The Last Word with Matt Cooper

The 2024 general election saw voter turnout fall to record low levels, but many are sceptical about the reliability of the turnout figures due to flaws with the electoral register.Art O'Leary, chief executive of the Electoral Commission, joins The Last Word to explain why the register might be overstated and to answer more of your questions about last Friday's vote.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' on this page.

With government formation talks commencing this week Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor with The Irish Independent, had some recommendations that the new government could use in order to ease the cost of living.He also discussed how an IT issue led to some PTSB customers facing a delay in receiving their wages on Friday.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear his chat with Matt.

Clodagh Finn and John Morgan join The Last Word to discuss the untold stories of the Irish WWII heroes who fought in the Resistance as told in their compelling book 'The Irish in the Resistance'.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

US President Joe Biden has pardoned Hunter Biden despite saying previously that he would not use his executive authority to pardon his son or commute his sentence.Cal Thomas, nationally syndicated US columnist, and Marion McKeone, US correspondent with the Business Post, join The Last Word to discuss this and more news from the United States.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Gregg Wallace has stepped away from presenting MasterChef after allegations of inappropriate behaviour were made by 13 people over a 17-year period against him.The BBC had previously announced a Celebrity MasterChef Cook-Off and a Strictly Festive Extravaganza. However, they have since been pulled from their Christmas schedule.Elaine Burke, host of the For Tech’s Sake podcast and The Last Word’s TV & Streaming contributor, spoke to Matt to explain the latest on the story.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear their conversation.

Russell Alford, Food Critic for The Sunday Times and one half of the GastroGays, joined Matt for Tuesday’s travel slot.Bologna, a city famous for its authentic Italian food, was Russell’s choice this week.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear his recommendations.

Sarah Carey, an Irish Independent columnist known for her sharp political analysis, and Gary Murphy, a professor at Dublin City University specializing in Irish politics, dive into the intricacies of the 2024 general election. They discuss the fragile balance of power among Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and the Green Party, and the implications of potential independent governance. The conversation also touches on young voter disengagement, electoral system impacts, and the influence of social media on voter behavior, illustrating the complexities of the Irish political landscape.

Will O'Callaghan from Off The Ball and The Independent's Chief Football Writer Miguel Delaney join Matt to discuss the weekend's Premier League action.Liverpool dominate Man City to go nine points clear at the top of the league, as Arsenal and Chelsea try to keep pace.Hit 'Play' to get all the latest.

Ian Guider, columnist with The Business Post, joins Matt to discuss the big business news of the day.According to the Central Statistics Office, the average weekly earnings for employees in the Irish economy rose by 5.3% year on year in the third quarter to stand at €955.49.Hit 'Play' to get the latest.

Two-time Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Davy Russell has released his autobiography.He spoke to Matt on The Last Word about his experience of riding Tiger Roll to win the Aintree Grand National in 2018, the sacrifices he made to ensure he succeeded in his career and his long road to recovery after fracturing two vertebrae and dislocating another in 2020.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the chat.