The Government's plan to set up a new office to speed up home delivery has snowballed into a major issue, all while it is still scrambling to find ways to address Ireland's housing crisis. Tabitha Monahan, political reporter with the Irish Independent, and Daniel McConnell, editor of the Business Post, join The Last Word to explain this latest cont…

The number of women emigrating from Ireland has jumped 56% since the pandemic, according to a report by the Department of Enterprise. The figures also show that young women are emigrating at a much higher level than young men Sarah McGuinness, political correspondent with the Irish Daily Mail, and Labour Senator Laura Harmon join The Last Word to d…

Sunday and Irish Independent sports columnist Eamonn Sweeney has released his latest book “The Last Ditch: How One GAA Championship Gave A Sportswriter Back His Life”. It details how, in 2000, Eamonn developed a crippling phobia of travelling, which led to extreme panic attacks and resulted him living a solitary life in West Cork. However, he was g…

Andy O'Donoghue joins The Last Word to talk through all the best new tech for outdoor activities. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Writer Louise Hegarty is the latest inductee to the Culture Club. Following the release of the her debut novel Fair Play, a classic murder mystery with a twist, Louise joins The Last Word to discuss her favourite music, books and more. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

The government has defended plans which could see chief executives of commercial semi-state bodies in line for pay increases worth tens of thousands of euro. This decision has come under criticism from members of the opposition, with the Social Democrats’ Cian O’Callaghan saying there was a “double standard” when compared with lower-paid workers. B…

Charlie Weston, personal finance editor, Irish Independent, spoke to Matt about the implications of the carbon tax increases and also how a higher BER adds value to second-hand homes, and the cost of upgrading homes. To catch the full conversation, press the play button on this page.

Kneecap continue to face backlash after videos from their shows resurfaced where members of the group appear to call for Conservative MPs to be killed and shout “up Hamas, up Hezbollah”. Dee Reddy and John Caddell join The Last Word to discuss the Irish language rap trio’s track record of courting controversy and more of the latest music news. Catc…

Global tariffs, negotiating peace in Ukraine and an immigration crackdown are just some of the many moves made by US President Donald Trump since he returned to the White House. Cal Thomas, nationally syndicated US columnist, and Larry Donnelly, law lecturer at University of Galway & columnist with The Journal join The Last Word to assess Trump's f…

Meath and Louth will contest this year’s Leinster Senior Football Final after the Royals beat Dublin at O’Moore Park in Portlaoise on Sunday. This will be the first time since 2010 that Dublin are not in the decider. Instead, Meath will face Louth after they beat Kildare on Saturday. Former Kildare footballer Johnny Doyle and Will O’Callaghan from …

Seville is a city of incredible architecture, amazing food and colourful flamenco dancing. Sinead Kennedy, host of wellness activity breaks and travel expert, joins The Last Word to talk about the best sites and activities in the southern Spanish city. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!…

Tom Fitzgerald, Unite Regional Coordinating officer, and Neil McDonnell, ISME Chief Executive join Matt to discuss trade union Unite's call for Climate Leave in the event of extreme weather. Unite is seeking a meeting with the Minister for Enterprise to bring their requests into the conversation for future legislation. Listen here.…

Michael Dowling, managing director of Michael Dowling Mortgage and Financial Services, and Brendan Burgess, founder of askaboutmoney.com, speculate on the new mortgage product from Revolut and how it might impact the market. To catch the full conversation, press the play button on this page.

Belfast/Derry trio Kneecap have been criticised for pro-Palestinian chants during their Coachella sets, with TV personality Sharon Osbourne urging US authorities to revoke their visas. Given how outspoken they’ve been about political issues in the past, should we be surprised by the move? Furthermore, should we be more encouraging to artists and ce…

Tributes have been paid to Pope Francis, whose death was announced on Monday morning. UN climate official Simon Stiell said that the Pope was “a towering figure of human dignity, and an unflinching global champion of climate action as a vital means to deliver it”. Environmental commentator John Gibbons spoke to Matt about this. Hit the ‘Play’ butto…

Andy Donoghue has his top garden gadget picks from watering systems, to lawnmowers, plant sensors, outdoor lighting and outdoor sockets. To catch the full conversation, press the play button on this page.

