The Last Word with Matt Cooper

As conservative campaigner Maria Steen marked the end of her presidential bid on Wednesday, many were quick to spot the €20,000 designer bag on her arm. Elsewhere, British Prime Minister Kier Starmer has revealed plans for a controversial UK digital identity card and US President Donald Trump has claimed he was 'sabotaged' while at the United Nations General Assembly.Orla Ryan, Irish Times journalist, and Paddy Duffy, TV producer, join The Last Word to discuss the week's trending stories. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Uefa's executive committee is expected to meet next week to decide whether to suspend Israel from its competitions over its almost two-year assault on Gaza.Miguel Delaney, chief football writer with the Independent, joins The Last Word to discuss the impact that a such a ban would have on world football and next year's World Cup.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Technology journalist Andy O'Donoghue shares insights into smart-home devices perfect for winter comfort. He discusses the transformative power of smart thermostats and their energy-saving benefits. O'Donoghue also explores smart radiator thermostats for efficient room control and highlights advanced air purifiers that heat and cool. Other features include portable dehumidifiers for mold prevention and smart lighting solutions for both ambiance and security. Discover how these cutting-edge gadgets can make your home cozy and efficient this winter.

Research conducted by Maynooth University has found that the warm nighttime temperatures which were experienced this summer are now 40 times more likely due to climate change caused by human activity.John Gibbons spoke to Ian Guider on Thursday’s The Last Word.Hit the 'Play' button on this page to hear the piece.

A number of Dublin city councillors boycotted a ceremony to award the Freedom of the City to Barack Obama over objections to the former US president's record in foreign and domestic policy.Obama, who is visiting Dublin this week, was originally granted the honour by councillors in 2017 but he didn't come to receive the award until now.Conor Reddy, People Before Profit-Solidarity group leader on Dublin City Council, and Larry Donnelly, law lecturer at the University of Galway and columnist with TheJournal.ie, join The Last Word to discuss whether it was appropriate for Obama to be given the Freedom of Dublin. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Novelist Eimear McBride was the latest Culture Club inductee.Eimear spoke to Matt about her new novel, The City Changes Its Face. She also discussed her favourite music, films, books and the cultural touchstones that have influenced her life and work.To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

European and American golfers are getting ready to face off against each other once again when the Ryder Cup kicks off in New York on Friday.Meanwhile, organisers of the tournament are preparing for the arrival of US President Donald Trump on opening day, with fears his visit could cause disruption.Lawrence Donegan, founder and editor of McKellar Magazine, joins The Last Word to discuss what to expect from the 2025 Ryder Cup. Catch the the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

The current system for granting exemptions for studying Irish is souring relationships between principals and parents, according to the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD).A record number, 60,946, of secondary school students received an exemption from studying Irish in the last school year.Paul Crone, director of the NAPD, and John Sharpson, primary school teacher and TV presenter, join The Last Word to discuss.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Dee Reddy and John Caddell were back for the Last Word on Music where they had all the details of revival of Take That's Circus Tour. They also spoke about Madonna's return to Warner Records and her back catalogue.To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

Over two million homeowners in Ireland are set to receive a letter from Revenue warning them to revalue their homes.The new valuation will apply for the local property tax from 2026.Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor with the Irish Independent, explained this on Wednesday’s The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.