The Last Word with Matt Cooper

Electric Ireland will begin to apply the state's third and final energy credit to customer accounts in the next couple of weeks, however it can only be used for bills that have been issued after the beginning of March. Sinn Fein Senator, Lynn Boylan joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Tech journalist Andy O’Donoghue returned to The Last Word this week to discuss why ChatGPT is becoming more popular among technology companies around the world. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

People Before Profit have written to Sinn Fein, the Social Democrats and other opposition parties about the prospect of forming a government after the next election. Party TD Richard Boyd Barrett spoke to Ian Guider about their proposal and explained what their vision of a left-leaning government would look like. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

The Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland has announced plans to use AI to clamp down on social media posts that mislead consumers. Ian Guider spoke to Russell Alford of the Gastrogays and Orla Twomey, CEO of the ASAI to discuss how this would work, and whether influencers can do more to provide clarity with their ads and sponsored content. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

A new report from the International Energy Agency found that global emissions hit record highs of 36.8 billion tonnes in 2022. John Gibbons returned for his weekly environmental slot to explain the significance of these findings. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

From today TDs and Senators are receiving a pay rise which will see the wages of our elected representatives reach their highest figure since the Celtic Tiger. Daniel McConnell, Political Editor of the Irish Examiner, Bernard Durkan, Fine Gael TD for Kildare North and Ruth Coppinger, activist and former Solidarity TD joined Ian to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Interest rates look likely to continue rising this year for mortgage holders due to inflation. Our personal finance expert Charlie Weston predicts this may continue in to 2024. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

After 3 years of many people working from home, are we starting to see a 'remote work rebound'? Ian Talbot, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive and Robert Mac Giolla Phádraig, Sigmar Chief Communications Officer and Talent Summit Founder, joined Ian to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

We spoke to Pat Dennigan, CEO at Focus Ireland and Louise Bayliss, Advocacy Coordinator at Focus Ireland about the reasons people find themselves homeless, the services provided by Focus Ireland, and the ever developing issue of homelessness in this country. This is ahead of The Big Busk on Friday March 10th in aid of Focus Ireland. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Rupert Murdoch has admitted to Fox News' pushing of Trump's 'Stolen Election' claims for the purpose of profit. Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone joined the Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Focus Ireland Ambassador Paul Geoghegan joined us on the Last Word to talk about his experience with homelessness and the work done by Focus Ireland to change the lives of those who are homeless. This is ahead of 'The Big Busk' on Friday March 10th, in aid of Focus Ireland. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Being a new parent is very demanding and often leads to self-neglect which can result in burnout. How can new parents make sure they are taking care of themselves properly while caring for a young child? Dr. Brian Higgins, GP at Galway Primary Care joined the Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

After a disappointing game for Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final yesterday, Manchester United have won their first trophy since 2017. What's next for the club? Mark Lawrenson and Tony Cascarino joined Matt to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Member of NPHET, Professor Martin Cormican has questioned the effectiveness of Ireland's lockdown decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Professor Anthony Staines, Chair of Health Systems at the School of Nursing and Human Sciences in Dublin City University, and Michael McNamara, Independent TD joined Matt to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Are you thinking of searching out a holiday deal? Our travel expert Sarah Slattery joined Matt to discuss the best February travel bargains available! Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

An Irish citizen who previously worked in Leinster House is being deported from Australia on suspicion of being a threat to national security because she may be a Russian spy. Sunday Times Crime Correspondent John Mooney joined Matt to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

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The Carabao Cup final takes place at Wembley on Sunday, and with Manchester United taking on Newcastle United, it looks to be a very exciting game. Miguel Delaney and Tony Cascarino joined us to give their predictions ahead of Sunday. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Will fruit and veg shortages caused by changes in weather patterns see us relying on locally grown seasonal produce? Laura Byrne, Assistant News Editor at The Journal.ie and Kieran Cunningham, Chief Sports Writer at the Irish Daily Star joined Matt to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

There was a record number of people marked as 'officially homeless' in January, according to the latest figures from the Department of Housing. The total number includes 8,323 adults and 3,431 children. There have been calls for the eviction ban which is due to expire in March to be extended. Richard Boyd Barrett, People Before Profit TD and Housing Spokesperson, and Karl Deeter of Irish Mortgage Brokers joined the Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

