Late Late Show talking points: Appointment of 'housing tsar' and remembering broadcaster Gerry Ryan
Lottie Ryan joined Patrick Kielty on Friday night's Late Late Show to talk about her father Gerry Ryan's legacy.
Friday night's Late Late Show saw Tánaistre Simon Harris, broadcaster Lottie Ryan, and Boyzlife members Keith Duffy and Brian McFadden join Patrick Kielty.
Kielty’s first guest of the night Tánaiste Simon Harris discussed the delay appointing a ‘housing tsar’, saying he doesn’t believe €430,000 is a fair salary for the role.
Speaking about the delayed appointment of the ‘housing tsar’, he emphasised the need to break down silos and ensure the right skill sets and defended the decision to pause the appointment to avoid controversy.
“What we're trying to do is important, because there'll be people around the country watching this programme. They'll be looking at the television, and they'll be wondering, when are my adult son or daughter living in the house ever going to be able to get out and buy their own home?
“And we've heard from lots of people, and we've heard from the housing commission that we have to break down the silos, lots of sites around Ireland where you can build houses If only there was water, if only there was wastewater, if it's only there was electricity, if only the local authority was playing its part.
“So we wanted to set up, not as already this sort of stuff, a housing activation office. And being honest, I'm very supportive of that. I think it makes a lot of sense.“
When asked why he made the decision to “block” the appointment of Brendan McDonagh to the position this week, Harris responded: “Now, to be honest, I don't like the word block. I just didn't think it was a good idea, being honest, to go straight ahead with the appointment of any kind of individual person on a set salary, without just taking a little bit of time to think this through. And when I talk that through being truthful, I think the Taoiseach agreed with me. We made a good decision this week.”
When asked by Kielty if he believes €430,000 is a fair wage for the post, he replied: “I don't, but I think it is most important that we get the skill set right.”
Harris also reflected on his tenure as Taoiseach, and reflects on a busy year and the challenges faced, including backlash from an encounter with a disability worker during his election campaign trail, admitting that he made a mistake and emphasising his commitment to disability issues.
Harris discussed the decision to increase defence spending amid economic challenges, arguing that it is necessary for national security in order to monitor activities in the seas and skies.
He reiterated Ireland's commitment to supporting Palestine and the importance of passing the occupied territories bill and when asked by Kielty what the delay was in passing that bill, Harris said there are ongoing efforts to ensure the legislation is “really robust”.
When asked if weapons for Israel are being flown through Irish airspace, he replied: “We have very strict rules in relation to sending weapons through. I don't believe it is [happening].”
Touching on Trump’s time in office and US-Ireland trade and relations, Harris highlighted the importance of Ireland and its skilled workforce and said he remains optimistic about the future of trade relations.
Kielty’s second guest of the night was Gerry Ryan’s daughter Lottie Ryan who appeared on the show to talk publicly about her father for the first time.
The beloved broadcaster passed away on April 30, 2010 at the age of 53.
On the 15th anniversary of her father's death, she reflected on family traditions, her father’s humour, his love for his family and radio.
She shared that her father was her best friend and counselor and described him as a fun and playful person who was always involved in her childhood, attending school plays, and recording everything on video.
She explained her initial reluctance to talk publicly about him publicly due to media attention but now feels comfortable doing so.
She mentioned that becoming a mother has changed her perception of her father as a dad and has made her feel more comfortable talking about him.
Ryan recalled her father's fun-loving nature, the impact of his fame, the media scrutiny the family endured after his death, the inquest findings, and the importance of remembering him for his positive contributions and as a devoted father.
Both Kielty and Ryan shed tears toward the end of the interview when they discussed Ryan’s legacy.
Becoming teary, Kielty said: "You're talking about legacy and people talk about what people did in their career; for me, his legacy is you and your brothers and sisters, and your wee fella. How proud would he be of you guys, what you've come through, and where you all are?"
"I hope he'd be proud," said Ryan, before taking a moment to hold in her own tears.
"I'd love for him to have met my son. I think he would have been an unbelievable granddad. He would have been way better at babysitting than my mum, because she never does it.
“My brother is an actor, and I think he would have been at every play. All my siblings are so happy and in love and enjoying life, and I think, I hope, he would be very proud of us and how we handled everything, and where we are today. I hope he would be."
Kielty wrapped the interview by reassuring Ryan: "I don't think you need to hope, because I know he would. On behalf of all of us, I just want to say how much so many people in this country loved and admired him."
The final guests of the night were Keith Duffy and Brian McFadden, who discussed their journey from Boyzone and Westlife to Boyzlife, highlighting their 10-year collaboration.
They recounted the initial idea for an autobiographical show, which evolved into touring and releasing new music.
The pair spoke about differences between Boyzone and Westlife compared to Boyzlife, with Duffy and McFadden discussing their maturity and appreciation for their current success.
Reminiscing on when they were both touring with Boyzone and Westlife respectively, they said that they appreciate touring and the opportunities that come their way a lot more now in later life as they didn’t take it all in when they were younger.
They highlighted how they treat each performance as if it could be their last, given their past experiences and reflected on uncertainties within the industry.
Talking about the release of the Boyzone documentary No Matter What and the response they received, McFadden said: “What I loved about the documentary, whenever you watch documentaries, or we watch any interview with a boy band, they're normally all together and you'll have said answers and and the experience of what's going on with the boy band is normally, you'll have a thing you say.
“But I love the fact that they were all taken individually at different times, and they were able to give their own individual experience of what being in a boy band was.
“And I thought it was great, because there was even things that some of the boys said I didn't even know happened, and I know all the boys for 25 years, but you don't know what goes on mentally with people when they're in a band and the stuff that they go through.
”And for me, it was very therapeutic for me to watch it as well, because I was able to relate to it because obviously, you know, with Westlife, we went through a lot of the same stuff that the boys did, and the news stories and kind of having to give up your life. We were only kids when we started this, you know, we went straight from school into being in a famous boy band, and your whole life is there for everybody to see.”
The pair spoke about the release of their new song and expressed gratitude for their second chance in the music industry.
