http://www.joeotoole.net/ My Week This Week. Listen to my weekly comment on the view of life from within Leinster House. This week – Friday 14th December - hear about Bertie's golfers; Consider who is Brian Cowen's Mary? And, what ever happened to Mary Hanafin? Oh yeah and that's all after the Cabinet are left chewing nails with frustration at Bertie bouncing their salary cheques. Enjoy. en-gb Joe O'Toole Joe O'Toole (C)2006 Tue, 21 Mar 2006 17:30:41 GMT This week - hear about Bertie's golfers; Consider who is Brian Cowen's Mary? And, what ever happened to Mary Hanafin? Oh yeah and that's all after the Cabinet are left chewing nails with frustration at Bertie bouncing their salary cheques. Enjoy. podcasts Fri, 14th December 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:47 Joe O'Toole No This week - Brian’s Budget; Mary's side show and my, how pleased are the Greens? Enjoy. podcasts Fri, 7th December 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:30 Joe O'Toole No This week - it's goodbye Ned. So, who was Ned aiming at? Was it Mary Harney or The Bert himself? And the way the top brass were queueing up to tell us what a decent guy Ned was and this after he had twisted the knife in their guts? Might Ned go to the microphone again with more news? Are the FF men in suits reappraising and beginning to call time on Bertie's term? For the sake of the party you understand!! Enjoy. podcasts Fri, 30th November 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:41 Joe O'Toole No This week - meet the 2 Billion Euro Man, adjudged not to be worth his public service salary, the private sector value his work at €2billion. And are you one of the Port Laoise 97? How long did the functionaries know?How much more monstrous can it become? Time to be afraid, very afraid. podcasts Fri, 23rd November 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:41 Joe O'Toole No This week - So what is The Bert worth? What should he be paid? Not many offering a view. Well, here it is the gospel on pay relativities for the Taoiseach. Enjoy. podcasts Fri, 16th November 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:30 Joe O'Toole No This week - a non-entertaining assessment of Professor Drumm and his Minister and the Ministers before her. Enjoy. podcasts Fri, 9th November 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:49 Joe O'Toole No This week - Is it the end of Fianna Fail with the latest Poll shocker? Well, we can hear the sniggering inside the FF rooms as this good "bad" news plays right into their plans. Bertie Ahern - Who he? And who is that guy coming over the horizon sneaking greedy looks at Brian Cowen's inheritance? Enjoy. podcasts Fri, 2nd November 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:18 Joe O'Toole No This week - the Shannon story still has legs and the focus is somewhat skewed away from politicians just now and gives rise to the query "who actually runs the country?"; Aer Lingus conveyed their decision to two Departments and the Dublin Airport Authority and the news never travelled either to the political sphere or to Shannon itself. This is a scandal and surely it's time for a full inquiry into the whole mess. Enjoy. podcasts Fri, 26th October 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:55 Joe O'Toole No This week - John Brutons pilgrimage to Dublin Castle and how those Tribunals play hell with the memory; Brian's future depending on the Bert's timing; Dempsey's discomfiture; and our person of the week. Enjoy. podcasts Fri, 19th October 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:34 Joe O'Toole No This week - a dull political week, Ministers imprisoned in Leinster House; and a sick news week, grisly imagery on our TV screens and newspapers. podcasts Fri, 12th October 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:58 Joe O'Toole No This week - there was no shortage of stars; Eamonn O Cuiv, Willie O'Dea, Ned O'Keefe and Mary O'Rourke all drove up Bertie's blood pressure. Then there were the pub fight, coke snorting and Martin Cahill's great love of art. Enjoy. podcasts Fri, 5th October 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:41 Joe O'Toole No This week - a near miss for Government as some of the less diligent backbenchers were absent without leave; let’s see which arse gets kicked at the parliamentary party meetings next week. Enjoy. podcasts Fri, 28th September 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:33 Joe O'Toole No This week - Mourinho and Kenny both under similar pressure this week - dealing with free range and second class eggs, all in an attempt to create the perfect omelette. Enjoy. podcasts Fri, 21st September 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:22 Joe O'Toole No This week - tribunal