The death was announced this morning of veteran football commentator John Motson, aged 77. Motson worked for the BBC for over 50 years, covering ten World Cups and 29 FA Cup finals. Mark Lawrenson joined Ian Guider on The Last Word to remember Motson’s career and told listeners what it was like to work alongside him in the commentary box. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

According to recruitment consultancy Robert Walters, the rate of pay rises in Ireland has hit a 10 year high for professional service firms. Average pay rises are at 4%, but when inflation is taken into account, employees are at a loss of €1,300. Suzanne Feeney, Country Manager at Robert Walters Ireland outlined the findings of the study. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Ireland’s food security has been impacted by climate change, with retail giants confirming shortages of fruit and vegetables imported from Spain, Italy and Morocco. Yields of peppers, broccoli, lettuce and aubergines have been affected. John Gibbons explained why a continued cold spell in Europe is affecting supplies to supermarkets. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

On the 24th of February 2022, Vladimir Putin gave a televised address saying his aim was to ‘de-Nazify’ Ukraine. The Russian artillery that had been amassed on the border crossed into Ukraine and missiles began to fall on Kyiv and elsewhere. In the intervening weeks and months, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians fled, including journalist Maria Romanenko. One year on, Ukraine has liberated much of the territory captured by Russia, but the war still rages on. Maria joined the Last Word and outlined her journey out of Ukraine where she left her family behind, what her life has been like since she settled in Manchester, and what she and her relatives back home are hoping for the future. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

New research has shown gambling amongst inter-county GAA players is on the rise. What are the reasons for a spike in gambling amongst this particular group? Michael Foley, Sunday Times Sports Journalist and Professor Colin O’Gara, Head of Addiction Services at St. John Of God Hospital and Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at UCD joined the Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Our tech expert Andy O’Donoghue joined us today to chat about the best gadgets available to help you get the most out of the spring time! Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Last year, in a response to rising petrol and diesel prices, due to the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Government decided to reduce excise duty. It has now been announced that this will be gradually phased out. Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor at the Irish Independent joined Matt to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

HBO's 'The White Lotus' has captivated audiences around the globe, and it's iconic theme tune has taken on a life of it's own. It has been re-worked by a number of artists, with Tiesto even turning it into one of his signature dance anthems. John Caddell and Dee Reddy joined Matt to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

How is the world reacting to Joe Biden's visit to Kyiv in Ukraine? Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone joined the Last Word to discuss this, as well as the other big news stories from the US this week. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said there will be no more cost-of-living packages this side of October’s budget. So how far will the government's €1.3 billion package go towards dealing with the current crisis? Daniel McConnell, Political Editor at the Irish Examiner, Colette Bennett, Economic and Social Analyst at Social Justice Ireland, and Richard Bruton, Fine Gael TD for Dublin Bay North joined Matt to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

A young child can be sick with a self-limiting viral illness on average about 8-12 times a year. How can you spot childhood illnesses and when should you take action? Dr. Brian Higgins joined the Last Word to discuss.

After being overtaken at the top of the table by Man City last week, Arsenal were hoping to bounce back with a win against Aston Villa on Saturday and did so in very dramatic fashion. Meanwhile, Leeds United dropped into the relegation zone after defeat to Everton at Goodison Park and will face a crunch against Southampton next Saturday. Mark Lawrenson and Tony Cascarino joined Matt to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

The BAFTA Awards is one of the most prestigious film award nights in the industry, but is it worth tuning into from home? Joe O’Shea and Elaine Burke gave their take on Sunday night’s spectacle, and why series reboots aren’t always a good idea… Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

The St. Patrick’s Day bank holiday is just around the corner so if you’re hoping to plan a trip around Ireland to coincide with Mother’s Day, Sarah Slattery from TheTravelExpert.ie has some tips on where you’ll get the most for your money. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

New one-off cost-of-living measures are due to be announced by the government tomorrow. However, after Pinergy announced that it would be reducing prices, it’s unlikely we’ll see electricity credits. Daniel McConnell, Political Editor of the Irish Examiner and Daragh Cassidy from Bonkers.ie explained how this will impact people’s pockets. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Sean Dyche’s Everton welcome manager-less Leeds this weekend in what could be a crucial game in the battle to avoid relegation. Meanwhile, after a statement win against Arsenal at the Emirates on Wednesday, can Manchester City keep their momentum going and pull away from the chasing pack at the top of the table? Mark Lawrenson and Tony Cascarino joined us to look ahead to the weekend’s fixtures. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Michael Clifford, Special Correspondent with the Irish Examiner and Sinead O’Carroll, Editor of TheJournal.ie spoke to Matt for The Week Trending. Up for discussion were football pundit Micah Richards’ very expensive haircuts, and Eamon Ryan’s high carbon footprint for the Government’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

