The Hard Shoulder

Minister Jim O’Callaghan has said that the majority of cases not proceeding in the Dublin District Court due to the legal aid dispute are rape charges, suggesting they are being “deliberately affected”. Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon has described Jim O’Callaghan’s comments as a “disgrace”. For reaction to these comments, Ciara is joined by Eoin O’Sullivan, Partner at Powderly Solicitors and Rach...

"After the utter depravity of the Waterford arson murders, surely it’s time we introduced a special offence for attacks linked to recovery of drug debts". So says Journalist Paul Williams in The Irish Independent. Do we need to introduce a special offence like the one he is suggesting? Paul joins Ciara to discuss.

With the Dublin City Marathon looming over the horizon at an ever-increasing rate, Shane is joined by Newstalk's John Fardy, Presenter of Screentime and avid runner to talk through the do’s and don’ts ahead of Sunday’s spectacle!

On Instagram, Simon Harris has welcomed baby Aoileann into the world. He thanked his family and the National Maternity Hospital. He went on to say “Mothers do so much, us fathers need to be able to step up too and also to have that precious time.” Henry McKean has been out and about speaking to new dads and asking them about their paternity leave, and joins Ciara to discuss.

This week marked five years since nightclubs re-opened post Covid lockdowns after an almost 600-day closure, but how has Ireland's nightlife scene changed since then, and did it even bounce back from the Covid hangover? For more on this, Shane is joined now by Sunil Sharpe, DJ and Spokesperson and for Give Us the Night...

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has asked regional governments in France to put in place “partial curfews” in an effort to contain violent protests. Joining Shane to discuss the latest is Veteran Correspondent based in Paris, John Lichfield.

A new report by Men's Aid Ireland has found men who are victims of domestic abuse reluctant to get help due to shame and stigma around coming forward. The report also found an increase in calls about encouragement to suicide by partners… For more on this, Shane is joined by Shane Kelly, CEO of Men's Aid Ireland. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised, please contact Mens Aid Nationa...

For this week’s Kids Clinic, Shane was joined by Aoife Lee, Parent Coach of parentsupport.ie to discuss toilet training, and the tips you should know!

US President Donald Trump on Sunday endorsed his ally Benjamin Netanyahu as the long-time Israeli Prime Minister struggles for an ‌edge in next week’s parliamentary election. What can we expect in next Tuesday’s elections? Joining Shane to discuss this is Mark Weiss, Irish Times Israel Correspondent.

Owners of derelict properties will be hit with a new 7% tax under plans to go before the Dáil this week. The tax will be collected by Revenue, replacing a current levy which is self-assessed and gathered by local authorities. For more on this, Shane is joined by Seamus McGrath, Fianna Fáil TD for Cork South Central & the party’s Spokesperson on Housing.

RTÉ has said it was "a mistake" that a Palestinian flag necklace was edited out of a recent episode of the property programme, ‘Cheap Irish Homes’, after the woman wearing the necklace lodged a complaint. Should we be allowed to wear what we choose, and make political statements with the clothes we wear whatever the setting? On TV, at the school gates or in workplaces? Where do you draw the line?...

The joint funeral of four members of the same family has taken place this afternoon in Waterford. Philip English, his wife Kim and their two young sons, Callum and Jayden, were killed in a suspected arson attack last week. Newstalk’s Chief Reporter was at the funeral, and joined Shane to discuss.

Whether it's a speed clean before an unannounced guest drops by, or it's using a free half an hour while your child is having a nap to get some order in your home, speed cleaning is something we are all familiar with. But is there a way to rescue a messy house in under 30 minutes? Joining Shane with the answer is cleaning expert and TikToker, Ann Russell!

Solicitors working in criminal defence have said they are withdrawing from all work from today, marking an escalation of their dispute with the Justice Minister over a new payment scheme for criminal legal aid. One of those solicitors is Michael O’Connor, and he joins Shane to discuss…

Public sector unions have suspended strikes planned for next Wednesday following discussions with the Government. Pat Leahy, Political Editor of the Irish Times and John Boyle, General Secretary of the INTO joined Shane on the show to discuss.

How do you manage difficult relationships with in-laws without affecting your children or putting pressure on your marriage? Michelle Brown, Divorce Consultant, Mediator and author of “Scars of Divorce joined us on the hard Shoulder to discuss.

Larry Donnelly, Law lecturer at University of Galway and Columnist with the Journal joined Shane on the show to discuss some notable moments in recent times from behind the White House lectern.

European leaders face growing pressure to secure Ukraine’s wartime finances through to the end of 2028. Taoiseach Micheál Martin has warned that decisions will need to be made quickly, as efforts continue to repair Kyiv’s strained relationship with the Trump administration. Europe correspondent at Euronews, Shona Murray spoke to Ciara on the show.

The rise of the ‘indie dad’, is this a good or bad thing and does anyone care?! Comedian Steve Cummins and Entertainment Journalist Dee Reddy joined Shane on the show to discuss.

The proportion of migrants living in more affluent areas of the State is higher than those who live in disadvantaged areas, according to research by the Economic and Social Research Institute. Teresa Buczkowska, CEO of the Immigrant Council of Ireland joined Ciara on the show to discuss.

As road deaths rise, the Government dropped planned reforms of the RSA and increased public transport fares and now the minister seems to be disavowing political responsibility, writes Ciarán Cannon in the Irish Examiner who joined Shane on the show to discuss.

Families and workplaces are being urged to switch off all smart devices from 7pm today and take a 24-hour break from the online world. It is part of CyberBreak 2026, an initiative supported by the HSE.  Family Psychotherapist, columnist with the Examiner and Co-host of ‘They Mess You Up With’ Podcast Richard Hogan joined us on the Hard Shoulder this evening.

Minister James Lawless announced this morning Ireland's first university-owned AI Institute. The Institute will put AI engineers alongside researchers to advance the use of AI across health, agriculture, climate, humanities and the sciences. Professor Robin Burke, incoming director of the UCD AI Institute joined Shane on the show to discuss.

The White House is defending its new press secretary, Katie Zacharia as questions emerge over her legal credentials as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he feels personally betrayed by Donald Trump. BBC North American Correspondent, Anothony Zurcher joined us on the Hard Shoulder with all the latest from the States.

Scans can reveal a lot about your spine, but they don’t always explain the cause of your pain. Stephen O’Rourke, Chartered Clinical Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist at the Mater University Hospital joined us on the Hard Shoulder to discuss.