Hugh Linehan is joined in studio by Pat Leahy and Jack Horgan-Jones. First up for discussion is Fine Gael’s special conference taking place in Kildare this weekend. The conference comes just before a year that may see the party contest three elections, a year that could come to define the trajectory of Fine Gael and its leadership. But are Fine Gael generating enough momentum to meet the challenges that await them in 2024?
Also in part one, the latest twist in the RTÉ saga as director general Kevin Bakhurst unveiled his strategic plan for the future of the broadcaster this week. Separate to that came confirmation from the Government that an additional €56 million in funding would be made available, but as the panel points out, there is still the sticky issue of the license fee problem that has yet to be confronted.
And in part two, the value of diplomacy as Micheál Martin tours the Middle East this week, during which he met with his Israeli counterpart in Jerusalem before meeting representatives of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. And also happening this week, opposition motions to remove the Israeli ambassador and ICC referral were defeated in the Dáil.
Plus, the panel pick their favourite articles of the week from irishtimes.com:
Fostering at Christmas: ‘We once had two boys, age 9 and 11, who had never had a Christmas tree’
Fintan O’Toole: ‘My grandad is dead. I am going to tennis today’: Christmas letters to my son, 1997
After the fall of Assad, a family reunites
Christmas TV and movie guide: the best shows and films to watch
· Diarmaid Ferriter writes about Ridley Scott’s dismissal of historian’s concerns around his new biopic of
Napoleon.
· After 36 years in Leinster House, Senator David Norris is to retire in January.
· The best new restaurants to try around the country
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