This week, Minister for Justice Simon Harris said that there is a direct link between casual drug use and violence, crime and murder. Matt spoke to Conor Lally, Crime and Security Editor at the Irish Times about Minister Harris’ comments and about the issue of recreational drug use in Ireland. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania is the third Ant-Man film with Paul Rudd returning as the mini Marvel hero. Brian Lloyd joined Matt on The Last Word to review Ant-Man as well as the other movies coming to cinemas this weekend. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

The Green Party will reportedly look to block a new €200 electricity credit for Irish households this summer. Crucial Government talks on cost-of-living measures are underway. Hugh O’Connell, political correspondent with the Irish Independent, and Independent TD Michael Healy Rae joined Matt to discuss why the Green Party would oppose another energy payment and whether or not households need it. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

De-influencing is the latest social media trend gaining traction. But what is it and does it pay? Andy O’Donoghue joined Matt to discuss this as well as Elon Musk allegedly using the Twitter algorithm to boost his tweets during the Superbowl. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

International research has found that Dublin is the third slowest city in the world to drive in. It takes almost 30 minutes to drive 10 km in the city centre. Brian Caulfield, associate professor in the School of Engineering at Trinity College and Paddy Comyn from The AA joined Matt to discuss why this is happening. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

It’s expected that fossil fuel boilers will be phased out entirely in new buildings by the end of 2024 with heat pumps being installed in 86% of new dwellings. But what are the alternatives to an oil or gas boiler and what about pre-existing homes? Green Party Senator Pauline O’Reilly and energy consultant Stephen McGovern joined Matt to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Rising interest rates have added almost €3,000 to the annual mortgage repayments for the typical first-time buyer. With more interest rate rises expected in the coming months this will likely increase further. Matt was joined by Charlie Weston, personal finance editor with the Irish Independent to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Nearly two-thirds of retail workers are earning less than €451 per week, according to new research from the Mandate trade union. Matt was joined by Gerry Light, general secretary of Mandate, and Neil McDonnell, chief executive of ISME to discuss this report, as well as calls for the introduction of a living wage. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone joined Matt to discuss the stories making headlines in the US this week. This includes a UFO taskforce to look at suspected spy balloons, Mike Pence plans to fight a subpoena from the counsel investigating Donald Trump and Nikki Haley enters the 2024 presidential race. For the full chat click the 'Play' button on this page.

Killer Kenneth Noye, who stabbed 21-year-old Stephen Cameron to death in 1996, has spoken about the murder for the first time since his release from prison in a new book. The journey towards arresting Noye for the murder was one with a lot of twists. Journalist Donal MacIntyre, co-author of A Million Ways To Stay On The Run: The Uncut Story Of The International Manhunt For Public Enemy No1 Kenny Noye joined Matt on The Last Word to discuss this story. For the full chat click the 'Play' button on this page.

U2’s long-rumoured Las Vegas residency has been announced but the Irish band will be missing one member. Drummer Larry Mullen Jr won’t join U2 in Vegas because he has to undergo back surgery. To discuss this news and the other music stories making headlines this week Matt is joined by Dee Reddy and Dave Hanratty. For the full chat click the 'Play' button on this page.

Over half of women and around 20% of men will experience a form of osteoporosis in their life. The common health condition weakens people’s bones making them more fragile and more likely to break. Dr Brian Higgins joined Matt to explain more about osteoporosis and what people can do to try and prevent it. For the full chat click the 'Play' button on this page.

Rory O’Neill has been commended for his performance on RTE’s Dancing with the Stars, in which he dedicated his latest routine to Professor Fiona Mulcahy, one of the first doctors who treated him when he was diagnosed as HIV Positive. Also up for discussion with Joe O’Shea and Sarah McGuinness was ‘The Last of Us’, which reached the half-way mark on Friday night, ‘Liam Brady: The Irishman Abroad’, and ‘Better’, which may fill the Happy Valley-shaped void in your life. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.