The Hard Shoulder

Assisted dying legislation here in Ireland looks likely to be brought into Ireland but how does the system look in other countries.  One country that has this service available to its citizens is Canada who allow for those suffering both physically and mentally to avail of medically assisted dying.   Senator Jim Cowan, board member with Dying With Dignity Canada joined Kieran to dis...

Is Rip-Off Ireland Back with a bang? Over the next few weeks, we will be looking into the continuing rise in the cost-of-living, but also the price of socialising and leisure activities. Today, Newstalk reporter Sheila Naughton joined Kieran in studio to look at the price of a petrol and diesel at the pump...

It's the 20th anniversary of the Smoking ban, and with that came the smoking section. Henry McKean spent some time looking at how you could meet a lover over a cigarette, the vibe and how they have developed into constructions, sometimes costing hundreds of thousands of euro to build. Henry McKean visited the iconic traditional pub and smoking section, O'Donoghues Pub on Merrion Row in D...

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s catch-up on the day's news.  Today, Kieran was joined by Michael Kelly, Journalist and Former Editor of the Irish Catholic and Niamh Maher, Commercial Creative Director with Journal Media...

More than 1,000 people attended a cross-border soccer match at the Sligo Rovers Showgrounds today.  Rio Ferdinand and Westlife’s Shane Filan led the teams of young players from North and South out for the peacebuilding project.  Newstalk reporter, Josh Crosbie was there meeting with everyone involved.

This is The Soapbox. Today, Kieran was joined by Conor Skehan, Sunday Independent Columnist, former chair of the Housing Agency and Lecturer in Planning at Technological University Dublin to discuss why he thinks our planning permission system is too entangled with the legal system...

Jess Kelly, Newstalk Technology Correspondent joined Kieran for the Tech Takeover. This week Jess looked at why Revolut is asking for customer's PPS number...

One of the motions which emerged from Cabinet today was that Ireland would opt into EU measures as part of a migration pact.   What exactly does would this pact entail and is it a good idea to be opted into it.   Kieran was joined by Niall O’Keefe, Head of International and Migration at the Irish Red Cross and Matt Carthy, TD and Sinn Fein Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs &...

Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Public Expenditure joined Kieran on The Hard Shouder to discuss newly announced extra funding within the National Development Plan to further national projects like Bus Connects and Irish rail, affordable Housing, extra hospital beds and much more. Minister Donohoe also discussed the EU asylum pact and why he didn't want to be leader of Fine Gael or Taoiseach...

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s catch-up on the day's news.  Today, Kieran was joined by Kieran Cunningham, Chief Sports Writer with Irish Daily Star and Gina London, Leadership communications expert and Sunday Independent columnist...

This is The Soapbox. Today, Kieran was joined by Rory Hearne, Associate Professor in Social Policy in the Department of Applied Social Studies in Maynooth University, Author of ‘Gaffs' to discuss what he loves about running...

Micheál Martin, Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence, Leader of Fianna Fáil and TD for Cork South Central joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss some of his favourite books...

Micheál Martin, Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence, Leader of Fianna Fáil and TD for Cork South Central joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss the recent appointment of Simon Harris as leader of Fine Gael...

The Deposit Return Scheme has been in full swing for over 40 days, yet some households have not fully grasp it yet with only €1.2m worth of deposits being returned to customers.   Minister of State for Public Procurement and eGovernment Ossian Smyth joined Kieran to discuss...

Fine Gael backbenchers such as Michael Ring and Charlie Flanagan have applied pressure on Simon Harris to scrap the new late night licencing laws in a bid for Fine Gael to stay true to its core values. Kieran was joined by Professor Frank Murray, Chairman of Alcohol Action Irealand and Liver Specialist and Jackie Conboy Co-Founder of the Music and Entertainment Association of Ireland to discu...

Voicenotes - you either love to see them land in your Whatsapp and eagerly press play or you immediately roll your eyes and prepare for the onslaught of reasons for a voice note and time wasted before they get to the very point for the message.  Kieran was joined by Niamh O’Reilly, freelance journalist and Jim Elliot, Comedian to discuss...

Guinness owner Diageo is hiking the price of a pint once again. The company has confirmed that it plans to increase the price of Guinness by the equivalent of 6c per pint and the price of Guinness 0.0 by 9c per pint. Pat Crotty, CEO of the Vintner's Federation joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss...

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s catch-up on the day's news.  Today, Kieran was joined by Paul Hosford, Political Correspondent with the Irish Examiner and Meghann Scully, Broadcaster...

This is The Soapbox. Today, Kieran was joined by Maia Dunphy, Writer and Broadcaster to discuss the human obsession with speculation...

The iconic Big Mac, Quarter Pounder with Cheese and its classic Cheeseburger are changing. McDonald’s has made small modifications to the way it cooks and prepares its burgers. From placing onions on top of each patty while they are cooking on the grill for extra flavour, to changing the sear of the beef patties. But how will burger fans react and if its not broke why fix it? Henry McKean who used...

This week in our Kid's Health Check, Training and Development Manager at BodyWhys, Harriet Parsons joined Kieran to discuss how to spot eating disorder in children and young teens...

On Friday we spoke to Amanda Coughlan Founder and Co-Lead of the paediatric advocacy group for children with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus  and Tony Foly who’s son Ronan waited 3 years for spinal surgery about how the government have neglected their children’s spinal issues. To discuss this further, Kieran was joined by Sinn Fein Health Spokesperson, David Cullinane and Retired Orthopedic Su...

Have you ever wondered what the differences are between 12 and 15 age rated film in Ireland and what is used to decide these ratings?   Kieran was joined by IFCO Director Dr Ciarán Kissane to discuss...

The Easter holidays have arrived and now the question is what are we going to do with them? Not everyone will be flying off to a foreign country or heading to CentreParcs, so we have decided to look at some practical ways to fill the kids’ time over the next two weeks. Kieran was joined by Mary McCarthy, Irish independent Columnist and Nathan Murphy, Presenter from Off The Ball...

This is the Afternoon Update – The Hard Shoulder’s catch-up on the day's news.  Today, Kieran was joined by David Hall, CEO of iCare Housing and CEO of Lifeline Serivces and Stefanie Preissner, writer and broadcaster...