This Week

The key findings of the Aughinish Alumina report were revealed on Friday. Fiachra was joined by Yaroslav Humeniuk, first secretary on economic issues at the Ukrainian embassy in Ireland, and minister of state at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Fianna Fáil TD for Limerick County Niall Collins. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

RTÉ reporter Eithne Dodd joined Paul to discuss how the gambling industry has changed in recent years. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said this morning that his Government will do "everything we can" to stabilise the country's auto industry. Workers at car manufacturer Volkswagen have been roiled by the dramatic news that tens of thousands of layoffs could be on the horizon. Paul was joined by Deutsche Welle journalist Arthur Sullivan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In just over six hours time the World Cup final will kick off in New Jersey, with Spain and Argentina battling it out for the biggest prize in football. It's clinical passing and structure versus ferocious passion and guile. Paul was joined from New York by Miguel Delaney, author and chief football writer with the London Independent. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United States has continued to bomb targets in Iran for the eighth night in a row. In response, Iran has continued to retaliate by firing ballistic missiles and deploying drones against US bases in the Gulf and US allies. Paul was joined for an update by BBC analyst Sebastian Usher. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new Labour Party leader Andy Burnham will become the Prime Minister tomorrow. What's less clear is what that will mean for the UK and its European neighbours. To evaluate the possibilities, Paul was joined by Rory Montgomery, an honorary professor at Queens University and once-second secretary at the Department of the Taoiseach. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Children and young people are among the most at-risk members of Irish society when it comes to gambling exposure and harm." So says Anne Marie Caulfield, chief executive of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland. She joined Paul to discuss the work of the Authority. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The National Competitive and Productivity Council has called for the speedy delivery of Ireland's offshore wind energy projects. As it stands, Ireland's only offshore wind farm, Arklow Bank Wind Park, ceased operations last year. To establish where we stand, Paul was joined by Caroline O'Doherty, Environment Correspondent with the Irish Times. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Firefighters in southern Spain said today that a wildfire, which has killed at least 12 people, is close to being brought under control. The development has allowed hundreds of evacuated residents to return home. RTÉ Correspondent Dimitri O'Donnell reported from the region. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finally to France, where the far right leader Marine Le Pen announced this week that she will run for the presidency in April. She made the announcement after an appeals court ruling opened the way for her fourth tilt at the top job. To find out more, Paul was joined from Paris by The Irish Times Correspondent Naomi O'Leary. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A diplomatic battle has been underway in recent months between the EU and the United States over the future of the former war-torn Balkan nation of Bosnia Herzegovina. Paul was joined in studio by Kurt Bassuener, co-founder of advocacy group The Democratization Policy Council, for a discussion about what's at stake for all parties. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A VAT cut for restaurants came into effect at the start of July, but that doesn't mean the cost of your takeaway being delivered will go down. The workers in the takeaway meal economy were typically classed as self-employed, but new legislation will require them to be classified as employees. RTÉ reporter Eithne Dodd has been finding out more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In just over a week's time, the Government is due to publish its investigation into the Aughinish Alumina plant in Co Limerick amid claims that the plant's exports to Russia are ending up assisting President Putin's war on Ukraine. The directly-elected Mayor of Limerick John Moran joined Paul in studio for a discussion. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The pay row between the Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan and solicitors working in the District Courts on criminal cases is expected to intensify next week. Paul was joined by Gary Mulchrone, a solicitor in criminal law at Thomas J Walsh Solicitors in Castlebar, and President of the Mayo Solicitors Bar Association. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The drone delivery operator Manna announced last month that it was ceasing delivery operations in Ireland, in what was termed a 'strategic pause' due to an absence of a clear national planning framework here. This week Manna announced it would employ about 1,000 people over the next 3 years in the US. Paul spoke to Manna's co-founder Bobby Healy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information...

The Ukrainian armed forces have continued persistent drone strikes on oil refineries inside Russia, leading to fuel shortages and queues at forecourts across the country. Russia has been forced to import fuel to try and counter the problem and ease mounting public anger. Paul spoke about the situation with Moscow-based Correspondent Fred Weir.

Survivors of mother-and-baby institutions say they're still finding it extremely difficult to secure full access to documentation about their lives from the State and its agencies. Paul spoke to a survivor of the St Patricks Home on the Navan Road, and to Patricia Carey, Special Advocate for Survivors of Institutional Abuse.

Ireland’s EU Commissioner Michael McGrath said the Commission was maintaining close contact with the Irish government in advance of the completion of its report into Aughinish Alumina, the Co Limerick refinery which has been sending alumina to Russia. Irish Times correspondent Conor Gallagher joined Paul for a thorough discussion.

A man in his 40s has died following a shooting incident in Dún Laoghaire in South County Dublin. Paul was joined from the scene by RTÉ reporter Karen Creed.

A row between Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan and solicitors over pay in the District Courts is threatening to cause further legal disruption this week. To discuss the impasse, Paul was joined by Michael O'Higgins, Senior Counsel, who practices in the criminal courts.

Peter Power, head of UNICEF in Ireland.

RTÉ Reporter Eithne Dodd.

Senior Journalist with the Irish Examiner Neil Michael.

Shona Murray, Europe Correspondent for EuroNews.

Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan.