The Explainer

Renowned archivist Catriona Crowe and our reporter Órla Ryan join us to discuss the latest controversy over the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes - what problems are becoming apparent with the report, what did one of its authors say to anger survivors in their first public comments, and what can the government do next? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informatio...

For the latest instalment of The Good Information Project we are joined by Clifford Coonan to talk about claims of human rights abuses in the Xinjiang autonomous region of China. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nick Charalambous, managing director of Alpha Wealth, and our business reporter Ian Curran join us on this week's episode to talk cryptocurrencies. Why are they grabbing headlines, what's driving their prices up and down, and is it actually a good way to invest your money? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brian Honan, cybersecurity expert and CEO of BH Consulting, and our senior reporter Michelle Hennessy join us to discuss the impact of the cyberattack on the HSE. What is ransomware, how do you go about fixing the damage done, and how is it impacting patients on the ground? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our reporter Cónal Thomas examines what a Covid antigen test is, and why the sale of them in Lidl has sparked such debate. He explains how their results should be (cautiously) interpreted, as well as how they are already being used by the HSE in certain situations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our reporters Sean Murray, Adam Daly, and Brian Whelan join us to discuss the latest instalment of The Good Information Project, examining how the pandemic could have a lasting impact on the way we work. How soon might be people be back in the office, and what is the 'right to disconnect' for those who remain working from home? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, Arlene Foster abstained in on a vote on banning gay conversion therapy. That decision snowballed this week into Foster being effectively ousted as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party following a letter of no confidence from a majority of the party's elected representatives. We're joined by BBC Radio Foyle's Dominic McGrath, who explains what led to this decision, who could take over...

It was impossible to escape the news of plans for a European Super League this week - plans which soon fell apart. The42's Gavin Cooney is on hand to explain the ins and outs of the brief saga, how much money is on the line, and what it means for the future of soccer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our deputy editor Christine Bohan and Ciarán O'Connor of the Institute for Strategic Dialogue join us on this week's episode to look at how the spread of misinformation has evolved in Ireland over the past year. Who is it targeting, who benefits, and how did QAnon crop up on this side of the Atlantic? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ronan Lyons, associate professor of economics at Trinity College Dublin, joins us on this week's podcast to examine what impact the pandemic is having on housing prices. Are prices being pushed up, or were they drifting up anyway? And what's the best advice for someone considering buying a home right now? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our reporters Rónán Duffy and Gráinne Ní Aodha examine the possibility of - and the appetite for - a united Ireland in the next decade. How would a border poll work, and what's this Shared Ireland Unit the government set up? This episode is part of The Good Information Project - we're also joined by Brian Whelan to explain more about this new initiative from The Journal. Hosted on Acast. See acast...

Our reporters Gráinne Ní Aodha and Michelle Hennessy join us to examine why vaccines are causing tensions to almost boil over between the European Union and the United Kingdom. The former is now weighing up plans to halt exports of jabs to countries with higher rates of vaccinations than its own member states. We look at the origins of all this (it's not Brexit again, is it?), what it has to do wi...

Co-director of Wolfwalkers, Tomm Moore, joins us on this week's episode to discuss the film's nomination for an Academy Award. What type of groundwork goes into it, what does it mean to even get close to winning an Oscar, and what is it like for Cartoon Saloon to grow from a small Kilkenny-based studio to a name respected worldwide in animation? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more info...

Our business reporter Ian Curran joins us to look at recent stories about banks and brokers, from Ulster Bank pulling out of Ireland and Bank of Ireland closing branches, to Davy being fined over a 2014 transaction. Should we be concerned that we're hearing so much about them? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nick Henderson, CEO of the Irish Refugee Council, our reporter Cónal Thomas, as well as Ola Mustapha, who lives in Direct Provision, join us on this week's episode to explore the new plan to bring the current regime of Direct Provision to an end by 2024. What are conditions like current, and how feasible is the new plan? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is there anything to be said for another Covid plan? Our Political Correspondent Christina Finn and Senior Reporter Michelle Hennessy join us to examine the latest changes to the Living With Covid framework. What are the government's aims for the next few weeks, and when might lockdown be lifted? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our reporters Órla Ryan and Michelle Hennessy bring us to speed with the latest on Ireland's Covid vaccine rollout. What happens once the over 70s are vaccinated, what's the latest estimate on when the entire rollout might be complete, and how do we compare to other countries? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TheJournal.ie's Brexit reporter Gráinne Ní Aodha and BBC Radio Foyle's Dominic McGrath (formerly of this parish) join us on this week's episode to examine Article 16, and why it has lead to problems in Dublin, Belfast, London, and Brussels. What exactly is its function in the Northern Ireland Protocol, and why was the triggering of it so unexpected? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more...

Our reporters Ian Curran and Michelle Hennessy lay the entire AstraZeneca vaccine saga out on the table and go through it piece by piece - from the initial questions over its clinical trials, its success in the UK, to the delivery woes and Brexit complications now impeding the vaccine's rollout in the EU.Read more of Ian and Michelle's reporting on the vaccine roll-out here https://jrnl.ie/5339732...

Larry Donnelly, NUIG lecturer and TheJournal.ie's columnist, joins us on this week's episode to look at Trump's second impeachment. What happens next, how likely is it that he will be convicted in the Senate, and what does it all mean for his future? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Ciara Breathnach, associate professor at the University of Limerick, and our reporters Cónal Thomas and Órla Ryan, examine the findings of the mother and baby home report, and how it could provide more questions than answers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ireland's third wave of Covid-19 is putting the health service under unprecedented strain. We speak to those on the frontlines about what they're experiencing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our reporters Michelle Hennessy and Cónal Thomas bring up to date on the latest restrictions; the discussion over what led to the rocketing Covid-19 case numbers; how vaccination is going; and how the healthcare system is coping. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As this tumultuous year draws to a close, The Explainer team sits down to pick their favourite clips from the year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sinéad O'Carroll chats to RTÉ Washington Correspondent Brian O'Donovan about reporting on the ground in Trump's America and how his achievements compare to his 2016 promises. We also look ahead to 2021 and the uphill battle Joe Biden faces one he enters the White House. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.