The Hard Shoulder

“There has been very little attention paid to the needs of women in the planning and construction of housing and neighbourhoods. The reality is that the built environment is designed by men, for men”. That’s the view of Lorcan’s Sirr in an opinion piece today in the Irish Times about housing and how we plan and design our houses. Is that a fair assessment? Joining Ciara to discuss is Gavin Lawlor.

Lunch used to be a case of meal deals, soup and sandwich combos and low cost meals on the go, but these days, it’s hard to get through your break without breaking the bank. So, has inflation hit the lunchtime market harder than others, and are the days of cheap and cheerful lunches in the bin? Newstalk’s Sarah Madden has been looking into this, and joins Shane to discuss.

The Government is considering introducing a ban on the sale of tobacco and nicotine-inhaling anyone born after a certain date. The move follows the introduction of similar legislation in the UK, but at the same time when Ireland may look to decriminalise drugs in the near distant future, is it the right step to consider? Joining Ciara to discuss is Philly McMahon, Advisor on the Drugs Citizen Asse...

Andy Burnham has said that new laws, which will make it easier to cancel online subscriptions, will come into effect next year. The UK Prime Minister says these changes will mean companies must offer “clearer upfront information, regular reminders and a much easier exit to contracts” for consumers. Should we do the same here, and how difficult is it to unsubscribe from online services? Elaine Burk...

In Cullen’s in Northwest Cork, locals have pulled together to buy the last pub in the village to keep the social fabric of the community alive. Is this the future for rural pubs? Joining Ciara to discuss is one of the Directors of Tigh Laitiarain & Company Secretary, Damien Hickey, and Pat Crotty, CEO of the Vintners Federation of Ireland. Image: @laitispub on Instagram

This week, Ciara and Shane were joined by presenter of Weekend Breakfast on Today FM, Alison Curtis and Off the Ball’s Cameron Hill to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists...

The Government has approved draft legislation making continuous professional development a legal requirement for Dentists, while granting the Dental Council new powers to sanction those who fail to maintain their skills. Joining Shane to discuss this story is Dr Bridget Harrington-Barry, President of the Irish Dental Association.

In the UK, restaurants, theatres and pubs are coming together to ban the use of Meta's "spy glasses" from their premises over privacy concerns. Many wouldn't know someone was wearing them, let alone filing or taking pictures covertly. Should we introduce the same ban here in Ireland or wider across Europe? Olga Cronin is Senior Policy Officer with the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, and joins S...

Off The Ball’s Mick McCarthy joined Shane on The Hard Shoulder to review the week in sport and look ahead to the weekend action…

The value of personal loans for weddings, home upgrades and EVs exceeded €3 billion over a 12-month period for the first time. That’s according to new figures from Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI). But why are we taking out loans at such a high rate, and what are the repercussions? Joining Shane to discuss is Robert Whelan, Managing Director of Rockwell Finance.

“Road violence isn’t a random occurrence. It’s the result of the choices we make, the roads we design and the behaviours we tolerate." That’s the words of former Minister Ciaran Cannon speaking online about road violence, describing it as “one of the defining public health issues of our time.” So, do we need to do more to ensure everyone who takes to our roads is safe and put out of harm? Joining...

Calls are being made for tougher action to curb ticket touring for upcoming sports and concerts events. It comes as tickets for the sold-out Manchester United v Leeds United friendly at Croke Park next week are being resold online for up to seven times their original price… For more on this and what can be done, Shane is joined by Mannix Flynn, Independent Cllr for Dublin Bay South.

Figures obtained by the Irish Independent show a 26.5% increase in the number of reduction mammoplasty procedures, more commonly known as breast reduction surgeries, carried out in acute public hospitals since 2019. In 2019, 181 patients underwent the procedure. By 2024, that figure had risen to 229. So, what's behind the increase? Joining Shane with the story is Freelance Medical and Health Journ...

Shane is joined by Freya von Noorden Pierce, who is from Dublin and is working in Amsterdam at the moment. Freya had a piece in the Irish Times about the power of the Irish supermarket. She joins to discuss why we do them so well compared to elsewhere…

'Why unionists went to the Belfast Fleadh and liked it, some on social media ask why the July 12th celebrations cannot generate atmosphere more like the Fleadh', writes Newton Emerson in The Irish Times. Joining Shane to discuss this is Jamie Bryson, Editor of The Unionist Voice.

Sarina Bellissimo, Broadcaster and Presenter of the Bellissimo Files Podcast and Chris Wasser, Arts Journalist and Sunday Independent Film Critic joined Shane on The Hard Shoulder to review the latest TV and movie releases…

Nearly one in five homeowners with solar panels or home battery systems have experienced weather-related issues. That's according to new research by Aviva Insurance. Joining Shane to discuss this and give advice for homeowners is Gillian Devereux, Senior Loss Adjustor at Aviva Insurance Ireland DAC.

At least 88 people died during the recent mass influx of migrants into Spain's Ceuta enclave from Morocco with an estimated 70,000 people making the crossing, but what role did social media play in the mass influx? Joining Shane to discuss is David Robert Grimes, Associate Professor at Trinity College Dublin, Disinformation Expert and author of ‘The Irrational Ape’.

Dublin takes centre stage in this week's issue of the comic ‘Beano’, as Dennis the Menace, Minnie the Minx and the Bash Street Kids arrive in the capital. Joining Shane for more on this is David O'Callaghan from the ‘Here and Back Again’ podcast. Image: Beano

Cartel boss Daniel Kinahan is due to be extradited from the United Arab Emirates in the coming days as details of a major security operation are being finalised for his return. Conor Lally, Security & Crime Editor with The Irish Times, has the details, and joins Shane to discuss.

This morning we heard Iran said it had reached an agreement with Oman on a route for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. With foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei not giving any further details on the agreement, which he said was "in the final stages". Joining Shane to discuss the latest in the Middle East is Middle East Journalist and Analyst, Borzou Daragahi.

In June, Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke published ‘The Value of Data Centres to Ireland’, an independent report prepared by KPMG which assesses the economic contribution and strategic importance of the data centre sector in Ireland. Lynn Boylan, Sinn Féin MEP for Dublin, through FOI, says vital information was removed from the report to benefit the Government agenda on data centres, including...

Engagement with RIP.ie has grown significantly in recent years, with the site seeing over 20,000 condolences per day, with the average number of users on the site so far this year being 3.4 million per month. But, how is that impacting the way we acknowledge bereavements? Joining Shane to discuss this is Colm Kieran, owner of My Farewell Wishes…

The Simon Communities of Ireland’s quarterly Locked Out of the Market report, shows that just 20 properties were available to rent within any of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Scheme limits in June… Joining Shane for more on this is Ber Grogan, Executive Director of Simon Communities Ireland.

A new survey says 40% of consumers who saw the new alcohol health warning labels on alcoholic products made them think about alcohol’s impact on health and were influenced to buy less or no alcohol. While they have not been fully implemented just yet, and wont until 2028, will they have the desired effect over all on our drinking habits? Bobby Smyth is Professor at the Department of Public Health...