antics; trying to make some sense of it all. Enjoy. podcasts Fri, 14th September 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:15 Joe O'Toole No This week - Not a lot happening on the political front hence the hibernating politicians and a look at domestic deaths. So no jokes this week. podcasts Fri, 31st August 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:51 Joe O'Toole No This week - Willie O'Dea rides again (remember his stout support for the taxi drivers way back then) backed up by the serried ranks of FF Oireachtas members with White Knight Michael O'Leary standing in the wings. With friends like that..... podcasts Fri, 17th August 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:41 Joe O'Toole No This week - the Aer Lingus Shannon story; we got what we wished for, let's all wise up. podcasts Fri, 10th August 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:50 Joe O'Toole No This week - a personal story bringing me back to earth; A story to strike a chord with many circles of friends around the country. podcasts Fri, 3rd August 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:35 Joe O'Toole No This week – the ups and downs of Seanad elections; the tears and the whoops the political wakes and the new stars of the political galaxy. Enjoy. podcasts Fri, 27th July 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:09 Joe O'Toole No This week – Lets hear it for Tom Parlon, give him a cheer; And why not give politicians the same employment protection as mothers on maternity leave. Go on. Enjoy. podcasts Fri, 20th July 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:38 Joe O'Toole No This week - we look at the waxing Greens and the waning PD's and the probability of the Shinners in the Seanad arising from their last minute deal with Labour. Practical politics over principled niceties that could deliver a hung Seanad. Enjoy. podcasts Fri, 13th July 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:37 Joe O'Toole No This week - the freshest look at Leinster House this week; new Ministers stretching and debutantes preening while the old lifers in here shrug it all off. Enjoy. podcasts Fri, 6th July 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:15 Joe O'Toole No This week - demystifying the Seanad Election. A bluffer's guide to this unfair, undemocratic and elite process. We unveil the unfairness of it all and point to the future. Enjoy. podcasts Fri, 29th June 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:41 Joe O'Toole No This week - it's more of the same politically or do you see the difference. Noel O Flynn in the bold corner with Kerry, Mayo and Roscommon for not delivering. Oh and meet Senator Tom Parlon as we don't have McDowell to kick around anymore. Enjoy. podcasts Fri, 22nd June 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:41 Joe O'Toole No This week - Bertie's Hattrick, Tarmac Tara and get out Dick, you are the Greens weakest link. Enjoy. podcasts Fri, 15th June 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:19 Joe O'Toole No This week - watching the antics in Government buildings; Bertie sitting tight curled in a ball and the Greens discover that he does not do deadlines. And is that unnoticed elephant in the corner not Pat Rabbitte? I wonder what does Brian Cowen think. Enjoy. podcasts Fri, 8th June 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:42 Joe O'Toole No This week - Rough trade this politics. Well Leinster House this week was like the aftermath of Armageddon as the defeated TD's emptied their offices into the plastic refuse sacks strewn along the corridor. Sad scenes indeed, but questions to ask ourselves as well. Enjoy. podcasts Fri, 1st June 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:25 Joe O'Toole No This week - Bertie sees the winning post and the bookies knew more than the pundits. Enjoy. podcasts Fri, 25th May 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:35 Joe O'Toole No This week - How the TV debates measured up; McDowell's scattergun on automatic and Adams the One-Trick-Pony; while Bertie and Enda caused as much excitement as watching paint dry. Enjoy. podcasts Fri, 18th May 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:38 Joe O'Toole No Nice story this week - Who was the young FF backbencher who announced on the Leinster House plinth that FF would never enter into coalition as it would be against their core principles. This was just before Charlie announced he was opening talks with the PDs to form a Government. Who was he? Can't remember? Well here is a clue. This week a FF Minister announced that they would never enter into coalition with Sinn Fein!!! Listen and learn. Also, apart from the polls, what are the bookies saying? And finally who was the