The Last Word with Matt Cooper

The Week Trending with Ben Finnegan and Sarah McGuinness this week chatting about the suspected spy in the Oireachtas, calls for road signs As Gaeilge, and Portugal’s tax incentives for young people.

Next week’s interprovincial series will trial new rules in an attempt to improve the game of Gaelic football.So, what are they, and could they make the sport more entertaining?Michael Foley, sportswriter with the Sunday Times and the Irish Independent’s GAA Correspondent, Colm Keys, discussed it with Matt.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the conversation.

Psychologist Allison Keating's new book, 'It's All Too Much, aims to guide people who are overwhelmed, anxious or stressed out by modern life.She joins The Last Word to discuss practical tools that can help with anxiety, stress and panic attacks. Listen to the full conversation by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Dr. Ilona Duffy, a knowledgeable GP, joins the discussion on tech in healthcare. She highlights groundbreaking advancements in at-home health technology, like sleep analyzers that detect sleep apnea and smart scales for health tracking. The conversation dives into the transformative role of AI in diagnostics and the balance between remote monitoring and personal consultations. Additionally, they evaluate the convenience and privacy of home testing kits, emphasizing the necessity of medical advice for accurate health assessments.

Marjorie Taylor Greene has doubled down on her theory that the weather can be controlled, despite experts debunking her statements.Does she actually believe what she’s saying, or is it a cynical move in order to whip up populism? That’s a question Matt posed to nationally syndicated columnist Cal Thomas on Thursday’s programme.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the conversation.

On this week's environment slot, commentator John Gibbons spoke to Matt about the impact that Hurricane Milton has had on Florida.Here in Ireland, national parks are set to get legal status in the hope of providing them with greater protections.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the conversation.

Poet and playwright Rita Ann Higgins is the latest inductee into the Culture Club. She discussed her new collection The Long Weekend and the music, books, and films that have been influential in her life and work.To catch the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

Matt was joined by author and playwright Michael Harding, author of “I Loved Him From The Day He Died”.The memoir focuses on the relationship he had with his father, who died when Harding was 23.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the conversation.

Electric vehicle sales are continuing to plummet with new figures showing that they are down by 25% so far this year.Ian Guider, columnist with the Business Post, joins The Last Word to discuss why demand for EVs has dropped so much and more of the day's business news. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

John Caddel and Dee Reddy join Matt for your weekly music round up. Picks of the week, Pink Floyd updates and so much more!