The Hard Shoulder

Bacon and eggs, bread and butter, Tom and Jerry are just some of the more iconic duos in the world.  A new poll as fish and chips as the world most iconic duo.  Our very own dynamic duo, Newstalk Breakfast’s Shane Coleman and Ciara Kelly joined Kieran to discuss this on The Hard Shoulder...

Transport Minister, Eamon Ryan says Irish roads are not safe for experienced cyclists, let alone school children. He made the remark during a debate that came after the 155th death on Irish roads in 2023. The same number of people have died in 10 months of this year as in the 12 months of 2022. Henry McKean has been out and about speaking to parents and children who try and cycle to school…

It’s the Weekend Takeover here on Newstalk with Irish Life, and we’re asking how you might get your financial house in order?  Laura Duffy, Wealth Management Consultant with Irish Life joined Kieran to discuss..

Over half of Ireland’s wastewater discharges are not meeting EU standards.  That’s according to the latest EPA Urban Waste Water Treatment report.   Kieran was joined by Michael Tinsley, Uisce Eireann’s wastewater spokesperson... 

Reports in the Irish Mirror suggest that senior Government ministers are eager to combat the excessive use of phones - particularly smartphones – and there may be plans to ban them.  Kieran was joined by Karl Hegarty, Career Guidance Counselor at St. Kevins, Dunlavin and founder of PhoneAwayBox.com , and Rachel Harper, who is the principal at St Patrick’s National School in Greystones...

Diagnoses of serious abnormalities in cervical screening have fallen by almost 60 per cent.  That’s according to a new study published in the Irish Journal of Medical Science on the effectiveness of the HPV vaccine.  Kieran was joined by Dr Lucy Jessop HSE Immunisation Lead and Consultant in Public Health Medicine at the National Immunisation Office... 

Bus Éireann has been marking the 70th anniversary of Busáras.  The bus station is an iconic building that has transported millions of passengers since services began in October 1953.  So is the building truly iconic?  Kieran was joined by architect, Róisin Murphy and Sinn Féin TD, Eoin Ó Broin, the author of ‘The Dignity of Everyday Life: Celebrating Michael Scott’s Busáras’...

Across the country many parents are fighting to help their children get assessed and access help for dyslexia, but many come up against barriers with waiting lists, financial issues or with no access to supports systems and technologies that are very much needed.  Kieran was joined by Aisling, who is the mother to 11-year-old Charlie and Heather, who is the mother to 13 and 12-year-old dyslex...

There have been reports of Cabinet disagreement over Equality Minister Roderic O’Gorman’s proposals to limit the offer of state-provided accommodation for Ukrainian refugees to 90 days.  Kieran was joined by John Lannon, CEO of Doras and Michael McNamara, Independent TD for Clare...

Newstalk's own, Simon Tierney joined Kieran Cuddihy for the series 'The Shopping Trolley Hotline'. The series will give listeners pause when they’re filling their trolleys, to consider their options. This week, with Halloween around the corner, Simon and Kieran take a look a some of the options for barmbrack on the shelves...

The United Nations’ secretary general Antonio Gutterres has called for an immediate ceasefire to end “epic suffering” in the Gaza Strip.  In an address yesterday Mr Gutterres criticised the Israeli response to the Hamas attacks earlier this month.  In response Israel’s Ambassador to the UN called on Mr Gutterres to step down from his position.  Kieran was joined by Alistair Bunkall,...

Dating App Tinder have announced users can give access to up to 15 people over  24 hours, who can view profiles and suggest possible matches even without an account. Tinder is now letting family members suggest potential partners on the dating app. Kieran was joined by Henry McKean to discuss...

Reports of Cabinet disagreement over Equality Minister Roderic O’Gorman’s proposals to limit the offer of state-provided accommodation for Ukrainian refugees to 90 days.  Some are saying that doing so would only pass the issue on to another department. What is our strategy moving forward on housing Ukrainians?  Kieran was joined by Tom McEneaney, media Consultant and Founder of Effe...

The EU Tax Observatory has suggested a minimum 2% tax rate on billionaires' global wealth.  They have said that it would raise well over €200 billion a year.  Kieran was joined by Neasa Hourigan, Green Party TD for Dublin Central and spokesperson on Finance and Health and Seamus Coffey, the former Chair of the Fiscal Advisory Council and Lecturer in Economics at UCC...

Every week for Tuesday Travel on The Hard Shoulder, Fionn Davenport takes a closer look at some of the fantastic destinations to visit around the world. Ahead of Halloween, Fionn joined Kieran to tell him about Ireland's spookiest locations...

Robert Watt, Secretary General of HSE was today discussing the increased costs of running in the Irish health sector.   He was before the Oireachtas Health Committee who met this morning to examine the funding allocated in the health Budget.  Mr Watt also claimed that Ireland’s hospitals have a ‘weak productivity’ due to lack of funding into physical infrastructure and a lack on IT...

Businesses and organisations worst hit by flooding during Storm Babet could get up to €100,000 in financial aid under new plans brought to cabinet today.  The scheme will allow for quick payments of €10,000 and audited and assessed payments of up to €100,000.  Simon Coveney, Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment joined Kieran to discuss this and also calls for the expulsion of...

Kieran Cuddihy was joined by Fine Gael Senator, Regina Doherty, and Socialist Party TD for Cork North Central, Mick Barry. Continuing the series, ‘Common Ground’, they will debate some of the biggest, most divisive topics around. The series continued with a debate on 'Should the Israeli Ambassador be expelled?'...

Sinn Fein are calling for the Government to increase funding in the health budget stating that it is underfunded and will have an adverse effect on our health services.  The party will speak on this motion tonight in Dáil Eireann with members from the Department of Health already meeting in front of the Oireachtas Health Committee to discuss this issue around funding.  David Cullinane, S...

Sports clubs, radio personalities and TV programmes are among the most common passwords amongst internet users, making them prime targets for cybercriminals.  That’s according to Cyber Skills who has urged people to reconsider their security choices.  Jess Kelly, Newstalk's Technology Correspondent joined Kieran to discuss...

Here in Ireland, we love to criticise landmarks, statues and monuments. Many have caused controversy and have gained their own nicknames but others have drawn crowds from around the world. Last week, the statue of Michael Collins was unveiled in Cork and it got us thinking about our relationships with statues and public art. Newstalk reporter, Josh Crosbie, sent us this report on our fascination w...

In the Irish Times today, Simon Tierney is writing about vasectomies and says they should be free to all men to take away the contraceptive responsibility from women and narrow the gender gap on this issue.  Simon and Dr. Emmet Kiran, from Gentle Procedures Ireland who performs vasectomies on a daily basis joined Kieran on the show to discuss...

Over the next few weeks, Kieran Cuddihy will be taking Irish classes as part of a 'Couch to Comhrá in 6 Weeks' challenge and each Monday he will be sharing his journey alongside some Irish speakers.   Éamonn Ó Domhnaill, Co-Founder and Director of Education of Gaelteanga joined Kieran to kickstart the challenge...

As the Israel-Hamas war continues into its third week, Israeli forces have continued to strike Hamas positions across the Gaza Strip.  The Israel Defense Forces said it struck some 320 targets belonging to the Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror groups in the Gaza Strip over the past day.  Kieran was joined by Dr. Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid the Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland and Ib...

Brian Lloyd  , Movies Editor with Entertainment.ie  joined Kieran to discuss what to do with your old dvds...