European leader who got help from a wealthy business friend this week? Enjoy. podcasts Fri, 11th May 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:32 Joe O'Toole No This week – Enjoying the campaign? Bertie toe to toe with Vincent; Enda being clever; Extra seats for Labour. Is it the 1977 election again? And the teaser - what connects Gusty Spence and Padraig Pearse? Enjoy. podcasts Fri, 4th May 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:30 Joe O'Toole No This week – Good news for Fine Gael; Bertie surfs from the peaks of exhilaration of grandparency to the depths of dismay of the polls; By the way an election is due anytime now!! Some say he will go to the President before she heads off on Sunday. Enjoy. podcasts Fri, 27th April 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:40 Joe O'Toole No This week – They're charging the doorways of Ireland with their job application forms anytime now. Treat them well. Our future is in your hands. Be nice. Oh and Christian Radio - now we can all feel safer in Post Christian Ireland. No more pinko radicalism on the airwaves. Do you want one too? Enjoy. podcasts Fri, 20th April 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:14 Joe O'Toole No This week – Bertie losing eye contact, the handlers got it wrong and more ethics for the politicians. The race is on. Enjoy. podcasts Fri, 13th April 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:40 Joe O'Toole No This week – The Golden Handshake and the new Battle of the Boyne. But what about the Enda and Fionnuala show. Wise or Unwise? Enjoy. podcasts Fri, 6th April 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:39 Joe O'Toole No This week – The wonderful story of Big Ian's plot of land from Jim Allister's family; Bertie planning the election before Ian and Gerry divorce and; Enda's Ard Fheis - Will he or won't he? Enjoy. podcasts Fri, 30th March 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:33 Joe O'Toole No This week – St. Patrick has been paraded and this week is St. Bertie's turn; lifting the troops at the Ard Fheis and maybe slipping away to Croker for a bit of peace; passing the stand for the last time before the finish as the election bell draws closer.. Enjoy. podcasts Fri, 23rd March 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:49 Joe O'Toole No This week – it's a ghost town in here what with junketing Ministers and a threatened invasion of clowns from Merrion Square but we are safe in the hands of Willie's army. The action is in New York and watch out for the Green Tide election coming at you. Enjoy. podcasts Fri, 16th March 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:31 Joe O'Toole No This week – we consider Bertie as Rose of Tralee and when he might run to the country as well as the election goodies. podcasts Fri, 9th March 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:31 Joe O'Toole No This week – Where can you hear God Save the Queen in Leinster House? And, the common linkage among young swimmers, fourteen year old paedophile victims and eleven year old mothers. podcasts Fri, 2nd March 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:25 Joe O'Toole No This week – we are worrying about overworked hacks and getting excited about jailing the Press as well as wondering about the unhappy campers out there. Enjoy. podcasts Fri, 23 February 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:20 Joe O'Toole No This week – it's ranging from the Rabbitte with the cream to Our Lady of Lourdes lining out against us and the exocet from his Lordship in the Castle. Enjoy. podcasts Fri, 16 February 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:26 Joe O'Toole No This week – a "Green on Green" Government next?; the Black and Tans in Croke Park and; the auctioneers win brass neck of the week award! podcasts Fri, 9 February 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:50 Joe O'Toole No This week – Just a bit different as I am here in New Zealand. These junkets would be great if we could only lose all the meetings. Anyway listen to learn about; how the Kiwis dealt with Compo Culture; the agnostic Archbishop; New Zealand house prices and a new future for An Post. . podcasts Fri, 2 February 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:50 Joe O'Toole No This week – I hope you can all take time off the National Development Plan to listen to me this week. In this week's Podcast I make a personal confession about a JUNKET shh shh. podcasts Fri, 26 January 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:50 Joe O'Toole No This week – the Bertie and Pat show brighten up a dull week - the course of true love on the rocks again. And what to do with Professor Drumm? Tricky one that. podcasts Fri, 19 January 