Talking points from the Late Late Show, including Eamon Ryan on working with Sinn Féin
Eamon Ryan with Patrick Kielty
Green party leader Eamon Ryan joined Patrick Kielty to discuss the climate crisis as well as how his party would work with any other party to ensure green policies in government.
“We will work with every party,” he said. “This has to belong to everyone. This won't work if it's divisive politics, the way it is in the States.
“So yes, we would work with Sinn Féin. Yes, we work well with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Yes, we would work with Labour and the Soc Dems. It's the time to act and by acting you address the fear, you address this real anxiety people have about the environment, you get out and act.”
"D’oibreodh muid le Sinn Féin" - @eamonryan
— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) March 1, 2024
"We would work with Sinn Féin" #SnaG24 | #LateLate pic.twitter.com/gpcKmxbJR0
Addressing concerns about the agriculture industry in ’the wake of protests on the roads of Cork earlier this week, Ryan farmers should adapt to a more sustainable approach in farming to cut down on emissions and explore greener opportunities.
He described farmers as “frontline heroes in climate change” and said he believes their “future livelihoods are going to be by going green”.
“One of the ways we get farming income is to diversify. They will make money from energy. They will make money from putting solar panels in the farm and from having some forestry.”
He added: “It’s the knowledge the farmers have of their land which is the expertise we need to help address the environmental crisis.”
Ryan also emphasised his opinion that systemic change is needed to address the climate crisis rather than personal blame.
Ireland’s Olympic hopefuls joined Kielty to discuss their sporting successes and the steps necessary to become a world-class athlete.
☘️☘️☘️☘️#latelate pic.twitter.com/InGms6eRmG
— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) March 1, 2024
Olympic gold medalist Kellie Harrington, world champion gymnast Rhys McClenaghan and Daniel Wiffen, the first male Irish swimmer to become world champion, described the steps they took to get to their level of success.
“People don't see the behind-the-scenes work that we do day in and day out,” Harrington said, adding how she hates the level of expectation that she will easily bring home another gold medal.
“For me, I hate hearing that because that's pressure. I don't need that pressure,” she said, adding she is “quietly confident” about her changes in Paris.
McClenaghan said achieving a gold medal makes their hard work feel worthwhile.
“The moments where we get these medals wrapped around our necks is when all of those sacrifices — turning down parties, playing football with your friends, sacrificing relationships with people in general — they all pay off in those moments,” he said.
Wiffen added that he values the physical medal over any records he may break along the way.
“Records are meant to be broken. Medals are forever.”
Sa stiúideo le @joeldommett
— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) March 1, 2024
In studio with @joeldommett #latelate #SnaG24 pic.twitter.com/OrQy7wl8T2
Kielty was also joined by The Masked Singer presenter Joel Dommett, who described the strange aftermath of the show’s success, particularly the demand for his hosting skills over Zoom.
Dommett said the show “captured everyone’s hearts” and it has led to unexpected opportunities, including the occasional corporate gig which he can host virtually.
“Companies have started asking me to do a corporate version of The Masked Singer for their company — on Zoom. That's how big the show has become. I say yes, because I love money,” he joked.
He said employees in disguise perform from home while their coworkers attempt to guess their identity.
“They're all trying to guess who it is on the chat function. This is my life, Patrick: I come in at the end and I'm like, ‘Take it off. Take it off… Oh, it's Anne from accounts’.”
Dommett also spoke about becoming a father for the first time a few months ago as well as the gifts his wife gave him to mark the milestone: cufflinks made from her breast milk and their son’s umbilical cord framed.
Of the framed cord, he said: “It's one of those weird things that we got it and now we don't know what to do with it because you can't put it on the wall.”
