This Week

Jason Burke, Israel Correspondent for The Guardian.

Sister Helen Prejean, leading US anti-death penalty activist.

Professor Michael Barry, Director of the NCPE.

Foreign Affairs and Defence Minister Helen McEntee.

Lucy Fisher, Financial Times.

Paul was joined by Bel Trew, who is the Chief International Correspondent with the Independent to give more details on the certainty of the deal.

UNICEF is calling for safe and unfettered access to deliver humanitarian operations. It comes as the Israel Defence Forces increase their control of the Strip to beyond 60% of the coastal enclave. Paul was joined by UNICEF's Communication Officer Salim Oweis who has recently returned from Gaza to Jordan.

Our reporter Eithne Dodd went to Belfast to speak to members of the migrant community in the aftermath of riots that took place earlier this week. Paul was joined by Patricia MacBride, who is a former Victims Commissioner in Northern Ireland and is now a colmnist with the Irish News to tell us more.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is fiercely proud of his Irish heritage, is in Mayo today to visit his family home place. He met President Connolly earlier this morning. Our Political Correspondent Micheal Lehane joined us in studio to tell us more. Our reporter Teresa Mannion was in Mayo as locals and relatives came out to greet Carney.

President Donald Trump says the outline of a peace deal, will be signed today. However, Iran declared today that the regime's decision on the framework agreement is still what it termed "under review." Paul was joined by Sebastian Usher, the BBC's Global Affairs Correspondent and Ed Burke who is Assistant Professor in the History of War at UCD.

The World Cup kicks-off on Thursday, with co-host nation Mexico playing South Africa in Mexico City. But the football hasn't been the only thing garnering headlines, with controversy about changes to the game, pricing and security. Paul was joined for a breakdown by Miguel Delaney, author and Chief Football Writer at The Independent.

Health experts are raising concerns about the use of 'snus.' These nicotine-filled products are rising in popularity among young people. Because they are tobacco-free, they can be sold in Ireland without any of the restrictions placed on similar products such as cigarettes and vapes. RTÉ reporter Eithne Dodd has been finding out more.

The Taoiseach was in Montenegro this week, the Adriatic nation of just 630,000 people, which is set to become the EU's 28th Member State. Negotiations on its accession are due to be completed during Ireland's 6-month Presidency of the EU, which begins on July 1st. Paul was joined by journalist, historian and author Misha Glenny.

The US / Israeli war on Iran is entering its 100th day without any clear sign as to how it will be resolved. The Strait of Hormuz is still blocked, and there's been sporadic US bombing runs and Iranian retaliatory drone strikes. To assess the likelihood of any breakthrough, Paul was joined by David Blevins, US Correspondent of Sky News .

A 36-year-old man was jailed for over 30 years by the Belfast Crown Court this week for the murder of his partner, Natalie McNally, in December 2022. Since 2020, 30 women have been violently killed in Northern Ireland. Paul was joined by Karen Devlin, Membership Services & Support Officer with Women’s Aid Federation of Northern Ireland.

Tomorrow is the deadline set by Health Minister Jennifer Carroll-MacNeill for the Rotunda Maternity Hospital to provide the HSE with an audit of the private work being carried out by consultants on public-only contracts. Paul was joined by David Cullinane, Sinn Féin's health spokesperson and one of the party's two TDs in Waterford.

On Friday it was confirmed that the final fight of Katie Taylor's boxing career will take place at Croke Park in Dublin in September. It's the first time that boxing has taken place at GAA HQ since Muhammad Ali fought Alvin "Blue" Lewis all the way back in 1972. Paul was joined in studio by Peter McKenna, who is the Croke Park Stadium Director.

"An Siopa Beag" is a volunteer run shop working to support the local community of Carrigaholt, reporter Peter O’Connell has more.

To discuss Ireland's priorities for the EU Presidency, and more, we'll shortly hear from the Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne. Followed by Tony Connelly, RTE's Europe Editor.

As the US and Israeli war on Iran approaches its 100th day, tentative negotiations continue on a draft memorandum of understanding on a possible peace deal. For an update, we're joined by Gregg Carlstrom, who is the Financial Times Middle East Correspondent

UNIFIL Batallion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel, Mark Lennon talks to This Week as more than 160 Irish peacekeepers from the 127th Infantry Battalion returned home, following a gruelling 6-month tour of duty in southern Lebanon. Followed by Beirut by Correspondent Jim Muir for the latest on what's happening in Lebanon.

Returning to the weekend bye-elections, Paul was joined by RTÉ Political Correspondent Barry Lenihan to discuss the latest count tallies, and what the results spell for the government parties and the opposition.

There's increasing concern over a deadly outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Uganda also has confirmed cases, and the African Centre for Disease control says 10 other nations are at risk. Paul was joined by Emmet Livingstone, who's a journalist in Kinshasa, DRC.

Hundreds of people turned up at Dublin Airport yesterday to welcome home eleven Irish citizens detained by the Israeli military when their Gaza Sumud Flotilla was intercepted in international waters. Colm Byrne, who skippered the vessel the Don Juan, joined Paul to describe the ship being intercepted and his subsequent detainment by the IDF.

Fiosrú, the office of the police ombudsman, is the statutory body which deals with complaints from members of the public and the Gardai about the Gardaí. Police Ombudsman Emily Logan joined Paul ahead of the publishing of the body's first annual report next week.