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:47 Joe O'Toole No This week – it is a sombre piece as we share grief with the fishing community. podcasts Fri, 12 January 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:26 Joe O'Toole No This week – let’s stop 2007 altogether and Fine Gael finally getting tough or is it negative campaigning? See it USA style and judge for yourself!! podcasts Fri, 5 January 2007 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:45 Joe O'Toole No This week – it’s all about the Moriarty Report, Ben Dunne and Dermot Desmonds’ displays showing their true lack of irony. podcasts Fri, 22 December 2006 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:50 Joe O'Toole No This week – Drugs and murder; it might be Christmas but it's not exactly the season to be merry, unless you're Sean Haughey. podcasts Fri, 15 December 2006 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:34 Joe O'Toole No This week – Christmas kicks off in Leinster House with the lighting of the Leinster House Christmas tree but Brian Cowen, spitting out money, takes centre stage. podcasts Fri, 8 December 2006 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:42 Joe O'Toole No This week – Brian's preparation for the Budget - he's all prudent and thrifty to the outside world but within the corridors of Leinster House he wears a smile as broad as the Shannon; the gospel according to Michael; Sile's last stand in the Seanad and; the Oireachtas committees show the Tribunals a thing or two about efficiency. podcasts Fri, 1 December 2006 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:40 Joe O'Toole No This week – Bertie still "off the jar", Bertie blaming the "Government"; the sound of Jingle Bells ringing faintly in the distance and; nuns descending on Leinster House. podcasts Fri, 24 November 2006 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:54 Joe O'Toole No This week – The opening of the Port Tunnel and the buy out of the Westlink Toll Bridge, is Bertie creating a traffic jam at one end of the M50 and buy a traffic jam at the other end? When does "life" begin - facing into the sequel to the pro-life debate? Cherishing all our children equally? What are the chances of a "prudent" estimates lasting until the election? podcasts Fri, 17 November 2006 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:54 Joe O'Toole No This week – finally, pardons granted for the "Shot at Dawn" soldiers; Bush's victim for public sacrifice and; Bertie's grandchild due in May along with the election. podcasts Fri, 10 November 2006 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:49 Joe O'Toole No This week – speculation on PW Botha's meeting with God; Pinochet under house arrest; the happy-slapping of the salmon fishermen and; a look at the alternative solutions to the depleting salmon stocks. podcasts Fri, 3 November 2006 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:25 Joe O'Toole No This week –the repeating pattern of road fatalities; personal responsibility; joined-up thinking and driver-test deficiencies. podcasts Fri, 27 October 2006 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:36 Joe O'Toole No This week –the mould-breaking new Government in Sweden; the Ethics Commission looking for more power; what makes a good political leader and; Ireland losing valuable politicians. podcasts Fri, 20 October 2006 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:42 Joe O'Toole No This week – Michael and Bertie’s renewal of vows, are you tax compliant and the Czech delegation. podcasts Fri, 13 October 2006 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:35 Joe O'Toole No This week the Bertie-gate saga continues, the PDs have gone to ground and the Fianna Fáil backbenchers wonder who’ll get the Ministers’ posts. podcasts Fri, 6 October 2006 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:39 Joe O'Toole No This week witnessed a bloodbath in Leinster House. Can Bertie survive? Or is it “Goodbye Bertie Hello Brian”? And say it ain’t so Michael. podcasts Fri, 29 September 2006 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:17 Joe O'Toole No This week McDowell’s on speed with ideas, Enda takes stock of his political friends, and the Ryder Cup. podcasts Fri, 22 September 2006 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:47 Joe O'Toole No This week is a sad week all round. Eddie Hobbs can’t find the €1000 he promised we’d all save, the grocery prices are still rising and the Taoiseach is concerned over the materialism of the Irish. podcasts Fri, 15 September 2006 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:29 Joe O'Toole No This week Mary Harney steals the limelight from the Green’s Autumn huddle, who now will take over the leadership