The Hard Shoulder

UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting spent just 16 minutes inside 10 Downing Street this morning with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for what was dubbed as “crunch” talks. Reports are now saying Wes Streeting may be in talks to take Starmer's leadership role… For more on this, Ciara is joined by James Lyons, Keir Starmer’s former Director of Strategic Communication.

The Oireachtas Committee on Budgetary Oversight has heard that if oil prices reached $140 (€120) a barrel, Ireland would be worse off by €7.5 billion, or 2.5% of national income. On a national scale, depending on how high oil prices go, this could necessitate Government borrowing as soon as next year… Joining Shane to discuss this is Adjunct Professor at Trinity College Dublin and Research Affilia...

Every week for The Ultimate Guide on The Hard Shoulder, Fionn Davenport takes a closer look at some of the fantastic destinations to visit around the world. This week, Fionn joined Ciara and Shane to give the ultimate guide to Chicago!

Polycystic ovary syndrome, a condition that affects one in eight women, has been renamed in an attempt to cut down misdiagnoses. The hormonal disorder, estimated to impact 170 million women worldwide, will now be known as polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome. For more on this, Ciara is joined by Dr Caoimhe Hartley, Clinical Lead for Women’s Medicine at Blackrock Health Women’s Health Centre.

This week marks 100 years of Fianna Fáil, as the party gears up for its Ard Fheis this weekend. Joining Shane in the studio to talk through the party’s history to its present-day politics is former Fianna Fáil Leader and Iar-Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern…

Bestselling author of ‘All Her Fault’ and ‘Such a Nice Girl’ Andrea Mara joins Ciara and Shane to place her favourite book on The Hard Shoulder’s bookshelf!

You may have seen the video circulating of Sherlock Holmes actor, Benedict Cumberbatch, in a very heated exchange with a cyclist who said he broke multiple rules of the road, but are cyclists guilty of breaking the rules of the road more than they will admit? Joining Shane to discuss this Columnist with the Irish Independent and daily cyclist, Liam Collins.

The Critical Infrastructure Bill is to go through the Dáil this evening which will see the Government designate specific projects that are in the national and public interest as critical infrastructure, and fast track their delivery. Tom Philips,Managing Director of Tom Phillips and Associates and Adjunct Associate Professor of Town Planning at UCD joins Ciara to discuss.

At least 82 out of Labour's 403 MPs have now demanded British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's departure after the party's electoral mauling last week… For more on this, Shane is joined by Lewis Goodall, of the Newsagents Podcast.

Father Ted co-creator Graham Linehan rejects RTÉ’s showing of the Father Ted episode ‘A Song For Europe’ in place of the Eurovision final. He calls it “an antisemitic political gesture” and wants RTÉ’s Director General Kevin Bakhurst to resign. He joins Shane to discuss...

National Ambulance Service Paramedics are undertaking a country-wide 24-hour work stoppage on Tuesday across the country. Newstalk Reporters Jamie O’Hara and Sarah Madden join Ciara to give updates from Cork and Portlaoise respectively, and Dr Lisa Cunningham, Consultant in Emergency Medicine in the West, joins to give her own perspective on the strike.

Journalist and author Jason Corcoran tells the story of leaving Russia after Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and the knock on effects this had had on his family, his work and for Russia, as there was a mass exodus of people fleeing the country at that time. Jason’s book is called ‘Leaving Russia: How Putin forced a country's future to flee’, and he joins Shane to discuss…

For 40 years The George has been at the center of nightlife in Dublin, it has grown through a period that spans the most significant social and legislative changes for the LGBTQ+ community in modern Irish history - having opened six years before homosexuality was decriminalised in Ireland in 1993. Joining Ciara to discuss the legacy it has is Brian Merriman, Founder of the International Dublin Gay...

Transition year has been the center of many education debates over the years. Parents of teenagers across the country worry about the costs, experiences, and dossing associated with TY. But, is it a waste of time or useful to students? Joining Shane to discuss is Parent Expert Jen Hogan and Principal of Coláiste Éamann Rís Secondary School in Cork Aaron Wolfe.

For this week’s Kids Clinic, Ciara is joined by Ollwyn Moran, Neuro Development Therapist & Founder of Cogni Kids to discuss how to best handle weaning with your child.

The Medical Board at University Hospital Limerick has warned that the risks to patient care at the hospital "remain intolerable and unacceptable". Joining Ciara to discuss is Professor Joe Devlin, Consultant Physician & Deputy Chair of the Medical Board of HSE Mid West.

British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer vows to prove “doubters” wrong in his speech today, as 40 Labour MPs call on him to resign. The Prime Minister said he took responsibility for the results, which saw Labour lose almost 1,500 English councilors, go backwards in Scotland and drop to third in Wales… His comments come just days before King Charles III will deliver the King's Speech, in which he wil...

The Irish Film Classification Office received correspondence about six different films in the first quarter of this year. Films like Oscar favorites ‘Hamnet’ to the Emerald Fennel’s latest release ‘Wuthering Heights’ prompted strong reactions from Irish audiences, who felt some of their contents were not fit for the age ratings they got. But, how are such decisions made, and how much of a say do a...

It is hoped that humanitarian assistance will be available quickly for dozens of businesses impacted by a fire in Waterford city on Saturday, that’s according to Minister of State at the Department of Health Mary Butler. One of businesses impacted by the fire is DG Foods, and Shane is joined by their Founder, Andrew Hepburn...

Close to 2,000 National Ambulance Service members of UNITE and SIPTU began industrial action from 8am this morning, over a dispute with the Government regarding pay for ambulance staff. People who require an ambulance have been told they should still call 999/112, but those experiencing cardiac or respiratory arrest, as well as serious injuries, will be prioritised. The HSE has said the ability of...

Fixed penalty notices for littering are set to increase to €250 from September, an increase of €100 as part of a Government crackdown on littering and illegal dumping. Recent figures show that the number of fines for littering have reduced in parts of Dublin. In 2024, there were 397 fines issued in South Dublin County Council, compared with 517 in 2022. Figures for Dublin City Council show that 29...

This week, Ciara and Shane were joined by the presenter of Weekend Breakfast on Today FM, Alison Curtis and Off the Ball’s Ger Gilroy to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists…

“It’s a tough time for movies about love” - so says the Director of the new film Finding Emily, but have we really lost the art of creating good on-screen romance? Joining Ciara and Shane to discuss this is Brian Lloyd, Film Critic and host of the podcast Screenland, and Esther McCarthy from the Irish Examiner.

Authorities have confirmed that a third British national has been diagnosed with suspected Hantavirus linked to the cruise ship outbreak. It was announced yesterday that plans being made for Irish citizens onboard to self-isolate after leaving the ship. Taoiseach Micheál Martin said health authorities are “working actively” to bring the Irish citizens home. Joining Shane to discuss this is Head of...

Off The Ball’s David Wilson joined Ciara and Shane on The Hard Shoulder to review the week in sport and look ahead to the weekend action…