The Last Word with Matt Cooper

Sean O’Neill McPartlin, Director of Housing Policy at Progress Ireland, and Conor Sheehan, TD and Labour housing spokesperson, dive into the contentious proposal for older homeowners to split their houses into flats. They discuss the potential benefits for local density and young renters, while also tackling the regulatory hurdles and costs involved. Sheehan raises concerns about funding and the feasibility of such conversions delivering enough housing. They also explore how this could support older residents and the impact of recent legal challenges on planning rules.

Orla Ryan, a news reporter with the Irish Times known for her political and social insights, joins Joe O'Shea, editor of Cork Beo, to dissect trending topics. They tackle businessman Denis O'Brien's controversial take on remote work and graduating millennials. The discussion shifts to the potential reduction of the voting age to 16, emphasizing youth engagement. Additionally, they explore intriguing study findings linking binge drinking with career success and the implications of media trust following a BBC apology to Trump.

Ireland's shock 2-0 win against Portugal has kept their dreams of qualifying for next year's World Cup alive.Gavin Cooney, sportswriter with The42.ie, & former Ireland striker Tony Cascarino join The Last Word to discuss Thursday's incredible performance at the Aviva and to look ahead the team's final group game away to Hungary on Sunday.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Tom Keogh, founder of Keogh's Crisps, talks to Matt about being the overall family business winner at the Irish Family Business Awards.He also talks about the farming tradition on his family farm in North Country Dublin and why he diversified into crisps production at time when sales of Irish potatoes were in a down turn.To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

On Thursday, the government unveiled its new housing plan, promising a minimum of 300,000 new homes to be built by 2030.However, Sinn Féin has criticised the plan, with the party’s housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin saying that it was written for “big developers to benefit their private interests” and that “families have once again been ignored”.Mr. Ó Broin and Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, John Cummins, spoke to Matt on The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the conversation

The Climate Change Advisory Council has said that carbon emissions in Ireland’s transport sector remain “stubbornly high” and that more will need to be done if the country is to achieve its 2030 climate targets.John Gibbons spoke to Matt on Thursday’s The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear their chat.

Want to put your feet up while your house is cleaned?Andy O'Donoghue joins The Last Word to run through some of the best smart vacuums on the market.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Chef and author Clodagh McKenna is the latest inductee into the Culture Club. She talks to Matt about her book, Clodagh's Happy Cooking.She also runs through her favourite music, movies, TV and books that other cultural treasures that have she returns to time and again.To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

A major conference this week heard that Ireland has seen a significant rise in behavioural addictions including excessive gambling, screen use and online shopping.Professor Colin O’Gara, head of addiction services at St John Of God Hospital and clinical professor of psychiatry at UCD, joins The Last Word to discuss the rise in people presenting with addictions linked to their phone or devices.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Revenue has estimated that over 300,000 people are due an income tax refund which could be claimed back just before Christmas.People who filed a tax return last year got an average of €900 back into their pockets.Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor with the Irish Independent, joined Matt on Wednesday’s The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the chat.