of the Progressive Democrats. podcasts Fri, 8 September 2006 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:44 Joe O'Toole No This week it’s the Foxrock Tractor set, Fianna Fáil and PDs selling their different identities, Party “Away Days” and Aer Lingus. podcasts Fri, 1 September 2006 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:45 Joe O'Toole No This week the Government Ministers are busy knitting and spinning out their thoughts for the day. podcasts Fri, 25 August 2006 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:26 Joe O'Toole No How many Leaving Cert points do you need to become Taoiseach? podcasts Fri, 18 August 2006 10:40:00 GMT 00:03:46 Joe O'Toole No How Bertie and the rest of us Pols enjoy the holidays. podcasts Fri, 11 August 2006 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:14 Joe O'Toole No Cameras at funerals, press freedom and privacy laws. podcasts Fri, 04 August 2006 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:39 Joe O'Toole No Castrated backbenchers, FG at the Tribunal and the Blaneys back in Fianna Fail. podcasts Fri, 28 July 2006 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:33 Joe O'Toole No The price of a pint in Leinster House, the lurking constituency boundaries issue and the builders are in Leinster House. podcasts Fri, 21 July 2006 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:42 Joe O'Toole No The statistical redefining of Ireland, more millionaires than priests; the backbenchers meetings; the Twelfth parades and the Catalonians celebrating Bastille Day. podcasts Fri, 14 July 2006 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:29 Joe O'Toole No The end of term knockabout in the Dáil, the media’s attention on the politicians “three month holiday” and the changing lifestyles in Ireland. podcasts Fri, 7 July 2006 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:52 Joe O'Toole No The Fianna Fáil back-benchers rebellion, Fine Gael’s continuing march to glory and the beginning of the stem cell research debate. podcasts Fri, 30 June 2006 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:48 Joe O'Toole No Fianna Fail’s problems due to the increase in crime, decrease in road safety, Bertie losing the cool with Joe Higgins, the low morale of the FF backbenchers and the battle for King of the Castle in the PD kingdom. podcasts Fri, 23 June 2006 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:52 Joe O'Toole No The death of Charles Haughey – an outstanding statesman or a flawed character. podcasts Fri, 16 June 2006 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:52 Joe O'Toole No Aftermath of the rushed legislation, media influence in Leinster House, children’s hospital and McDonalds. podcasts Fri, 9 June 2006 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:40 Joe O'Toole No Loophole in the statutory rape legislation, Leinster House rumours and reactions, maturing SSIAs. podcasts Fri, 2 June 2006 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:33 Joe O'Toole No Poker and politics, decentralisation back-tracking, statutory rape ruling. podcasts Fri, 26 May 2006 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:49 Joe O'Toole No Bertie’s state-of-the-art U-turn, the Afghan hunger strikers, the wretched electorate and the latest opinion polls. podcasts Fri, 19 May 2006 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:10 Joe O'Toole No Enda Kenny’s finely tuned Ard Fheis speech, COMREG closing down the community broadcasting services and the rise in inflation. podcasts Fri, 12 May 2006 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:18 Joe O'Toole No The surprise increase in popularity for Fianna Fáil, the upcoming Fine Gael conference, the national pay talks and the media’s premature “waking” of Charlie Haughey. podcasts Fri, 5 May 2006 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:18 Joe O'Toole No The PDs conference, the dropping out and joining in of candidates for the next general election, will Colm O’Gorman be a successful candidate for the PDs and the case of Judge Brian Curtin. podcasts Fri, 28 Apr 2006 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:10 Joe O'Toole No After Easter - the parades, the Minister and the teacher unions and the concelebrating priest. podcasts Fri, 21 Apr 2006 10:40:00 GMT 00:04:45 Joe O'Toole No Easter podcasts Mon, 17 Apr 2006 13:35:00 GMT 00:04:26 Joe O'Toole No Selection conventions podcasts Mon, 10 Apr 2006 13:35:00 GMT 00:04:17 Joe O'Toole No Gay Byrne on the chair of the Road Safety Authority podcasts Mon, 03 Apr 2006 13:35:00 GMT 00:04:49 Joe O'Toole No Women and cancer podcasts Fri, 24 Mar 2006 13:35:00 GMT 00:04:49 Joe O'Toole No St Patricks day podcasts Tue, 21 Mar 2006 17:30:41 GMT 00:04:57 Joe O'Toole No