The Week in Politics is an Irish news and current affairs programme broadcast on RTÉ One and RTÉ News Now. It is presented by Áine Lawlor, occasionally by Sharon Ní Bheoláin or Paul Cunningham. In its original format in 1996 it was hosted by Caroline Erskine and Seán Duignan. The programme reflects on the political week, with interviews and discussions. The majority of guests are politicians who are Teachtaí Dála or Irish Senators. The programme is broadcast live at noon on Sunday and is repeated throughout the day on RTÉ News Now and its traditional late night slot on RTÉ One. The programme moved from its late night slot to midday in January 2013. The programme went off air for 7 weeks in early 2020 during the Covid 19 pandemic. It returned at the end of April. Due to social distancing requirements the majority of contributors then came on air from RTÉ regional studios or via video conferencing technology. Prior to Covid 19, contributors came to Studio 3 on the RTÉ campus in Donnybrook, Dublin. The Week in Politics is edited by Joe Mag Raollaigh.
History of notable moments
Barry Cowen interveiw
On July 5th 2020 the then Minister for Agriculture and Marine in the new three party ruling coalition Barry Cowen went on the programme to apologise for a drink driving incident from four years earlier. In an extensive interview with presenter Aine Lawlor, he outlined the circumstances of the incident saying it was a stupid mistake he was very regretful for. Controversy over the incidient continued over the following days and culminated in the Minister's sacking 9 days later by Taoiseach Mícheál Martin.
by-election candidate, George Lee caused controversy in May 2009 when he called for the abolition of Seanad Éireann on The Week in Politics after hearing that the senators only sat for forty days and cancelled one session to pursue a round of golf. Lee is a former employee of RTÉ, having served as their chief economics editor for years before announcing his decision to seek election. The Irish Independent suggested Lee displayed "a lack of basic political knowledge" as Dáil Éireann sits for just one extra day. Lee called the controversial golf session "an absolute outrage" on the show and, when prompted further on his views, said: "I really couldn't be bothered if they were shut down, it's a disgrace". Members of his own party were said to be "furious" at Lee's remarks, with one unnamed senator saying it was an "attack... born out of ignorance... does he want to close down the Dáil, too?". Maurice Cummins described the Seanad as the "whipping boy" of Irish politics and Frances Fitzgerald asked Lee to read over the party's policy on the matter.
