The Explainer

Following devastating floods in parts of Ireland this month, we're joined by Dr Mary Bourke, a flood risk management expert and assistant professor of Geography at Trinity College Dublin. She delves into the reasons why flooding - just like strong winds or extreme temperatures - can never be fully stopped, but outlines the solutions Ireland could consider in order to mitigate against the worst imp...

We speak to our News Correspondent Niall O'Connor this week to discuss what would an Israeli ground offensive look like, as the conflict in the Middle East continues into its ninth day. 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 decade. You can contribute to ensure we can keep questioning, investigat...

In Budget 2024 this week, we saw the biggest change to the USC in years, with the 4.5% rate cut to 4%. We talk to Barra Roantree, assistant professor of economics at Trinity College Dublin about the history of the USC, the importance of it and why economists like it so much. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Teachers say the new Social, Personal, and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum for secondary schools is long overdue, but some elements of the course have sparked controversy and misinformation. So what will children really be taught? Eoghan Cleary - a secondary school teacher, assistant principal and SPHE & Wellbeing Coordinator - joins us on this week's episode to explain all. The Explainer is br...

The algae has left wildlife dead and led to questions over the safety of drinking water at Lough Neagh. Shauna Corr, environment correspondent and columnist with news outlets including The Irish Mirror and Belfast Live joins us to look at the history of the lake, the real-life impacts of the algal bloom, and what the local response has been. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informat...

We speak to dog behaviourist Nanci Creedon who tells us more about how these restrictions and bans impact the behaviours of both the dogs themselves and their owners. Is there any evidence that these bans are in any way effective? And is there anything to suggest that certain breeds are inherently more aggressive? The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable jo...

In an episode of The Explainer brought to you by Noteworthy, Susan Daly talks to editor Maria Delaney and Trinity College Dublin researcher Soma Gregory about the latest in-depth series, BIRTH PLACE which found that women are still battling for maternity care choices in many parts of Ireland. We ask why that is the case and whether it is set to change any time soon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/...

Medical journalist June Shannon joins us on this week's episode to explain how the scheme will work, who is eligible, and how you avail of it. She also details how exactly IVF works and shares her own experience of the process. 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 decade. You can contribute to...

This week on The Explainer, we speak to Emma Duffy, sports journalist with The 42, to discuss Luis Rubiales and the scandal that has engulfed Spanish football since their women's team won the World Cup Final last month. 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 decade. You can contribute to ensure w...

Art O'Leary, chief executive officer of the Electoral Commission joins us explain how the changes were decided on and what factors were taken into consideration. We're also joined by our Political Reporter Jane Matthews, Deputy Editor Christine Bohan, and Assistant News Editor Rónán Duffy to dissect the results and take a look at the political ramifications. The Explainer is brought to you by The...

The Journal's Carl Kinsella and Kirsty Blake Knox from the Irish Independent explain the enduring popularity behind the Rose of Tralee. Is it still relevant in 2023? What is the event like to actually attend? What if they were a Rose, what would their special talent be? The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has been the aim of The J...

Journalist and organic beef and dairy farmer Hannah Quinn Mulligan joins us to look at the growing talk of a farmers' party in Ireland. What are the types of policies they would implement? And what are their chances of success? 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 decade. You can contribute to...

We delve into the prosecution faced by the Rohingya minority in Myanmar, and the treacherous journey many make across the Andaman Sea in search of asylum and a better life. We speak with Michelle Cicic, head of the regional office for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) of the European Commission in south-southeast Asia Pacific, as well as Lilianne Fan and Hassan bi...

US correspondent with the Business Post Marion McKeone delves into RFK Jr's campaign so far. What are his rallies like, and what is he like as a person? Is he in with a chance of becoming US president, or are we simply looking at Trump vs Biden in 2024? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sinéad O'Carroll is joined by The 42's Gavin Cooney for a wide-ranging discussion on women in football. What does their performance say about how the future of the team? And did they catch the public's imagination enough to keep the fanbase growing from here? And more widely, is enough being done by sports organisations to support women in sport? The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Pro...

We're joined by journalist and author Aoife Barry, who takes us through the hype machine behind Barbie and how this rubbed off on Oppenheimer. Did it translate into box office success? Will this revive the public's interest in going to the pictures? Also, how will the strike by actors and writers in the US impact film and television over the coming months? The Explainer is brought to you by The Jo...

Lauren Boland, climate reporter with The Journal, examines what precisely this legislation is all about and why it sparked so much anger. Do environmentalists think the now-watered-down law will have any impact? And how does Ireland fit into the picture? 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 dec...

Presenter Laura Byrne is joined this week by Gavan Reilly, political correspondent with Virgin Media News, to look behind the scenes at Oireachtas committees, from the grandstanding to the selection process, as well as to analyse previous appearances by John Delaney, Angela Kerins, and - of course - Ryan Tubridy. The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable jou...

Ireland has experienced an event unprecedented in recorded history: a category four extreme marine heatwave in our waters. Oceans play a crucial but often underappreciated role in regulating our climate, so how strong a warning signal is this? What could the impact be on marine life? And how does dust from the Sahara desert somehow factor in? We're joined by Lauren Boland, reporter with The Journa...

Eileen Culloty, assistant professor in the School of Communications at DCU, and Rónán Duffy, Assistant News Editor at The Journal, join us on this week's episode to look at the latest scandal to hit RTÉ. The revelations around overpayments of the station's top star, Ryan Tubridy have rippled through the halls of power and onto the country's airwaves, causing untold damage to the reputation of the...

James Carton, assistant professor in Sustainable Energy with DCU and an academic advisor to the United Nations on hydrogen, joins us on this week's podcast to discuss this lesser spotted energy source. How do you make it? Where could it be used instead of fossil fuels? Could it be part of a clean energy future, or does it amount to simply greenwashing? The Explainer is brought to you by The Journa...

Golf might not appear to be the most exciting sport for non-fans - but it's what's happening off the course that's currently getting the most attention. Gavin Cooney, sports writer with The42, joins us to explain all. The story is one that involves a lot of money, antitrust concerns, and a new - but perhaps murky - future for the world of golf, one in which Saudi Arabian soft power has come to the...

Luke Saunders, co-founder and CEO of Studyclix, joins us on this week's episode to give the lie of the land for anyone whose own memory of sitting the Leaving Cert might be fading. We look at the lasting impact of the Covid pandemic on the exams, explain the current points system, dig into recent and future reforms, and also share advice for students and parents alike. The Explainer is brought to...

Robbyn Swan, author of Looking for Madeleine and who featured in the Netflix series The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann, joins us to examine the recent developments in this long-running missing person case. This month, in what looked to be a significant development, police announced that a reservoir and the surrounding area in Portugal would be searched as part of their new investigations. But w...

Another chapter in the story of Ireland's longest-running television programme is coming to a close, as Ryan Tubridy wraps up before handing over the presenter's chair to Patrick Kielty. Mark O'Brien, head of DCU's School of Communications and associate professor in journalism history, and Kirsty Blake Knox, writer with the Irish Independent, delve into The Late Late Show's history, examine its en...