The Hard Shoulder

The question around the safety of our politicians was called into question after the appalling scenes from the protest outside Leinster House a fortnight ago.   Reviews are now underway with a taskforce on politician's safety meeting this morning with submissions being placed forward to about how to best tackle further issues with suggestions of excursion zones for the public around the...

Did you know that Stephen’s Green public toilet is costing over 390,000 to run per year. Is this too much and do you think we should have more toilets?   One proposal which was rejected by Dublin City rates was to instead use that money to offer restaurant's rates to open their loos to the public, so we asked restaurants owners to chime in on this idea. Anthony Grey, Owner of Eala Bhan and Ho...

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. This week, Fionn joined Kieran to give him tips for a trip to The Maldives....

The UK and Ireland are set to be named as hosts of Euro 2028 by UEFA next Tuesday.  It’s after Turkey withdrew from the bidding process, after their bid with Italy to host the 2032 tournament was successful.  The UK and Ireland bid for 2028 is now unopposed.  Kieran was joined by Stephen Hunt, former Irish International and Brian Gartland, Former Dundalk Captain to discuss...

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 Simon and Kieran take a look a some of the options for cheddar cheese on the shelves...

With just 6 days to go until Pashcal Donohoe and Michael McGrath reveal the 2024 Budget. Today, Sinn Féin have launched their alternative budget.  The party has proposed a package of €6.8 billion with €1.35 billion set aside for cost-of-living measures.  Kieran was joined by Pearse Doherty Sinn Féin’s Finance Spokesperson...

Omid Djalili is an Iranian-British actor and comedian you would remember him from his fantastic appearances in The Mummy and Gladiator. He’s about to kick off his tour in Ireland this November and joined Kieran to discuss...

The UK and Ireland are set to be named as hosts of Euro 2028 by UEFA next Tuesday.  It’s after Turkey withdrew from the bidding process, after their bid with Italy to host the 2032 tournament was successful.  The UK and Ireland bid for 2028 is now unopposed.  Kieran was joined by Lisa Fallon, who is a UEFA Pro Licence football coach, who is currently working with FIFA in their High-...

There are thousands of more cases of Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea in Ireland compared to the same time last year.  The Health Protection Surveillance Centre's latest report shows cases of Chlamydia have increased by over 40 per cent year-on-year.  Kieran was joined by Dr Aisling Loy, Consultant in Genito-Urinary Medicine St James’s Hospital and Himerus Health ( www.himerushealth.ie ) to disc...

The Road Safety Authority's annual conference took place today. One of the areas focused on was the use of e-scooters. Newstalk reporter, Josh Crosbie, has been meeting with road users, including e-scooter users, to hear their thoughts on the legislation.

John Ryan is one of 13 players to have played for Munster over 200 times but what many won’t know is that he has played his entire career with inflammatory bowel disease.  Munster and Ireland rugby star John Ryan has now teamed up with Crohn’s and Colitis Ireland to raise awareness on the issue...

Off The Balls Ger Gilroy Joined Kieran to preview this weekends Sport and everything else sport. The two had a chat on the League of Ireland concluding, The Premier League and crisis yet again at Manchester United and finally Ireland's 2027 Rugby World Cup campaign is already in preparation.

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 'Is Ireland’s childcare model broken beyond repair?'

Medicines such as the contraceptive pill could be made available over the counter without the need for a GP prescription. That’s according to new draft legislation proposed by Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly.   Madeleine Ni Dhalaigh Vice Chair of the GP Committee of the IMO and GP in Castlerea, Roscommon joined Kieran to discuss...

Kieran Cuddihy was joined by actor, comedian and writer Jack Whitehall, ahead of his tour coming to Ireland later this week....

RTÉ's teletext service Aertel will be shut down from next Thursday. Jess Kelly, Newstalk's Technology correspondent joined Kieran to discuss some other forgotten bits of tech...

The Cabinet has approved a Bill which would see a restructuring of An Bord Pleanala as part of a major overhaul of Ireland’s planning system.  Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien joined Kieran to discuss...

Many strands of the cost-of-living crisis are being put under the microscope ahead of the Budget next week. Questions have been asked if the attention around bills and fuel prices may be exaggerating the impact in some quarters. Newstalk reporter, Josh Crosbie, spoke with people who are feeling the rising costs.

Earlier today, Kieran Cuddihy spoke to boxer Carl Frampton. During the interview he was asked if he had any regrets working with MTK, the sports management company founded by Daniel Kinahan of the Kinahan cartel.  But how powerful was the MTK management in the boxing world and how involved the Kinahan’s were in the company?   Kieran Cunningham, Chief Sportswriter Daily Star joined Kieran...

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee TD has today welcomed the granting of Irish citizenship to 3,000 new Irish citizens in three separate ceremonies at the Convention Centre in Dublin. Henry McKean was one of them being granted Irish Citizenship and he joined Kieran to discuss...

An Irish amatuer flyweight champion, W&A World flyweight champion, IBF and W&A World Super-Bantaweight champion is just some of the crowns belonging to Carl Frampton  A champion boxer from Belfast, he conquered the boxing world in his career from 2009 to 2021. Carl was also massive symbol of peace in his time and he has written a book on his life and joined Kieran to discuss...

Reports from the Irish Times today that up to 30,000 people on their third or subsequent provisional licence have never sat a driving test. In some cases, learners have been driving on them for over 30 years without ever holding a full licence. Brenda Bolger from the Bolger School of Motoring joined Kieran to discuss...

Kieran was joined in studio by Oisin Davis, director of Great Irish Beverages and to discuss his latest book 'Irish Kitchen Cocktails'...

The Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use is set to recommend liberalisation of the laws around possession of common illegal drugs, according to its chairman Paul Reid.   The assembly is coming to an end this month and has been deliberating on all aspects of illegal drugs from services, funding and policy.  Kieran was joined by Aodhán Ó Riordáin, Labour TD for Dublin Bay North TD and spok...

U2 have opened their residency at a brand-new auditorium 'Sphere' in Las Vegas. The band is performing 25 shows up to December 16th - with crowds of nearly 20,000 people due each night. Newstalk's Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly was there and joined Kieran to discuss...