Will Sliney, comic book artist and creator of Draw With Will, talks to Matt about his favourite music, film, TV, books and other cultural touchstones that have influenced his life and work. To catch the full conversation, press the play button on this page.

Intel will announce plans to cut more than 20 per cent of its staff this week as part of a bid to streamline operations, according to Bloomberg news. The global tech giant employs over 5,000 people across Ireland. Ian Guider, columnist with the Business Post, joins The Last Word to discuss the future of Intel and to run through more of the latest b…

Insurers are cutting benefits on health plans as they hike the price of premiums, meaning that customers are now getting less value for their money. Meanwhile, the government’s take from taxes on home energy and motor fuels has topped €4bn for the first time, with Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín TD accusing the government of “cashing in” on the cost-of-…

US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he and his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, will attend Pope Francis’s funeral at The Vatican on Saturday. Pope Francis had previously been critical of President Trump’s views on immigration, describing the program of mass deportations as a “major crisis”. Nationally syndicated columnist, Cal Thomas, and …

Following the death of Pope Francis, Redemptorist priest Tony Flannery, theologian Gina Menzies and catholic commentator Breda O'Brien join The Last Word to discuss the legacy he has left behind. Catch the full discussion by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Andy O'Donoghue reviews the best and more affordable smartphones on the market from Google, Samsung and Oneplus.

Dublin's four local authorities are developing plans for a new tourist tax in the capital which they say could help fund the upkeep of the city. A working group is due to be set up later this year to consider the proposal. Sinn Féin councillor on Dublin City Council Séamus McGrattan and Paul Gallagher, chief executive of the Irish Hotels Federation…

A new report from the Mental Health Commission has said that there is an urgent need to improve mental health services at emergency departments and that steps should be taken to make access to care easier. Professor Jim Lucey, Inspector of Mental Health Services at the Mental Health Commission, spoke to Matt on The Last Word about this. Hit the ‘Pl…

Saxophonist, member of Moving Hearts, and author of Music and Mayhem, Keith Donald talks to Matt about the culture that made him, from his early music influences and his time playing with Van Morrison and Christy Moore. To catch the full chat, press the ‘play’ button on this page.

Pharmaceutical companies are calling for 'radical policy change' from the European Union in order to limit a potential 'exodus' of future investment in Ireland and other EU member states. Ian Guider, columnist with the Business Post, joins The Last Word to discuss the warning issued by pharma executives to European Commission president Ursula von d…

Easter eggs appear to be the latest products to be impacted by inflation, with a 200g egg now costing approximately €7.50. That’s more than double the price of five years ago. Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor with the Irish Independent spoke to Matt about this, and also about how the introduction of the auto-enrolment scheme is facing furthe…

US President Donald Trump has once again claimed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky started the war with Russia, saying "you don't start a war with someone 20 times your size and then hope people give you some missiles." Cal Thomas, nationally US syndicated columnist, and journalist Marion McKeone join The Last Word to discuss Trump's comm…

The Union of Students in Ireland has urged students travelling to the US on a J1 visa this summer to be "cautious and informed" about the potential risks of "activism", as US authorities continue to clamp down on university protests. Jenny Maguire, president of Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union, and Fiona McEntee, US immigration attorney, join…

Kaitlin Murphy, Travel Writer with TravelExpert.ie joined Matt for the travel slot on The Last Word, where this week’s destination was Japan. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear all her recommendations.

Rory McIlroy won his first major tournament in 11 years when he was crowned Masters Champion at Augusta on Sunday night. After so much heartbreak over the last decade, McIlroy finally completed the career Grand Slam, which has only been done by five other players in history. Lawrence Donegan, Founder & Editor of McKellar Magazine, The42.ie’s Gavin …

Mick Mulvaney, former chief of staff to Donald Trump, joins The Last Word to discuss the US President's attitude to Russia, the motive behind his tariff plan and what Trump and his administration really think of Ireland. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Amanda Knox, podcaster, writer and exoneree, talks about rebuilding her life following her acquittal for murder in Italy, and reintegrating into life following infamy and trauma. To catch the full conversation, press the ‘play’ button on this page.

