The Last Word with Matt Cooper

Irish Households are paying twice as much for their electricity as data centres, according to a report by Eurostat.Charlie Weston, personal finance editor with the Irish Independent, joins The Last Word to discuss this and also claims that Irish banks are ripping off young savers. Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

The High Court will rule next week whether the mother and sister of Enoch Burke were in contempt of court when they interrupted a case involving Enoch last week.Enoch Burke has now served 601 days in prison for contempt of court.Judge Brian Cregan heard submissions from Martina and Ammi Burke today about why they should not be imprisoned. Shane Phelan, Legal Affairs Editor at Mediahuis Ireland, joins Matt to discuss the ongoing case.

Gabriel Sherman, author of Bonfire Of The Murdochs, talks to Matt about the succession story behind the Murdoch media empire, the driving forces behind Rupert Murdoch's ambitions and what drove the family apart.To listen to the full conversation, press the 'play' button on this page.

Government has allocated an additional €19 million for special needs assistants (SNAs) to ensure there are no cuts in the 2026/27 academic year following outcry over plans to reduce the service provision in almost 200 schools.But SNAs, unions and parents say that this measure is just 'kicking the can down the road' and the Government must now engage with stakeholders to address issues relating to special education.Tabitha Monahan, political reporter with the Irish Independent, and Jesslyn Henry, SNA and Social Democrats councillor, join The Last Word to discuss.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

The US Justice Department buried some Epstein files which included allegations that President Donald Trump sexually abused a minor, according to an investigation by NPR.This comes despite Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche telling Congress that no Epstein records were withheld or redacted “on the basis of embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity, including to any government official, public figure, or foreign dignitary.”Cal Thomas and Marion McKeone join The Last Word to discuss this and more of the latest news from the United States.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!

Tuesday, February 24th 2026 makes it 4 years since Ukraine was invaded by Russian forces. In those four years, it’s estimated that over 15,000 civilians have been killed, with 2025 recording the highest death toll since 2022.Lara Marlowe, journalist and contributor to the Irish Times, speaks to Matt about the reality that Ukrainians have faced since the invasion and whether their faith in Europe to help end the war is fading.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the piece.

Arsenal travelled to Tottenham on Sunday and got their Premier League title challenge back on track with a comprehensive 4-1 victory over their North London rivals.The result leaves Spurs sitting in 16th in the table and 4 points above the relegation zone. Given their current form, is the prospect of relegation now very real?Elsewhere on Sunday, violence erupted in Guadalajara after the leader of the Mexican cartel known as "El Mencho" was killed. Should they qualify, Ireland's first group game for the 2026 World Cup will be in Guadalajara. Are more questions being raised about the suitability of the location of this year's tournament, and are we likely to see fewer fans at games due to unrest?Miguel Delaney, Chief Football Writer with The Independent, speaks to Mat on The Last Word.Hit the 'Play' button on this page to hear the piece.

The BBC has removed its coverage of Sunday night’s BAFTA awards from iPlayer after a racial slur was broadcast on BBC One and remained uncorrected for a number of hours.It was said by John Davidson, a campaigner for Tourette syndrome, as Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan took to the stage to present an award.The broadcaster has since apologised for the controversy and said that the footage will be re-edited.Joe O’Shea and Elaine Burke speak to Matt on The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the conversation.

Passengers travelling between Ireland and Wales this week will be scanned with facial recognition technology as part of a pilot scheme that’s being rolled out across the UK.The move has received criticism, with Dr. Elizabeth Farries from University College Dublin saying that there are “established problems” with the technology.She, alongside travel commentator Eoghan Corry, speak to Matt on The Last Word.Hit the ‘Play’ button on this page to hear the conversation.

Over half of Irish workers feel that their pay does not fairly reflect the skills and effort that they bring to their role, according to a new survey published by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU).Owen Reidy, general secretary of ICTU, and Neil McDonnell, chief executive of ISME, join The Last Word to discuss the level of job quality in the Irish employment environment.Catch the full chat by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!