Is All Hope Lost? Guest Host: Ivan Yates

Is Ireland heading towards another fiscal crisis—and who is prepared to take responsibility?

Ivan Yates joins Nick Delehanty, Paul Treyvaud and Elaine Mullally on The Irish Question for a frank discussion about public spending, political accountability, housing, immigration and the future of Irish media.

The former politician, businessman and broadcaster explains why he believes Ireland is building permanent spending commitments on unreliable tax revenues, describes the current Dáil as the worst he has seen, and sets out what he would change as Taoiseach.

There’s also a spirited debate over the triple lock and neutrality, his account of the controversy surrounding podcast regulation, and practical lessons from his new book, The Game of Life and How to Win.

What would YOU change first if you were Taoiseach? Let us know in the comments, and subscribe for more from The Irish Question.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Welcome to The Irish Question
00:43 Ivan Yates and The Game of Life and How to Win
04:39 “A Garda wouldn’t ask me that!” — Nick tests Ivan’s advice
05:35 Turning contacts into relationships
06:27 How do you get a politician sacked?
14:39 Welfare, public spending and Ivan’s fiscal warning
19:02 Mainstream media, housing statistics and RTÉ
26:56 What is a fiscal crisis?
28:05 “The worst Dáil I’ve ever seen”
32:05 The triple lock, defence spending and sovereignty
34:11 Ivan’s case on neutrality and Ireland’s defence responsibilities
41:30 If Ivan were Taoiseach: housing, planning and infrastructure
45:41 What the hosts would change: NGOs, energy and public spending
50:25 Leadership and renewable energy planning
52:20 Ivan’s views on immigration
53:38 Media power and the future of podcast regulation
55:38 Ivan’s experience with Coimisiún na Meán
56:38 Have Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael abandoned their core voters?
1:02:13 Ivan reflects on life, politics and Ireland’s future
1:06:26 A racing tip and final thoughts