The Pat Kenny Show Pat's Sunday Paper Review April 5th
Apr 5, 2026
Mark Hennessy, Ireland and Britain editor at The Irish Times, gives a brisk tour of national and global headlines. He flags the US rescue and Iran tensions, rising cost-of-living and fuel worries, energy and supply-chain risks, political fallout around Trump loyalty and Irish policy debates. He also covers asylum super-centres, metrolinx leadership changes, and resomation as an environmental topic.
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Slow Unfolding Economic Shock From Iran Conflict
- The Iran conflict's economic impact will be learned gradually rather than instantly.
- Mark Hennessy explains supply-chain knock-on effects (e.g., helium for MRIs and microchip raw materials via the Strait of Hormuz) that could take years to resolve.
Fuel Tax Cuts Create Political Reversal Problem
- Governments face political and fiscal limits when cutting fuel taxes to ease price shocks.
- Mark Hennessy notes earlier excise cuts cost the exchequer €200 million and reversing cuts later is politically fraught.
Personal Memory Of 1970s Fuel Queues And Housing Boom
- Pat Kenny recalled the 1970s oil crisis where cars queued and some stations ran out of fuel.
- He shares his personal memory that his first house tripled in value over ten years after that shock.