The comedy pair ‘Johnny Smacks’ McMahon and ‘Johnny B’ O’Brien, who are from Cahir, Co Tipperary, started their podcast in 2018. The show is now one of Ireland’s most listened to podcasts with over 750,000 listens a week, according to the digital audio marketplace, Audio One.
The duo spoke to Mr Harris about a number of issues including what he has achieved in the past seven months as Taoiseach, his plans for Ireland should he be elected, housing, emigration, immigration and farming.
In response to questions on young Irish people moving to Australia, the Taoiseach said that the younger generation need to know they “will have the ability to buy a home if they return”.
“We need to build a hell of a lot more houses. We need to make it easier for people in rural Ireland to build their own house,” he said.
“We now actually have the money and the plans and if we could just get the chance to get on with it now, I think we could get a lot done.”
Mr Harris added that 500 people weekly are now buying their first home, which “is the highest number in about 15 or 16 years”.
The 2 Johnnies also discussed the issue of immigration to Ireland and the use of hotels in rural areas to house asylum seekers. Johnny B asked if communities should get a “veto” about who can live in their area.
In response, Mr Harris said: “No one gets a veto about who lives next door to them. No one asked my next-door neighbour if it was ok for me to live next door to him.
“I do think there has to be better engagement with a community and we need to show communities what process we actually go through when we are considering opening a new facility.”
When prompted on farming and the regulations farmers are facing, the Taoiseach said: “I don’t think politicians would speak to any other part of the Irish economy in the way they speak to farmers.
“What I’ve said to farmers is we need to work in partnership. Farmers understand the climate a hell of a lot better than many people.”
Mr Harris also spoke briefly about playing football during his childhood. The Fine Gael leader’s father was manager of Greystones United and once let him play in goals, which ended with Mr Harris letting seven goals in.
“That’s when we knew sport wasn’t going to make a living for me,” he said.
The 2 Johnnies concluded the interview with a round of rapid fire questions.
The Taoiseach revealed that custard creams are his favourite biscuit, he would choose to go for a pint with the Healy-Raes over Mattie McGrath, he enjoys Oasis and Coldplay and would pick The Beatles over The Saw Doctors.