The Explainer

In a new in-depth report by Noteworthy, it was revealed that an ambition for tighter scrutiny regarding the investment of pension funds in fossil fuels was quietly rolled back only months after a goal on this was set. In our FUELLING RETIREMENT investigation, reporter Lauren Boland finds that before a working group had met to examine the measure, it was deemed "not prudent". This week Susan Daly c...

The ongoing cost of living crisis means many people are looking to make savings and find ways to be more financially secure. Nick Charalambous from Cork-based Alpha Wealth Financial Management joins us on this week's episode to look at what changes from Budget 2023 might make an impact this year, what steps you can take to save the most money this year - and how you can lay the groundwork now for...

This week, the team behind The Explainer look through the back catalogue to bring you some of our favourite explanations from the past year, ranging from what the impact of another recession could be, to why Ireland is so obsessed with Garth Brooks. 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....

Larry Donnelly, law lecturer at NUI Galway and The Journal columnist, joins us to take a look back at the year that was in US politics. Was it a good year for Biden? What should we make of the fallout from the midterms? And is the Republican party going to pin their colours to Trump? The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has been th...

This week, in an episode of The Explainer brought to you by Noteworthy, Susan Daly chats with reporter Alice Chambers and Mindy O'Brien, chief executive of environmental charity VOICE, about soft plastic recycling. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Órla Ryan, creator and presenter of The Journal's new documentary series Redacted Lives, joins us on this week's episode to explore what survivors of mother and baby homes are facing right now. What exactly was the system and how did it work? What were the problems with the Commission of Investigation? And how will the planned redress scheme work? The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Pr...

This week, as a bonus episode of The Explainer brought to you by Noteworthy, Susan Daly chats with reporter Niall Sargent and Dr Patrick Brodie, an assistant professor in UCD researching the environmental politics of digital infrastructure, about the carbon footprint of the sector. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Journalist and academic Professor Peter Neumann joins us on this week's episode to look at an alleged coup plot in Germany involving far-right extremists planning to start a civil war. How long have "Reichsbürger" been active? What exactly was the alleged plan? And what does a minor aristocrat have to do with it all? The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable...

This week on The Explainer, we're joined by economist and research affiliate with the ESRI John Fitzgerald to look at how inflation is currently impacting our lives. Is it slowing down, and will we feel that in our own finances? How long before it settles down? And is a recession still inevitable? The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Irela...

In another episode by Noteworthy, editor Maria Delaney and visual journalist Geela Garcia tell Susan Daly about Noteworthy's latest project which found that human trafficking of migrant fishers continues, seven years after the issue was first exposed in Ireland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's a virus we never thought about much pre-Covid, but during the first winter with no restrictions in place, RSV has exploded in Ireland. But what is it, who is most at risk, and how do we protect ourselves against it? Joining us this week is Dr Niamh Lynch, a consultant paediatrician in Cork, to explain more. We also speak to Paul Murphy, whose son Liam was recently critically ill with RSV.The...

David Kenny, associate professor at Trinity College Dublin Law School, is back with us to take us through the EU-Canada Trade Agreement, or Ceta. What is it, what are the main sticking points, and why did the Supreme Court rule that it couldn't be ratified without a referendum in Ireland (as it stands, at least)?The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable jour...

This week we have The42's soccer writer Gavin Cooney in studio to answer some of the many questions surrounding this year's World Cup. Why Qatar? Who are the teams to watch? Is it really going to be a carbon-neutral event? We also examine the human rights abuses during the preparation for the tournament, and what Qatari authorities have said about LGBTQI+ rights. The Explainer is brought to you by...

In another episode by Noteworthy, reporters Cormac Fitzgerald and Stephen McDermott tell Susan Daly about Noteworthy's latest project which examined lobbying by former government officials. They found almost 400 lobbying returns in which former government officials incorrectly appeared as ‘ordinary’ lobbyists on the register. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elaine Burke, editor of Silicon Republic, joins us on this week's episode to look at what's happening in the tech industry. What's behind the latest wave of layoffs, what does it mean for Ireland - and what exactly is going on over at Twitter? 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 ca...

Our reporter Lauren Boland joins us this week to look at what lies ahead for the climate conference. The UN summit is taking place next week in Egypt and will be attended by a number of world leaders (yes, including Rishi Sunak), but what will it achieve? What new agreements could be struck? And what's Ireland's place in all of this? The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open a...

In another episode by Noteworthy, reporter Michelle Hennessy tells Susan Daly about Noteworthy's latest project which examined the impact of the justice system on Travellers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're joined on this week's episode of The Explainer by Dr Paola Rivetti, an associate professor in politics and international relations at DCU whose research interests focus on the government of societies and polities in the Middle East and on social and political mobilisations, to examine what exactly has happened since Mahsa Amini's death on 16 September. What exactly is driving so many people...

For the first time ever, Ireland's women's football team are off to the World Cup. The42's Emma Duffy joins us to explain everything you need to know about the upcoming games, and the background to the team's success. How much has changed since they threatened to go on strike in 2017, and what are their chances of more success in Australia and New Zealand next summer? The Explainer is brought to y...

Senator and retired army officer Tom Clonan joins us to look at what comes next in Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The conflict is now in its seventh month, and recent weeks have seen Ukraine make substantial gains against the invading force - so what does Russia do now? How significant is Ukraine's attack on the Kerch bridge, and could Putin resort to using nuclear weapons? The Explainer is brought...

Sam Cowie, a journalist based in Brazil, joins us to examine Brazil's potentially seismic presidential election. The far-right incumbent Jair Bolsonaro is neck-and-neck with one of the country's former presidents, often referred to as simply Lula. What are their backgrounds, what issues is this election being fought on - and will Bolsonaro even accept the result? The Explainer is brought to you by...

Barra Roantree, economist with the ESRI, joins us on this week's episode to put Ireland's tax system under the microscope. What exactly is a progressive tax regime - and does Ireland have one? Are we too exposed to corporation tax? And what are the biggest takeaways from Budget 2023? This episode is proudly sponsored by Taxback.comThe Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open acce...

Our reporter Garreth MacNamee joins us to examine the future of the Kinahan Organised Crime Gang in the wake of significant moves by international police forces to crack down on the gang this year, and recent high-profile arrests. Is it still able to operate as a criminal enterprise, are other gangs filling the void left in Ireland, and what will become of Daniel Kinahan's aspirations to be a boxi...

Our investigations team at Noteworthy examine the use of pesticides by public authorities. They've found that almost all councils still apply chemical weedkillers, particularly glyphosate (known as Roundup). Here, Susan Daly speaks to reporter Anthea Lacchia and campaigner James Walsh about these chemicals and their potential to cause harm to the public. The Explainer is brought to you by The Jour...

Joining us this week is Enda Brady, London-based journalist and media consultant, to examine what lies ahead for Britain's new head of state. What changes might King Charles III make to the monarchy, what do the British public make of him - and will he be able to smooth over the numerous controversies facing the royal family? The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to...