The Last Word with Matt Cooper

With interest rates increasing, is it time to introduce mortgage interest relief? Sean Canney, Independent TD for Galway East and part of the Regional Independent Group, and Professor Edgar Morgenroth, Professor of Economics at DCU Business School joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

John Gibbons joined The Last Word to clear up some of the popular myths around climate change and the transition to renewable energies. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Andy O’Donoghue joined The Last Word to discuss the latest innovations in the world of smartphone apps! See below for his full list of recommendations. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page. Shabaam Shabaam is a unique app that elevates the GIF-sharing experience. While GIFs have become a popular way to express emotions and reactions online, Shabaam takes it a step further by allowing users to add their own voice or sound effects to their favorite GIFs. The result is a short video that combines visual and auditory elements for a more engaging and personalized message. Whether it's adding commentary, a joke, or any sound of your choice, Shabaam provides a fresh twist to the traditional GIF. Yarn Yarn offers a novel storytelling experience tailored for the mobile generation. Instead of traditional narratives, Yarn presents stories in a text message format, giving users the sensation of peeking into someone else's conversations. The app boasts a diverse library of stories spanning genres like mystery, romance, comedy, and sci-fi. With daily updates and a unique presentation style, Yarn provides a fresh and immersive way to enjoy stories on the go. Forest by Seekrtech - sort of a Tamagotchi for productivity! Forest is more than just a productivity app; it's a motivation tool that encourages users to stay focused on their tasks. The concept is simple: plant a virtual tree and watch it grow as you work. However, if you get distracted and leave the app, the tree withers and dies. Over time, users can grow a virtual forest, symbolizing their accumulated focus and productivity. For an added touch of real-world impact, the app partners with Trees for the Future, allowing users to plant real trees through their virtual achievements. Noisli Noisli is a sound generator designed to enhance focus, relaxation, and productivity. Recognizing that everyone has their own preferred background noise, Noisli allows users to mix and match various sounds, such as rain, wind, waves, and birdsong, to create their ideal ambiance. Whether it's to drown out distractions, set the mood for relaxation, or create a conducive work environment, Noisli offers a customizable and immersive sound experience. Make A Cocktail Make A Cocktail is the first App developed by Make Me A Cocktail, probably the world’s biggest online cocktail resource, with over 3,500 recipes and a growing community of cocktail-making, home bar enthusiasts from around the world. Enter the ingredients you have in front of you, from all the spirits and mixers in your cupboard to juices and wine in the fridge and even add stranger ingredients like eggs if you have them! The app shows you cocktails you can make right now, with simple to follow recipes! Browse the cocktails by base spirit or type or have a go at the featured cocktail of the day! Tasty Over 3000 Tasty recipes now at your fingertips; an all-new Step-By-Step instruction mode; ‘My Recipes’ page which serves as your very own mobile cookbook, and an innovative Search tool that allows you to filter by any ingredients, cuisine and social occasion you’re in the mood for! OpenTable The OpenTable app is a one-stop-shop for everything dining, but is best known as the booking system used by restaurants, so it's ideal for using if you're on holidays or travelling. Kindle App The Kindle app is Amazon's official e-reader application that allows users to access and read their Kindle e-books on various devices without needing a physical Kindle device.

Is public enthusiasm for converting to electric vehicles dimming? Neil Briscoe, Motoring Journalist with The Irish Times and CompleteCar.ie, and Geraldine Herbert, Motoring Editor and Columnist with The Sunday Independent joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

The average interest rate on new mortgage agreements in Ireland went above 4% in June. This is the highest level in over two decades. Charlie Weston joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

The Government has published a review of a new 7 pillar AI strategy, which will aim to "build public trust". Dara Calleary, Minister for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page.

Our weekly music slot continues with John Caddell and Dee Reddy. Sinéad O'Connor being laid to rest, Lizzo defending her name in the wake of allegations, and music from Liam Gallagher was on the agenda today. Catch the full chat by pressing the Play button on this page.

In a post on Truth Social, Donald Trump claims that wokeness cost the US Women's Soccer Team their place in the World Cup. Marion Mckeone, US Correspondent with the Business Post and Cal Thomas, nationally syndicated columnist joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the Play button on this page.

Can you be racist to a white person? Has political correctness gone too far? What's wrong with dog whistles? Are we responsible for structural injustice? That's a sample from the book called Arguing for a Better World. Arianne Shahvisi, the book's author joined The Last Word. Catch the full chat by pressing the Play button on this page.

Dermot Whelan, one-half of Dermot and Dave on Today FM, is leaving the station after 9 years. Before that, himself and his radio partner spent 12 years on 98FM in Dublin. The pair have spent 21 years together and as it's due to come to an end, Dermot joined The Last Word to discuss. Catch the full chat by pressing the Play button on this page.