Radio: New kids on the block

The best part of the reporting during the Bertie payments scandal was the broadcasting of Joe Higgins' now legendary Dáil speech on Wednesday 27 September. Higgins mocked up a letter for Bertie to send, with a bank draft, to his generous pals: "Ah jaysus, lads, you'll have me in huge trouble if you don't take back the 50 grand. My circumstances have improved and I will have 50 reporters traipsing me for the rest of my life if this comes out. Bertie." And a PS: "Tell Paddy the Plasterer to stay clear of Calelly's house. He is in enough trouble with the painter already."

And so Paddy the Plasterer has become a household name. Mario Rosenstock, quick to grasp the national psyche, had a song about Paddy the Plasterer for the Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show (Today FM, weekdays, 7-9am) by Thursday morning. And the phones have been hopping ever since looking for it to be replayed.

The worst of the Bertiegate radio was the roll-out of FF ministers defending their great chief with gusto, in particular Dermot Ahern and John O'Donoghue, the party's frontline artillery. Noticeably silent were Brian Cowen and PD leader and Tánaiste Michael McDowell.

Dunphy's conversations at 9am means Playback with Kay Sheehy moves to 10am to avoid the possibility of two interviews back-to-back on a Saturday morning (as Marian Finucane usually starts her Saturday programme at 11am with a long interview). Is there any chance Marian could interview someone young, or even a woman? It's unlikely Dunphy will do anything other than have a sycophantic chat with old mates or people he adores – and these are almost exclusively old men. Marian, too, tends to prefer interviewing older men.

Róisín Ingle now has two hours on NewsTalk on a Saturday morning with The Arts and Entertainment Show (10-12am). Roisin's populist appeal could be a lure for younger and female listeners looking for something cheerier on a weekend morning. And whilst she got off to a nervous start, her energy and enthusiasm could make her a hit in Irish broadcasting. p