The Last Word with Matt Cooper

Norma Foley, Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, outlined the newly launched National Human Rights Strategy For Disabled People 2025-2030. The minister also addressed the case a young boy in Donabate, missing, presumed dead. Tulsa had previously engaged with the boy and his family. To catch the full conversation, press the play button on this page.

Research conducted by the Irish-owned network of financial advisers Ask Acorn has found that the average Irish woman’s pension pot is 40% lower than a man. While one in four men have no retirement savings, the figure rises to more than a third for women in Ireland. Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor with the Irish Independent, spoke to Matt on Wednesday’s show. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this p...

Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone join The Last Word to discuss the latest news from the United States, including swirling rumours about Donald Trump's health. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

It’s looking increasingly likely that there will be a contest within Fianna Fáil ahead of the presidential election as both MEP Billy Kelleher and former Dublin Gaelic football manager Jim Gavin gather support from inside the party. Mr. Kelleher joined Daniel McConnell on The Last Word to discuss why he thinks he’d be the best candidate for the job. Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the c...

Irish actor Liam Cunningham joined Matt as he returned to Ireland from Barcelona where he supported the launch of the Global Sumud Flotilla of 50 vessels. He explained what aid is being carried by the flotilla, and what his meetings with Greta Thunberg have been like. To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

Sarah Slattery from thetravelexpert.ie joins The Last Word to discuss the best holiday destinations for those looking for some winter sun. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Pat Kenny is moving to the weekends on Newstalk and Claire Byrne is taking his morning slot. Jim Gavin is to seek the Fianna Fáil Presidential nomination according to the party's director of elections, Minister Jack Chambers. To discuss the day's news, and other trending stories from the week, Matt was joined by Lise Hand and Joe O'Shea. Hit play on this page to listen now. 

A new import tax on small packages sent to the United States has come into effect which means that people in the US who receive packages worth over €85 will now have to pay a 15% import tax. Garrett Bridgeman, managing director of An Post Commerce, joins The Last Word to discuss how they are facilitating the change and what Irish customers must do when sending parcels to the US. Catch the full cha...

Irish filmmaker and undersea cameraman Ken O'Sullivan has spent the last two decades documenting the lives of dolphins off the coast of Ireland. He joins The Last Word to discuss his new documentary 'Dolphins: Wonders of the Ocean' which will soon air on RTÉ. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Manchester United's woes continued on Wednesday night after League Two side Grimsby Town knocked Ruben Amorim's side out of the Carabao Cup. After a defeat and a draw in their opening Premier League fixtures against Arsenal and Fulham respectively, is the pressure already building on United to get a result against Burnley this weekend? Miguel Delaney, Chief Football Writer with the Independent, sp...

This week on The Last Word on the Environment Matt is joined by founder and editor of ClimateChange.ie John Gibbons to discuss the week's biggest environmental news. This week they discuss the presence of Asian Hornets in Ireland growing, how Climate Change is making Wild Fires 22% more intense and more. Press play on this page to listen now.

Andy O'Donoghue joins The Last Word to discuss the latest range of Google Pixel phones which include some extraordinary new features powered by artificial intelligence. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Róise Goan, CEO and Artistic Director of the Dublin Theatre Festival was the latest inductee into the Culture Club where she discussed her favourite music, film, TV, books and of course, theatre. To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

Chair of the Consultants’ Committee of the Irish Medical Council Professor Matthew Sadlier has warned that beauty influencers pushing products and unobtainable standards are becoming as dangerous for young women as Andrew Tate is for young men. Matt caught up with Professor Sadlier about these dangers and the impact he is seeing them have on young women presenting with eating disorders and other m...

College course points have increased once again across all the major universities. With the first round of CAO offers out today, just over 50% of students got their first choice on their CAO. After the most CAO applications ever, Matt was joined by the Union of Students in Ireland's Daniel Walsh and Eoin Houlihan, Guidance Counsellor with the Institute of Guidance Counsellors Ireland to discu...

Personal Finance Editor with the Irish Independent Charlie Weston is back with Matt to discuss all your finance queries On this week Charlie talks us through why it is important to challenge your insurer on your premiums amid ongoing price hikes across some of Ireland's biggest insurance providers. Hit play on this page to listen now.

Dee Reddy and Dave Hanratty had the latest music news including the engagement of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. They had an extensive preview of the biggest ever Electric Picnic, taking place in Stradbally, Co Laois.

In this week's The Last Word on the US, Will O'Callaghan talks to Marion McKeone and Cal Thomas about President Donald Trump's new order to remove the Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, his plans for future National Guard deployments and a potential future meeting between Trump and Kim Jong Un. Hit Play on this page to listen now.

206 former EU and national ambassadors and former senior EU officials, have signed a letter urging the EU to take action against Israel over the violence in Gaza following the official confirmation of Famine in the strip. Also today, thousands of activists have joined hostage families for what they’re calling “a day of disruption” calling for an immediate return of the hostages held by Hamas. Will...

The Business Post's Ian Guider joins Will O'Callaghan to discuss the latest Business News. On this episode they discuss the government's newly announced supports for business that will be affected by Donald Trump's Tariffs and the new agreement between the Advertising Standards Authority and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission which allows them to share the details of influencers wh...

Former Dublin GAA manager Jim Gavin, who led Dublin to a historic five in a row, is the latest speculated candidate in the presidential election. With only Catherine Connolly formally confirmed as a candidate and the election rapidly approaching, Will O'Callaghan spoke to Editor of the Business Post Danny McConnell and Political Correspondent Tabitha Monahan about all the latest candidate news. Hi...

Sarah Slattery from TheTravelExpert.ie returned to The Last Word on Monday to highlight some of the best travel deals available to you if you're planning a winter break this year. Hit the 'Play' button on this page to hear her suggestions.

Pioneer of electronic music Gary Numan spoke to Matt about his extensive career in music and his new tour for the 45th anniversary of his album Telekon. To catch the interview, press the 'play' button on this page.

Donald Trump claims that he is a grass expert as the owner of several golf courses, Mark Zuckerberg has been buying up houses in Palo Alto for triple their market price and Denmark has abolished VAT on books to stop a 'reading crisis'. Matt is joined by US correspondent with The Business Post Marione McKeone and host of No Encores Podcast Dave Hanratty to discuss this week's trending stories. Catc...

The class of 2025 has been awarded fewer top grades as grade deflation is introduced for the first time since the 2020 inflation. The proportion of H1s is down by 2.6% and  O1s down by 2.1% compared to last year. Questions are now being asked about what this will mean for CAO offers next week. Matt was joined by Irish Times Education Columnist and Guidance Counsellor Brian Mooney and Presiden...