The Hard Shoulder

Off The Ball’s John Duggan joined Shane and Ciara on The Hard Shoulder to review the week in sport and look ahead to the week’s action…

The ex-Ukrainian Defence Minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, has called for wartime elections, arguing the nation has faced a crisis of governance since the war. His address, which was posted on YouTube, is the first such demand by a major Ukrainian political figure since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. Joining Shane to discuss this is Ukrainian MP, Inna Sovsun…

Social media giant TikTok has been invited to appear before an Oireachtas media committee meeting as soon as possible to address growing concerns over videos which "glorify illegal activity" on the platform. Committee Chair and Labour TD Alan Kelly joins Ciara to discuss…

While purchasing your first car is an exciting endeavour, there are many practical questions and considerations you should have at the top of your mind before signing for the keys... Joining Shane to discuss this is Paddy Comyn, Head of Automotive Content and Communications with DoneDeal Cars and Comedian Steve Cummins.

The Government is yet to finalise a national position on planned EU regulations to standardise the maximum dosage of vitamins and minerals in dietary supplements across 27 member states. Joining Shane to discuss this is Nutritionist and Dietician at Blackrock Clinic, Dr Mary McCreery…

“Last Saturday, two things happened at the same time. The brutally misogynist Taliban regime staged a military parade in Kabul to celebrate its five years back in power. And Ireland played Afghanistan in a cricket international in Belfast.” So wrote Irish Times Columnist, Fintan O’Toole, who joins Ciara to discuss.

The national minimum wage has been a hotly debated topic for the last number of years, with critics suggesting some young adults are experiencing an icy welcome to the world of work. All while businesses across the country argue they are being stretched beyond their means to absolve minimum wage increases… Joining Ciara to discuss this is Kelly Earley, Columnist and co-host of the ‘For Tech's Sake...

Every week for The Ultimate Guide on The Hard Shoulder, we take a closer look at some of the fantastic destinations to visit around the world. This week, Travel Journalist Eoghan Corry joined Ciara and Shane to give his ultimate guide to Gran Canaria!

Women’s health has come a long way in recent years, but there are still huge gaps in how women’s conditions are understood, diagnosed and treated with many women left waiting years for answers. There’s now growing concern around how much of women’s health is still overlooked when it is not to do with fertility. Fianna Fáil TD for Louth, Erin McGreehan, has been looking at this and joins Ciara to d...

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is defending itself in a landmark social media trial that begins today in California. This comes after a coalition of states sued Meta in 2023, and the four states now going to trial were selected to represent them.  For more on this, Shane is joined by Elaine Burke, Tech Journalist and host of the ‘For Tech's Sake’ podcast.

A Russian missile attack killed 10 people in a village in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region, Ukrainian authorities said this morning. Along with this Russia has threatened the UK with “consequences” after reports that British drones have been used to strike targets on Russia’s mainland for the first time. Joining Ciara to discuss this is Professor of Politics at DCU and author of the book ‘Unf...

The Teachers’ Union of Ireland said today that retaining staff is now “...as big a challenge as initial recruitment”. They are calling on the Government to make the teaching profession more attractive and to recognise teachers' services if they teach abroad. Joining Ciara for more on this is former secondary school teacher and CEO of Studyclix, Luke Saunders...

The number of children being baptised in Ireland has fallen by a third in ten years. That’s according to research carried out by the Iona Institute. But why are 2/3 of parents still Christening their children when only a third get married in the Church? Newstalk Sarah Madden reports on convenience Catholicism and the other options available to secular new parents.

Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan has today said that the Government is unable to insulate everybody from every geopolitical shock. His comments come as Ministers are under increasing pressure to postpone the phasing out of excise cuts on September 1st. But, what does this mean for you and your energy bill? And, how much can we expect inflation to affect prices going forward? Joining Shane to discu...

There is a longstanding debate about the main overhead light in a room or as many call it the ‘big light'. Social media is flooded with people saying they hate the big light, with many saying they should be outright banned… So, is it time to put an end to the big light? Joining Ciara and Shane to discuss is Presenter and Podcaster James Kavanagh and Newstalk's own Dylan Hand...

Donald Trump has labelled the Strait of Hormuz a new US territory on his social media platform, Truth Social, as Iran threatens a new offensive, while the US rules out extending the ceasefire deal… David Smith, Washington Bureau Chief with The Guardian, joins Shane to discuss.

“Politicians like to claim the Government will step in to build and run childcare ‘where required’ – but with parents scrambling for places nationwide, that caveat is looking less like policy and more like a cop‑out.” So writes Sinead Ryan, Consumer Journalist and Presenter of the Home Show in yesterday’s Irish Independent. She joins Ciara to discuss.

Media regulator Coimisiún na Meán, has contacted TikTok to determine how it is responding to footage of joyriding and dangerous driving being posted on the social media platform. Joining Shane to discuss is Adrian Weckler, Technology Editor with The Irish Independent and Jess Kelly, Newstalk's Technology Correspondent.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has met with Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's envoy and son-in-law. The meeting came a day after Kushner held rare talks with Hamas officials in Egypt as part of efforts to move forward the US President's Gaza peace plan. Journalist Borzou Daragahi joins Ciara to give the latest updates. Image: Reuters

In April, the Government reached an agreement after the fuel protests that it would slash excise duty on petrol and diesel, with the cuts to be reversed in four phases between September and October this year. The first of the cuts is set to take place on September 1st, but now there are growing fears that the cut could spark a ‘repeat of the protests’. For more on this, Shane is joined by Energy E...

The company Ornua, that is behind Kerrygold Butter, has reportedly ‘gone to war’ over US butter sales. The row comes after the company Tirlán secured a deal to sell the same Kerry Gold butter for $6 less at Costco. This deal is set to financially hit Irish dairy farmers. Joining Ciara to explain is Denis Drennan, President of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association…

For this week’s Kids Clinic, Shane is joined by Bronagh Starrs, author of ‘I Can’t Go In’ to discuss how parents can navigate the challenge of school anxiety, and help their children in this situation.

Cambridge University's Chancellor has criticised the "racist feeding frenzy" around Jason Arday, who became the university's youngest black Professor when appointed in 2023, had faced weeks of media coverage over plagiarism allegations and questions about his achievements. He denied the claims. Arday was found dead at an address in Battersea, south London, on Friday. He had resigned as a Cambridge...

Anyone who drives in the wrong direction on a motorway or road is playing “Russian roulette” with people’s lives, the Garda Representative Association (GRA) has said. The association’s Vice-President, John Joe O’Connell, also said Gardaí need better training to deal with such incidents… Joining Ciara to discuss this is Christy Galligan, former Garda Sergeant and Police Commissioner in Donegal.

"Phoenix Park has an identity problem. The best city parks come in two modes: they either amplify the city that is there, or they turn it off completely… It is a curious third type that I label a ‘pass-through’ park, so-called given its main customer: the commuting car." So says Sinéad O'Sullivan in The Irish Times today. The Business Economist joins Ciara to discuss…