The Hard Shoulder

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman joined Anton Savage on The Hard Shoulder to discuss new care-leave entitlements for parents and carers that are to take effect next week, accommodation for Ukrainian refugees in hotels and the ongoing Ryan Tubridy pay scandal…

The fallout from RTÉ’s undisclosed payments to Ryan Tubridy is continuing with the broadcaster set to come before the Oireachtas Media Committee on Wednesday followed by the Public Accounts Committee on Thursday. It was confirmed this morning that the broadcaster’s suspended Director General Dee Forbes resigned with immediate effect. Anton was joined by Melanie Finn, Senior News Correspondent for...

Could the rise in cancel culture potentially be undermining debate and free speech? Anton Savage was joined by Stella O Malley, psychotherapist and author of ‘What your teen is trying to tell you’...

House prices have fallen in year-on-year terms for the first time since mid-2020. According to Daft.ie’s latest report, it found that house prices in the second quarter of 2023 were 0.5% lower than the same period a year ago. Anton was joined by Conor Skehan, Sunday Independent columnist and former Chair of the Housing Agency and Susanne Rogers, Research and Policy Analyst for Social Justice Irela...

Speaking today at the Government’s security forum, An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that the Irish Flag is being weaponised by a small minority. Anton Savage was joined by Mark Daly, Fianna Fail Senator and Leas-Chathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann to discuss this further…

During Kieran's visit to Dublin Airport, he got a chance to sit down with Kenny Jacobs, the new boss at the airport as the CEO of Dublin Airport Authority...

On this day in 2016 the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union. However seven years on, polls show that a majority of Brits now regret their decision. But how do the people in the town of Boston in South Lincolnshire feel? They voted 75% leave; the highest Brexit vote in the whole of the UK. Our Chief Reporter Barry Whyte has been to the town to find out…

Members of RTÉ staff and the National Union of Journalists met with RTÉ management today. It comes as RTÉ Director-General Dee Forbes has been suspended, amid fallout from the payment of hundreds of thousands of euro more to Ryan Tubridy than it had declared to the public or the Oireachtas. Kieran was joined on The Hard Shoulder by Emma O’Kelly, Chair of the National Union of Journalists Dublin Br...

Dee Forbes has been suspended as RTE’s Director General, with the announcement being made public today, after it happened on Wednesday.  It also follows revelations that Ryan Tubridy received €345,000 in hidden payments between 2017 and the start of this year.  Kieran was joined by presenter of Taking Stock, and former Government adviser, Mandy Johnston, writer and broadcaster Keith Walsh, and jou...

Kieran was invited to visit Dublin Airport and meet with Kenny Jacobs, the CEO of DAA, to see the changes that are being made at Dublin Airport....

Kieran Cuddihy sits down with the former British Olympic javelin thrower, Fatima Whitbread to talk about her life and career

Day one of the Consultative Forum on International Security Policy kicked off to a very eventful start in UCC today. Protesters were removed from the room after interrupting the Tánaiste’s address and continued to protest outside. Kieran was joined by Lorna Borgue, Cork City Councillor for An Rabharta Glas, Matt Carthy, TD and Sinn Fein Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Defence, and Cathal Berr...

The hunt for the missing Titan submersible is still an active search and rescue mission, according to the head of the operation. There are few who know better what it might feel like down. Scientist, journalist and best selling author Dr Michael Guillen joined Kieran to discuss his harrowing experience on a sub trip to the Titanic wreckage...

Environmental campaigner John Gibbons told Newstalk Breakfast this morning that he would like to see flight quotas attached to individuals’ PPS number, with people being charged a levy if they pass the quota. Kieran was joined by Angela Deegan, from Extinction Rebellion and Eoghan Corry, Editor of Air & Travel Magazine to discuss...

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar joined Kieran Cuddihy on The Hard Shoulder to discuss the Government's International Security Forum, the war in Ukraine, his leadership of Fine Gael and Taylor Swift's return to Ireland...

It has been a week full of apologies! President Micheal D  Higgins was forced to apologise for comments he made relating to the Government’s Consultative Forum on International Security Policy, and music journalist Dave Fanning apologised to Christy Dignams family after a tribute to the singer was deemed inappropriate.  So what makes a good apology? Stefanie Preissner, Writer and host of the podca...

RTÉ paid Ryan Tubridy hundreds of thousands of euro more than it declared to the public or the Oireachtas. In a statement this afternoon, the national broadcaster confirmed that it paid the former Late Late Show presenter €345,000 euro more than it declared between 2017 and 2022. Fianna Fáil Senator Timmy Dooley joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss...

Today was the first day of the Consultative Forum on International Security Policy in Cork. Tánaiste Micheál Martin had his opening speech to the Forum interrupted by six protesters sitting among those attending the event. The forum’s chair, Prof Louise Richardson, also had her opening speech interrupted by a heckler. Kieran was joined by Gabija Gateveckaite, Political Reporter with The Irish Inde...

Every week for Tuesday Travel on The Hard Shoulder, Fionn Davenport and Kieran Cuddihy will take a closer look at some of the fantastic destinations to visit around the world. This week, Fionn joined Kieran to give his tips when travelling to the Cradle of the Renaissance, Florence...

It may be best known for embarrassing dance challenges, but Tiktok is fast becoming the information app of a new generation. News is broken on twitter, journalists are filing on Instagram - but should we fear the tiktokification of news, or is social media creating a better-informed youth than ever before? Newstalk's Sarah Madden reports.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has called for new regulations to protect workers from the impacts of artificial intelligence in the workplace. Appearing before the Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Employment today, ICTU said that they supported calls for an EU directive on AI in the workplace. To discuss this further Kieran was joined by Jessica Cecil, Former Chief of Staff at the...

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 salt on the shelves...

Criticism has again been directed towards Dublin hotels and prices for a room for the nights of the Taylor Swift concert saw one room go from 359 to 999 euro in price. Fianna Fáil Tourism and Aviation Spokesperson Cathal Crowe joined Kieran to discuss. In other news relating to high costs, new figures from Euro Stat today show Ireland is now the most expensive country in the EU with prices over 46...

'Joan Is Awful' is the title of the first episode of the new series of Black Mirror on Netflix. The episode takes an interesting spin on why you should always read the terms and conditions. Newstalk's Technology Correspondent, Jess Kelly joined Kieran to discuss why this is important...

A massive search and rescue effort is continuing after a submersible exploring the wreck of the Titanic went missing deep under the North Atlantic Ocean on Sunday. There are five people on board. Kieran was joined by Enda Brady, London based journalist and commentator and Dik Barton, COO and founder of Armatrex, who has also been Vice President of Operations with RMS Titanic...