The Last Word with Matt Cooper

Will a car-free Dublin city centre really work? Brendan O’Brien, Head of Technical Services for Dublin City Council, and Keith Gavin from the Irish Parking Association joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Comments made by an Israeli basketball player about the Irish women's team have created tensions around today's meeting of the two countries on the international basketball stage. Kieran Cunningham, Chief Sports Writer for The Irish Daily Star 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 his list of the best gadgets to help you optimise your home workouts! Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Why are so many people in rural Ireland without a GP? Dr. Ilona Duffy, GP in Monaghan and Peadar Toibin, Aontu Leader and TD for Meath West joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Hamas has responded to an Israeli ceasefire plan with their own suggestions. Could this signify a potential end to the conflict in Gaza? Patrick Bury, Senior Lecturer in Security at University of Bath and Former NATO analyst joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Why are people still overpaying for home insurance? 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.

Would you pay as much as €6 for a cup of coffee? Alan Andrews, Owner of The Old Barracks Coffee Roastery in Tipperary and of Guji Coffees Bars in Limerick and Cork, and Jean McCabe, Chief Executive at Retail Excellence Ireland joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

At the Grammys this week, Taylor Swift teased news about a new album coming later this year. The Last Word on Music with John Caddell and Dee Reddy.

In our weekly US slot, we hear from Marion McKeone and Cal Thomas about recent bad news for Donald Trump regarding January 6th 2021. You can catch the full chat by pressing the Play button on this page.

An investigation has found that some students are being left without places as an enrollment crisis worsens. Carl O’Brien, Education Editor of the Irish Times, Catherine Murphy, TD for Kildare North and Caroline Carpenter a parent living in Prosperous, Co Kildare joined The Last Word. You can catch the full chat by pressing the Play button on this page.

The former Taoiseach and leader of Fine Gael, John Bruton passed away this morning following an illness. His former cabinet colleague Ivan Yates and Gary Murphy, Professor of Politics at the School of Law and Government in DCU joined The Last Word. You can catch the full chat by pressing the Play button on this page.

In 2015, Matt Cooper sat down with former Taoiseach John Bruton to discuss his book called Faith in Politics. You can catch the full chat by pressing the Play button on this page.

It's officially the start of the hurling season for 2024. Jamsie O'Connor and John McIntyre joined The Last Word for a preview. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Hoodie-wearing or oversized jumpers will have to be taken off in security at Dublin and Cork Airports, Bambie Thug won big at last week's Eurosong and Bank Holiday joys. They're all the topics being discussed by Today FM's Ben Finnegan and Roe McDermott, Irish Times relationship columnist on the Week Trending. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Staff shortages in hospitals are said to be affecting patient care. Dr Chris Luke, columnist with the Irish Medical Times and retired consultant in emergency medicine and Dr. Trish Byrne, Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist joined The Last Word. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Many different scams managed to dupe investors into giving over €9 million in 2023. Niamh Davenport, Head of Financial Crime with the Banking and Payments Federation joined The Last Word with Dermot Williams, managing director, Threatscape. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Government Ministers are to travel the world on St. Patrick's Day. But at what cost to the environment? Environmental Journalist John Gibbons joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Mark Zuckerberg received some stark warnings at a recent US Senate hearing. Other tech giant CEOs were also present. Tech Journalist Andy O'Donoghue joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

On the weekly movies slot, Brian Loyd, Movies Editor of entertainment.ie is looking at Argylle and The Zone of Interest. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Founder of iconic televised festival Other Voices, Philip King joined us this week for The Culture Club! Press the 'Play' button on this page to hear his choices.

Green Party Junior Minister Joe O'Brien has submitted an objection to new Dublin Airport expansion plans. Mary Rose Burke, CEO of Dublin Chamber, and Ciaran Cuffe, MEP for The Green Party joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

VHI's third price rise in a year may be a stretch for customers. 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.

A follow-up operation on the Dublin riots began today, with two people detained by Gardaí for questioning. Conor Lally, Crime and Security Editor with The Irish Times joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

A new anti-bullying plan from the Government hopes to ensure that all incidents of bullying are recorded by schools. Dr. James O’Higgins Norman, UNESCO Chair on Bullying and Cyberbullying, and Director of DCU Anti-Bullying Centre joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Will Taylor Swift help Joe Biden to win the US presidential election? Cal Thomas, Nationally Syndicated US Columnist, and 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.