Shop owners push back against outdoor drinking on a popular Dublin city street, record-high house prices push young people to ditch their dream of owning a home, and could pets be bad for the environment? Sarah McGuinness, political correspondent with the Irish Daily Mail, and Ben Finnegan, Today FM news anchor, join The Last Word to discuss the we…

Pat Marry and Robin Schiller, authors of The Ice House Murder, detail the investigation into the murder of mother of three Irene White, at Ice House in Dundalk. To catch the full conversation, press the play button on this page.

As the United States and China continue to exchange tariff jibes, what will happen to the Chinese owned social media platform TikTok, which was already facing a US ban, and how expensive could Apple's iPhone become? Andy O'Donoghue joins The Last Word to discuss the impact that US President Donald Trump's escalating trade war is having on tech. Cat…

A study released by DCU has found that teachers at both primary and secondary level in Ireland are experiencing burnout and poor mental health. The report says that better support is needed to help teachers who face serious challenges in their jobs. Dr. Pia O’Farrell, from the School of Policy and Practice in DCU and co-author of this report and Je…

On Wednesday, Donald Trump announced he would be pausing plans to introduce tariffs on goods from most countries for 90 days. Explaining why he did so, the US President said “People were jumping a little bit out of line. They were getting yippy”. Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone spoke to Matt about this on Thursday’s The Last Word. Hit the ‘Play’ butt…

To celebrate the release of his eighth novel “The Bureau”, author Eoin McNamee joined Matt for this week’s Culture Club. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear all of his choices.

RTÉ staff have been told that the organisation's redundancy scheme will open later this month with payments capped at €300,000. Ian Guider, columnist with The Business Post, joins The Last Word to discuss this and more of the latest business news. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!…

Rory McIlroy is once again looking to complete a career Grand Slam at The Masters, but can he finally pull it off? Lawrence Donegan, founder and editor of McKellar Magazine, joins The Last Word to discuss McIlroy's chances of winning the 2025 Masters. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!…

Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor, Irish Independent, discussed where tariffs might hit consumers in terms of fuel prices, pensions and energy prices. To catch the full conversation, press the ‘play’ button on this page.

On the Easter bank holiday weekend, Today FM will be counting down the best 500 songs of the last 25 years, and you the listeners can get involved by voting for your favourites via https://vote.todayfm.com/big500. Matt, Dee Reddy and John Caddell got involved on Tuesday’s music slot by picking some of their standout tracks. Hit the ‘Play’ button on…

China has vowed to "fight to the end" as President Donald Trump threatens to impose further tariffs on Chinese goods. Cal Thomas, nationally syndicated US columnist, and journalist Marion McKeone join The Last Word to discuss Trump's escalating global trade war and more of the latest news from the United States. Catch the full chat by pressing the …

An independent review into the use of unapproved metal springs in paediatric spinal surgeries has found that "children were left unprotected from risk of harm". The report by the Health Information and Quality Authority found there was inadequate oversight within Children's Health Ireland and that families could not give informed consent to procedu…

Munster recorded an impressive win against Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle on Saturday in the Investec Champions Cup last 16, setting up a mouthwatering tie against Bordeaux Bègles. Meanwhile, Leinster kept Harlequins scoreless at Croke Park which saw Leo Cullen’s side safely through to the quarter-finals. Former Munster player Alan Quinlan and Off The …

Brian Honan, chief executive and cybersecurity expert, BH consulting and Louise Corrigan, US immigration lawyer, Louise Corrigan Law discuss discuss the recommendation to delete social media apps if travelling to the US, if you have been critical of current US Policy. To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.…

Sarah Slattery from the travelexpert.ie joins The Last Word to talk about the best options for couples, families and solo travelers who may be looking to head away on a cruise. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Russell Brand is charged with rape and sexual assault, Chappell Roan says all her friends who have children are 'in hell' and the rarely used Farmleigh House is costing the taxpayer almost €3.25 million a year. Fionnuala Jones and Dave Hanratty join The Last Word to discuss the week's trending stories. But first, Nick Ferrari, presenter of Nick Fer…

Trauma surgeon Dr Morgan McMonagle recently spent six weeks on a humanitarian mission in Gaza. On The Last Word he recounts the challenges faced by healthcare professionals in Gaza and the grim reality of treating patients in an active war zone. Hear the full conversation by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.…