The Week in Politics
Encyclopedia
The Week in Politics is an Irish
news and current affairs programme broadcast on RTÉ One
It is presented by Sean O'Rourke
, occasionally by David McCullagh
or Bryan Dobson
.
The programme reflects on the political week, with interviews and discussions. The majority of guests are politicians who are Teachta Dálaí
or Irish Senators
. The programme is pre-recorded and aired at approximately 22:20 every Sunday.
The programme also has reports from RTÉ News and Current Affairs reporters.
Despite being broadcast on Sunday nights, O'Rourke begins work on the show in the middle of the week, with breakfast or coffee taking place in the RTÉ canteen.
, the Irish Government's Chief Whip, used the show to call for changes to the compensation scheme for victims of child abuse
following the revelations contained within the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse
.
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 [the senators] 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.
Mary Hanafin
used the programme to indicate the by-election in Dublin South
and the by-election
in Donegal South West
to replace outgoing George Lee and Pat the Cope Gallagher would take place alongside the election for Mayor of Dublin and a referendum.
Bertie Ahern
hid in a kitchen cupboard for a television advertisement in 2010, opposition parties used the show to describe the skit as "terrible" for the country.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
news and current affairs programme broadcast on RTÉ One
RTÉ One
RTÉ One is the flagship television channel of Raidió Teilifís Éireann , and it is the most popular and most watched television channel in Ireland. It was launched as Telefís Éireann on 31 December 1961, it was renamed RTÉ Television in 1966, and it was renamed as RTÉ One upon the launch of RTÉ...
It is presented by Sean O'Rourke
Sean O'Rourke
Sean O'Rourke is an Irish journalist and broadcaster who works for the state TV company, Raidió Teilifís Éireann . He presents the News At One programme every weekday and is also the host of RTÉ's topical current affairs round-up The Week in Politics....
, occasionally by David McCullagh
David McCullagh
David McCullagh PhD is an Irish journalist and author. He is currently Political Correspondent with RTÉ News and Current Affairs.McCullagh attended Newpark Comprehensive School and studied politics in University College Dublin. He holds a PhD in the subject....
or Bryan Dobson
Bryan Dobson
Bryan Dobson is a newscaster with RTÉ in Ireland. He has presented RTÉ News: Six One for almost 15 years. He previously presented RTÉ News: Nine O'Clock.-Early life:...
.
The programme reflects on the political week, with interviews and discussions. The majority of guests are politicians who are Teachta Dálaí
Teachta Dála
A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...
or Irish Senators
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
. The programme is pre-recorded and aired at approximately 22:20 every Sunday.
The programme also has reports from RTÉ News and Current Affairs reporters.
Despite being broadcast on Sunday nights, O'Rourke begins work on the show in the middle of the week, with breakfast or coffee taking place in the RTÉ canteen.
Child abuse compensation
Pat CareyPat Carey
Pat Carey is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála for the Dublin North West constituency from 1997 to 2011. He served as the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs from 2010–11, and also as Government Chief Whip from 2008–10.-Early and private life:Carey...
, the Irish Government's Chief Whip, used the show to call for changes to the compensation scheme for victims of child abuse
Child abuse
Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
following the revelations contained within the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse
Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse
The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse is one of a range of measures introduced by the Irish Government to investigate the extent and effects of abuse on children from 1936 onwards. It is commonly known in Ireland as the Ryan Commission , after its chair, Justice Seán Ryan...
.
Seanad controversy
Fine GaelFine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
by-election candidate, George Lee caused controversy in May 2009 when he called for the abolition of Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
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
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
. 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
Irish Independent
The Irish Independent is Ireland's largest-selling daily newspaper that is published in both compact and broadsheet formats. It is the flagship publication of Independent News & Media.-History:...
suggested Lee displayed "a lack of basic political knowledge" as Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann
Dáil Éireann is the lower house, but principal chamber, of the Oireachtas , which also includes the President of Ireland and Seanad Éireann . It is directly elected at least once in every five years under the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote...
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 [the senators] 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
Maurice Cummins
Maurice Cummins is an Irish Fine Gael politician and member of Seanad Éireann on the Labour Panel. He was first elected in 2002 and was re-elected in 2007. He was a member of Waterford City Council from 1991 to 2002, and was Mayor of Waterford in 1995–96...
described the Seanad as the "whipping boy" of Irish politics and Frances Fitzgerald
Frances Fitzgerald (Irish politician)
Frances Fitzgerald is an Irish Fine Gael politician, and is the current Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. She has been a Teachta Dála for the Dublin Mid West constituency since February 2011...
asked Lee to read over the party's policy on the matter.
Hanafin by-election comments
In February 2010, Minister for Social and Family AffairsMinister for Social and Family Affairs (Ireland)
The Minister for Social Protection is the senior minister at the Department of Social Protection in the Government of Ireland.The current Minister for Social Protection is Joan Burton, TD.-Overview:...
Mary Hanafin
Mary Hanafin
Mary Hanafin is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who was a Teachta Dála for Dún Laoghaire from 1997 to 2011. She served as Government Chief Whip , Minister for Education and Science , Minister for Social and Family Affairs , Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport and Minister for Enterprise,...
used the programme to indicate the by-election in Dublin South
Dublin South (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Dublin South is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 5 deputies...
and the by-election
Donegal South West by-election, 2010
A by-election was held on 25 November 2010 in the Donegal South–West constituency in Ireland, following the election of the Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála Pat the Cope Gallagher to the European Parliament at the June 2009 election...
in Donegal South West
Donegal South West (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Donegal South–West is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 3 deputies...
to replace outgoing George Lee and Pat the Cope Gallagher would take place alongside the election for Mayor of Dublin and a referendum.
Bertie Ahern's kitchen cupboardgate
When former TaoiseachTaoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
Bertie Ahern
Bertie Ahern
Patrick Bartholomew "Bertie" Ahern is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 26 June 1997 to 7 May 2008....
hid in a kitchen cupboard for a television advertisement in 2010, opposition parties used the show to describe the skit as "terrible" for the country.