against Man City
How will Leeds United fare against Arsenal this Saturday in the Premier League? Mark Lawrenson and Tony Cascarino joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Calls For Return Of Mortgage Interest Relief
What is mortgage interest relief, and will it return later this year? Dr. Ciaran Casey, Economics Lecturer at the University of Limerick joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Late Late Presenter Gig Deemed ‘Toxic’
A number of popular female figures have pulled out of the race for The Late Late Show's high profile presenter gig. Why does the position's popularity seem to be dwindling? Dave Hanratty, Host of the No Encore Podcast and Mairead Cleary, News Reporter with Bauer Media joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Tech Thursday: Everything You Need for Your Summer Holidays
Heading away on holiday soon? From the best pair of headphones to get to a bracelet that deters sharks, Andy O'Donoghue joined Matt to give his recommendations. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

The Last Word on the Environment: Why Michael D. Higgins Was Right to Criticise Economists
John Gibbons joined Matt Cooper for The Last Word on the Environment today to say why he thinks President Higgins was right to criticise the world of economics last week. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

"I Just Thought 'I'm About to Die'" Professional Cyclist Seriously Injured in Collision
The RSA has launched a campaign urging drivers to slow down and look out for cyclists on the road. Imogen Cotter, a professional cyclist, was seriously injured last year when she was hit on her bike. She joined Matt to tell her story.

Ammi Burke's Unfair Dismissal Case Thrown Out of Court
"The court is horrified that a qualified solicitor would conduct herself in such a manner in this court" judge tells Ammi Burke on the final day of a legal challenge to a decision of the Workplace Relations Commission to reject her unfair dismissal claim against Arthur Cox. Today FM's Court Correspondent, Frank Greaney, has been in court this week and joined Matt to give an update. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

The Hidden Costs Of Living With Asthma
45% of asthma patients have had to forgo their medications due to cost of living pressures. Sarah Darcy who has suffered from asthma since she was in her teens and Eilis Ni Chaithnia, CEO of the Asthma Society of Ireland joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Should Teenagers As Young As 16 Automatically Pay Their Pension?
A proposal from the Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection could see workers as young as 16 automatically paying into a pension. Denis Naughten, Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection and Sarah McGuinness, Assistant News Editor with the Business Post joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Four Supermarkets Cut The Price Of Milk In An Attempt To Help Customers
With the cost of food on the rise worldwide, some supermarkets are lowering the prices of dairy products like butter and milk. Why is this? Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor with the Irish Independent joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

The Boss Is Back In Town: Springsteen Is Taking Over
Bruce Springsteen is gearing up to play three sold out shows in the RDS this month, the first of which will take place this Friday. Dave Hanratty, host of the No Encore Podcast and Ed Smith, Today FM presenter and host of the Recorded History podcast joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Doonbeg Prepares To Welcome Donald Trump
What kind of welcome will Donald Trump receive when he arrives in Doonbeg tomorrow? Cal Thomas, nationally syndicated columnist and Larry Donnelly, Law Lecturer at the University of Galway & Political Columnist with TheJournal.ie joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Should Over-The-Counter Codeine Products Become Prescription Only?
There have been calls for over-the-counter codeine-based drugs to be made available as 'prescription-only' in pharmacies. Dr. Ilona Duffy joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Is Ireland Ready For The Massive Challenges Posed By Artificial Intelligence?
Should we be worried about artificial intelligence? Fianna Fáil Senator Malcolm Byrne and Dr. Oisin Cawley, Lecturer and Researcher in Computing at South East Technological University joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

The Week Trending: The ‘Denaming’ Of TCD’s Berkeley Library
Following a review by Trinity College, the university's Berkeley Library is to be renamed. A new name is yet to be confirmed. Roe McDermott and Eoghan Tomas McDermott joined The Last Word to discuss this and other stories from the past week. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Why The Moon Is Set To Become The Latest Battleground For The World’s Superpowers
Who is entitled to land on the moon? Tim Marshall, author of The Future of Geography joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

WiFi Wedding Rings & Other Wearable Tech
Have you heard of WiFi wedding rings? Well, Andy O’Donoghue has! He joined The Last Word to discuss the latest in wearable tech. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Do Drivers Need To Lose Their Sense Of Entitlement And Look Out For Cyclists?
Marie Donnelly, Chairperson of the Climate Change Advisory Council has said that car owners have a sense of 'entitlement' and need to be more considerate of cyclists and pedestrians. Brian Caulfield, Professor of Transport at the School of Engineering in Trinity College and Martina Callanan of Galway Cycling joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Who Would Want To Buy Manchester’s Second Club?
Tomorrow is the deadline for the latest round of bids for the ownership of Manchester United FC. Both full and partial sale of the club is being considered. Ian Guider, columnist with the Business Post joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Use Of Solar Power Boosted By Rise In Temperatures
The use of solar power has been on the rise in Europe as a result of recent changes in climate. John Gibbons joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Meet The Woman Who Just Landed Meta's Biggest Job In Ireland
Anne O'Leary has been appointed to a new role as head of Meta's operations in Ireland. Ian Guider joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Shortage Of Skilled Labour Is Threatening Dublin Businesses
A shortage of skilled labour is one of the top issues affecting Dublin business, along with poor transport infrastructure and a lack of affordable housing or rent. Orla Mannion, Public Affairs Manager of Dublin Chamber and Neill McDonnell, ISME joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Irish Households Charged Highest Electricity Prices In Europe
Domestic electricity prices in Ireland are currently the highest in Europe. Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor with The Irish Independent joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Stardust Inquiry Opens With Pen Portraits From Victim’s Families
An inquest into the fire in the Stardust nightclub in Artane, Dublin in 1981 began today. 48 people died in the tragedy. Sean Murray, News Reporter with the Irish Examiner joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Guess How Much Profit Irish Companies Combined Made In 2022?
A grand total of almost €300 billion was earned in profit by registered Irish companies in 2022. Ian Guider, Business Columnist with Business Post joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Joe Biden Announces 2024 Election Bid
US President Joe Biden has officially announced his bid for a second term in the White House. An AI generated video has been released by the Republican party in response to this announcement. Cal Thomas, nationally syndicated columnist and Larry Donnelly, Law Lecturer at the University of Galway & Political Columnist with The Journal joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

