Inside Politics with Hugh Linehan Taoiseach awaits his next dentist’s appointment at The White House
Mar 13, 2026
Harry McGee, senior political journalist at The Irish Times, brings investigative context. Ellen Coyne, political correspondent at The Irish Times, offers sharp analysis. They discuss the Taoiseach’s tricky White House visit and its diplomatic optics. They examine the improving UK-Ireland summit at Fota House and modern maritime and cyber security threats. They also cover the Moriarty tribunal closure and its political reverberations.
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Maritime Security Now Includes Cyber And Infrastructure
- Ireland and the UK are renewing maritime security cooperation to reflect modern threats beyond physical ships.
- Harry McGee and Ellen Coyne stressed undersea cables, shared energy infrastructure and cyber threats as reasons for closer maritime ties.
Taoiseach Sees White House Visit As Custodial Diplomacy
- Micheál Martin treats the White House visit as custodial diplomacy rather than a moment for dramatic confrontation.
- Ellen Coyne argued Martin avoids theatrical rebukes of Donald Trump to preserve long-term US‑Ireland relations despite domestic criticism.
War On Iran Risks Political Backlash In The US
- The US‑led action against Iran has fractured public support and risks domestic political fallout for Donald Trump.
- Panelists noted low war approval, petrol-price sensitivity and possible US retrenchment could isolate Israel diplomatically.