In The News

This week, the European Union’s Court of Justice ordered Poland to pay a one million euro daily fine, believed to be the biggest penalty imposed by the EU, on one of it's own member states. Sorcha Pollak speaks to Berlin correspondent Derek Scally about the controversial judicial reforms which have led to this latest sanction . Produced by Declan Conlon, Jennifer Ryan and Suzanne Brennan.&nbs...

On Wednesday, just days before world leaders and policy makers descended upon Glasgow for the crucial Cop26 climate talks, UN secretary-general Antonia Guterres stated clearly that the climate crisis has reached “code red for humanity” “There is only one path forward,” he said. “A 1.5 degree future is the only liveable future for humanity. I urge leaders to get on with the job, before it’s too lat...

Facebook’s brand is in crisis. The social media giant is rarely out of the headlines, most recently after whistleblowers and leaked documents shed light on its failures, including the spread of misinformation and conspiracy theories. Facebook is also facing pressure from lawmakers on various fronts, including pending legislation from Congress and a number of high profile lawsuits. This week cheif...

Have you watched Squid Game yet? Since its release, the South Korean drama has become a global sensation, making it Netflix’s biggest series launch to date. Sorcha Pollak speaks to Irish Times Features writer Patrick Freyne about the phenomenal success of the series and what's behind its global appeal, while Dr Kevin Cawley, Senior Lecturer in Korean Studies at UCC gives an insight into the socio-...

We’re told that eating less meat or giving up flying are things that we can do to help fight climate change. But given that a relatively small number of fossil fuel producers are responsible for the vast majority of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, just how much does individual action really matter? Guests: Dr Tara Shine Change By Degrees , Kate Devitt Fridays for Future Dublin , and Catherin...

Health editor Paul Cullen on what we know about the reasons for Ireland's high level of Covid-19 right now, despite our high vaccination rates. Plus: political correspondent Jennifer Bray on how the Government is thinking about the uptick in cases. Is the planned removal of further restrictions in doubt? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Earlier this week, Britain's Brexit minister David Frost called for a new "Northern Ireland protocol" to completely replace the agreement he negotiated two years outlining how trade in Northern Ireland works post-Brexit. The EU wants to make changes to the protocol instead. Can the two sides find a compromise, despite the deep mistrust that has developed after years of difficult negotiations? Host...

More flooding, longer spells of hotter weather, heavier rain events and the disappearance of frost: The changes to Ireland's weather if we fail to tackle the climate crisis may not seem too dramatic, but if other parts of the world suffer more, then the impacts of that will be felt here too. As part of our coverage of the climate crisis in the lead up to COP26, we talk to climate scientists, Dr Al...

A large search operation has begun in Co Kildare in relation to the disappearance of 18-year-old Deirdre Jacob, who went missing as she walked home in Newbridge. She was last seen alive at about 3pm on the evening of July 28th, 1998. She was one of several women who went missing in the same region over a five year period. Conor Lally tells Conor Pope about the background to the...

A global deal means our 12.5% corporate tax rate will be going up for the first time in decades. Cliff Taylor tells Conor the story of the rate: where it came from, why it lasted and what an increase will mean.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On September 26th a referendum was held in Berlin. The question? Should landlords be forced to sell nearly a quarter of a million apartments to the city. The goal of the campaign to expropriate the apartments, is to reverse the massive rent increases that campaigners say threaten normal life in the German capital. Many obstacles remain, but the move to take control of Berlin's housing could r...

In a few weeks' time, world leaders meet for the COP26 UN Climate Conference in Scotland, where they will try to agree on a plan to reduce emissions and prevent catastrophic temperature rises. Between now and then, we'll be covering the climate crisis on this podcast every week. Today, we're tracing the origins of the climate crisis: where it went wrong and what can be learned from the failure to...

Ireland is being used as a de facto offshore location by people and businesses in Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and other countries in eastern Europe and central Asia, leaked documents show. Colm Keena explains how a legal entity permitted under Irish law makes this possible, and how and why these entities are used to shield money and power from view. Plus: around the world, powerful individuals wit...

This month the first Irish person was hospitalised after using the anti-parasitic drug Ivermectin to treat the symptoms of Covid-19. In the US, demand for the drug is soaring as more people turn their backs on the vaccine and look to alternative treatments. So what exactly is the drug, why has it become associated with the treatment of Covid-19 and what are the risks involved in taking it? Conor P...

Before his sudden death Anthony Flynn was accused of sexually assaulting several men in the care of the charity he founded. He leaves behind alleged abuse victims, betrayed comrades in the homelessness charity community, and an organisation that may never recover. Jack Power reports. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How much do you think about where your food comes from, how the animals used to produce it live and die, or its impact on the environment? Journalist and author Henry Mance investigates our relationship with animals in his book How To Love Animals: In a Human-Shaped World. He talked to Conor Pope about what he discovered. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson reshuffled his cabinet last week, firing ministers who had been key supporters of his leadership. What prompted the move? London editor Denis Staunton on the eventful summer that led up to the reshuffle, what's going on in British politics right now and how Johnson is planning to win the next election. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The success of Ireland’s vaccine rollout has exceeded even the most optimistic projections of earlier this year and allowed the country to re-open, with virtually all pandemic restrictions due to be eased in the coming weeks. But for children in primary schools and creches there is no vaccine yet. Should we be concerned about the potential for the virus to spread in schools? Are children more at r...

The Republic of Ireland senior men's football team has brought joy and heartbreak to fans over the years. But now, after a disappointing run of resultsa third successive failure to qualify for a major tournament looks likely. Should fans permanently lower their expectations? Have we been unlucky, badly managed, or is there more to it than that? Football man Ken Early talks to Conor. Hosted on Acas...

Twenty years ago, on Tuesday, September 11th, 2001, Mark Clifford was in Dublin attending the funeral of a friend, when he caught sight of a TV screen. What had happened changed his life forever.  Plus: in 2001, Paddy Smyth was The Irish Times's Washington correspondent. He recalls the events of September 11th that have so shaped the world we live in today.  Hosted on Acast. Se...

As Ireland continues towards the full reopening of society with the lifting of pandemic restrictions, experts have warned that the next global outbreak is just around the corner. The lack of vaccination programmes in low-income countries has so far made it almost impossible to eradicate Covid-19 and the virus is expected to remain a threat to human populations for some time to come. Toda...

This week, Fianna Fáil TDs, Senators and MEPs will gather in the town of Ballyconnell, Co Cavan to discuss the future of their political party. The two day think-in will also allow party members to analyse their disappointing election performances. So why is the party struggling to retain voters? What do the recent defeats mean for Micheál Martin's future as party leader and what does Fianna Fáil...

Less than a fortnight after the Taliban took control in Afghanistan, the country saw its first horrific terror attack. The suicide bombing near Kabul Airport, which killed more than 100 people, was claimed by a group of extremists known as the Islamic State in Khorasan. In recent years, ISIS-K has emerged in central Asia as an enemy of both the West and of the Taliban. Who are ISIS-K? What do they...

As more and more people take to the outdoors to explore Ireland’s hiking trails and mountain paths, rescue services are experiencing an alarming rise in callouts. In the first 19 days of August, Kerry Mountain Rescue responded to one incident per day, stretching their volunteers and resources to the limit. So why have more people started hiking around Ireland and why are so many embarking on these...

Nearly 100 years after his death, the truth about who assassinated Michael Collins remains one of the greatest unanswered questions in Irish history. Collins was murdered at Béal na mBláth in Cork on August 22nd, 1922. At the time he was chairman of the Provisional Government of the Irish Free State. Why then was his death never properly investigated? Over the last century there has been much spec...