How To Spot Celiac Disease And How To Best Manage It
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease which affects about 1 in 100 people in Ireland and the UK. How is it spotted and how can you best manage it? Dr. Brian Higgins, GP from Galway Primary Care joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

2023 FA Cup Final Will Be A Manchester Derby
The FA Cup final will be a Manchester derby this year following a close game between Brighton and Man United, and a significant win over Sheffield for Man City. Miguel Delaney and Tony Cascarino joined The Last Word to give their predictions for the final. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Tucker Carlson And Fox News Part Company
It has been announced that television host and political commentator Tucker Carlson has parted ways with Fox News. Larry Donnelly, Law Lecturer at NUI Galway & Political Columnist with TheJournal.ie joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Who Would Become A Guard?
Will optimistic Garda recruitment targets be fulfilled this year, or are they simply unrealistic? Brendan O’Connor, President of the Garda Representative Association joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

GSOC Officer At Hutch Party Resigns And Is Set To Leave Ireland
Gardaí are set to investigate the unnamed GSOC officer who attended a party with Gerry Hutch last week. The man in question has resigned. 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.

Man United Take On Brighton In FA Cup Semi-Finals
Mark Lawrenson and Tony Cascarino joined us to give their predictions for this weekend's FA Cup semi-finals. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Fake AI Interview With Michael Schumacher Published By German Magazine
Michael Schumacher's family is planning legal action against a German magazine that has published a fake AI interview of the former F1 driver. Lorcan Nyhan, Head of Training at the Communications Clinic, and journalist Lise Hand joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Pray For Our Sinners: The Fight Against Brutal Church Abuse In Ireland
Director Sinead O'Shea joined us to discuss her new documentary 'Pray For Our Sinners', a film about those who opposed and fought the church's abuse in Ireland. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

How Will TD Departures Affect The Next Election?
How will the departure of Fine Gael TDs affect the next election? Daniel McConnell, Editor at The Business Post joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Are Congestion Charges A Fairer Way To Manage Traffic & Emissions?
Leo Varadkar has said that there are no plans to introduce congestion charges for commuters. If introduced in the future, would they be an effective and fair way to manage traffic and emissions? Dr. Muireann Lynch, Senior Research Officer on Energy Economics at ESRI and Dr. Lorraine D’Arcy, Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Transport and Mobility at Technical University Dublin joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

TikTok Clamping Down On Climate Denier Videos
Social media platform TikTok have announced they plan to empower accurate climate discussions and reduce harmful information on the app. John Gibbons joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Latest In iKettle & Smart Coffee Machines
Andy O'Donoghue joined us for Tech Thursday to discuss the latest in Wi-Fi kettles and smart coffee machines. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Jonathan Dowdall Accepted Into Witness Protection After Gerry Hutch Trial
The State’s key witness in the trial of Gerard Hutch, Jonathan Dowdall has been accepted into the Witness Security Program. This will come into effect once he has served his prison sentence. Conor Gallagher, Crime & Security Correspondent with the Irish Times and Daniel McConnell, Editor at the Business Post joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

How Would A Rural Ireland Party Work?
TD for Roscommon/Galway, Michael Fitzmaurice has suggested a rural political party that will properly represent voters who do not live in towns and cities. He joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Customers To Be Hit With Charges For Lifting Compost Bins
Thousands of Panda Recycling customers will soon face a new charge for putting garden and food waste into compost bins. Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor of the Irish Independent joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Alopecia Can Be Sudden, Temporary Or Permanent: How Do You Treat It?
Alopecia is very common and many people will experience it in some form in their lifetime. How is it treated and what should you look out for? Dr. Brian Higgins, GP from Galway Primary Care joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

AI Song Featuring Drake And The Weeknd Pulled From Spotify And TikTok
AI has well and truly infiltrated the music world, with a song impersonating Drake entitled 'Ghostwriter' removed from streaming services and social media platforms. John Caddell and Dee Reddy joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Dominion v Fox News: What’s On The Line In The $1.6 Billion Defamation Lawsuit?
The much anticipated high profile defamation case brought against Fox News by Dominion Voting Systems has begun today, following a one day delay. Cal Thomas, nationally syndicated columnist and Marion McKeone, US corr with The Business Post joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Mother Of Dara Quigley Asks For Better Understanding Of People Who Use Drugs
Aileen Malone, mother of Dara Quigley joined The Last Word to speak on the perception and understanding of people who use drugs, and how it can be improved. Listen to the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Is The Title Slipping From Arsenal?
Is it the beginning of the end for Arsenal's title hopes? Tony Cascarino and Mark Lawrenson joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

‘Shecession’ Young Women Hit Hardest By Cost Of Living Crisis
Are young women really suffering the most from the cost of living crisis? Gerard O’Neill, Chairman of Amárach joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.