The Explainer

RTÉ arts and culture journalist Alan Corr and The Journal's resident Garth Brooks fan Christina Finn join us to look at the return of the country music superstar. Brooks is back in Ireland for five sold-out gigs - but what's the secret to his enduring popularity in Ireland? What happened to the 2014 concerts, and will this year's run be his last in Ireland? The Explainer is brought to you by The J...

In another episode by Noteworthy, Niall Sargent and Austrian vet Dr Alexander Rabitsch tell Susan Daly about animal welfare concerns in the growing live export trade to Europe. In TRADE OFF, Sargent also examined the growth of the export trade in line with dairy export and spoke to industry insiders about what solutions, if any, can be offered to limit welfare concerns raised. Hosted on Acast. See...

Marion McKeone, US Correspondent for the Business Post, joins us to look at how abortion laws in the United States have evolved since Roe v Wade was overturned. What changes have been made, how is it impacting people, and is there anything the Biden administration can do? The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has been the aim of The...

In another episode by our investigations team, Noteworthy’s Maria Delaney tells Susan Daly that though most religious congregations have paid redress offered for institutional child abuse, there is still a shortfall of around €105m, with over 90% of this from the Sisters of Mercy who are in the middle of transferring two further properties. The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing...

Dr Kathleen O'Reilly, an epidemiologist at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, joins us to talk about polio. The virus, long eradicated in many parts of the world, has been detected in the wastewater of several cities, suggesting it is now circulating. How did this happen, what are the risks, and what action needs to be taken? The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providi...

ESRI energy economist Muireann Lynch joins us on this week's episode to look at how the energy crisis could impact Ireland. As supply dwindles and what's left becomes more expensive, will we be able to keep the lights on over the coming months? Under what conditions could a blackout happen - and how is the electricity supply managed in the first place? The Explainer is brought to you by The Journa...

Cillian De Gascun, head of then National Virus Reference Laboratory, joins to discuss what we know so far about monkeypox. The virus has gained a foothold in many Western countries, and the World Health Organisation has now declared it a public health emergency. How is it spreading, who is most at risk, and why is the vaccine used to protect against it in such short supply? The Explainer is brough...

We're joined by Orlaith Condon, host of the My Pod On Paper podcast, to examine the popularity of reality dating programme Love Island. What's the secret to its success, how has the series developed over time, and how have its creators sought to address the controversies it creates? The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has been the...

Stephen Kinsella, University of Limerick economics professor and chief economics writer with The Currency, joins us to look at the factors leading some to predict that Ireland is heading towards another recession. What caused the last one, what are the main risks this time, what action could the government take - oh, and what is a recession? The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providin...

We speak to Peter Thorne, a climate change professor at Maynooth University and a coordinating lead author with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, to examine what was different about Ireland's recent hot spell, and what it signals for the years ahead. What type of temperatures could we experience, how frequent will they become, and is Irish infrastructure prepared for it? Also, how qui...

Brian Caulfield, associate professor with the School of Engineering at TCD, joins us this week to examine MetroLink, formerly known as Metro North. After years of delays the project appears to be back on track - but will it actually come to fruition this time? How much will it cost and how important it is in terms of the city's development? The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing...

In another episode by Noteworthy, Susan Daly speaks to reporters Ella McSweeney and Niall Sargent about their recent investigation, FACTORY FARM which looks at the waste and governance issues around the growth of the poultry industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Daragh Cassidy, head of communications with price comparison website Bonkers.ie, delves into why exactly your electricity and gas bills keep going up and up and up. How much of a factor is the war in Ukraine, what action can the government take, and why aren't renewables taking the edge off the situation more? The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journa...

Dr David Kenny, associate professor at the Trinity College School of Law, joins us to examine last week's monumental decision by the US Supreme Court. With almost 50 years of abortion law overturned, what does it mean for people seeking a termination in the US? What other key rulings could now be reviewed, and how do Irish laws on abortion compare? The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. P...

Recently elected senator and former Irish Army captain Tom Clonan joins us on this week's episode to examine the future of EU defence. What structures are in place currently, how does Ireland play a role in them, and in what way could the EU's approach to security evolve in future? The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has been the...

The number of people homeless in Ireland has passed 10,000 for the first time since before the start of the pandemic - Mike Allen, advocacy director with Focus Ireland, joins us on this week's episode to explain why. What measures were used to reduce the number during the height of Covid, did he expect it to rebound so quickly, and what are the key measures which could be considered now? The Expla...

In the wake of the horrific shootings at a school in Uvalde, Texas, discussion has turned yet again to gun laws in the USA. The Journal columnist and author Larry Donnelly joins Michelle Hennessy this week to discuss attitudes to gun laws in the country of his birth, and whether they look set to change. The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in...

As summer travel picks up again, Dublin Airport is buckling under the pressure. Editor of Air & Travel magazine Eoghan Corry joins to talk through the scenes witnessed at the airport last weekend and what is being done to tackle it. He also offers advice for passengers who may have missed their flights, or who are jetting off in the coming weeks. The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Pro...

It could completely overhaul Ireland’s troubled healthcare system, but what exactly is it? Liam Doran, former general secretary of the INMO, joins us on this week’s episode to give us an insight into Sláintecare. The plan received cross-party support at first, but since then it has been beset by stumbling blocks and resignations. What does it aim to do, and how could it achieve those goals? The Ex...

We're joined by The Journal's News Editor Daragh Brophy, who was at the Eurovision final in Turin, and Johnny Fallon, strategy director at Carr Communications and Eurovision voting expert, to examine why Ireland has been struggling to win the song contest. What went wrong this year, what were our previous successes down to, and does the fact that we once sent a turkey puppet cast a cloud over our...

We’re joined by Press Association reporter Dominic McGrath to dissect the results of Northern Ireland’s election. What will it mean to both unionists and nationalists to have a Sinn Féin first minister - or will the seat even be taken? Who are the Alliance party and what was key to their success? And is this really as seismic an election as it might first appear? The Explainer is brought to you by...

The Journal's Deputy Editor Christine Bohan and Ciarán O'Connor, analyst with the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, join us on this week's episode to examine factchecking - what is it, how does it work, and what impact is it having on tackling misinformation? Are people getting better at spotting false news, or is the situation getting worse? The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providi...

Our reporter Céimin Burke tells us about his experience reporting from the Polish-Ukrainian border. We examine why some Ukrainians are heading back to their homes now that Russia forces are concentrating their attacks on the east and south, the Tesco reception centre filled with beds, and the stories of those still fleeing Ukraine. The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open acc...

Senior lecturer at Queen’s University Belfast Ray Flynn joins us to discuss the incredible importance of Ireland’s bogs. With the government proposing to ban the sale and distribution of turf, we examine the damage already done to the island’s wetlands and how some of it can be undone. Ray tells us the value of bogs in mitigating against climate change, and highlights that the scale of peat extrac...

As evidence of war crimes by Russian forces in Ukraine mount, we're joined by NUIG's Prof Ray Murphy to discuss what could happen next. When is a crime a war crime, how are they prosecuted, and what leaders have previously been responsible for such actions? The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has been the aim of The Journal for a...