The Hard Shoulder

An Oireachtas meeting on assisted dying is set to take place later this evening in wake of a committee that was established three weeks ago. Kieran was joined by People Before Profit TD Gino Kenny and Dr Eric Kelleher, Consultant Liaison Psychiatrist, Cork University Hospital and Member of faculty of Liaison Psychiatry, College of psychiatrists of Ireland.

A number of asylum seekers have left the accommodation which was provided for them in Co. Clare. They arrived at three holiday homes on the site of Magowna House Hotel in Inch yesterday evening. However, local protesters, some of them in tractors, blocked roads to the site. Newstalk’s Chief Reporter, Barry Whyte was in Clare and spoke to Kieran.

New hate speech laws are set to expand the categories of person protected in Irish law from incitement to hatred. The bill is likely to become law later this year, as it is currently being steered through the Oireachtas. However some have raised concern about it - one of those people is Independent NUI Senator Ronan Mullan who joined Kieran today. Fine Gael Senator Barry Ward also joined us to sha...

Ikea has teamed up with Tesco to offer order collection points at locations across the country as part of plans to make shopping easier for customers. Ikea has long been hailed as the home of flatpack furniture, the perfect solution for those of us that DIY does not come naturally to. Consumer Affairs Correspondent with The Irish Times Conor Pope and Stefanie Preissner writer and broadcaster both...

The Joint Committee on Autism meets tomorrow, as our politicians continue to try and work out how to best support those with autism. Vodafone has a new policy, geared towards supporting carers. Kieran was joined by one of those advocating for extra supports. Elaine Kelly is Large Business Propositions Manager at Vodafone Ireland. Catherine Cox of Family Carers Ireland was also there to discuss.

Are we having enough conversations with our children about pornography? And, are we having these conversations at a young enough age? A new study in the UK shows how porn can link to sexually harmful behaviour in children. Do we really know what our kids are accessing on their smartphones?

The social media giant Tik Tok is fuelling a call for cheap meat. Irish butchers have seen a demand for chicken feet and neck bones as well as lambs liver and hearts. Henry McKean visited the Village Butchers in Ranelagh Dublin and sent us his report.

An Irishman has finally been released after being imprisoned in Iran for over 6 months. Bernard Phelan 64 years old and originally from Clonmel. He was arrested while travelling there last October. Kieran spoke to his cousin, Greg O'Corry-Crowe today.

Over the weekend, The Irish Times had to take down an opinion article from its online site, credited to Adriana Acosta Cortez - an article which claimed Irish women's use of fake tan was "cultural appropriation". And it’s generated plenty of conversation around the role of AI in technology, journalism, and our lives in general. Elaine Burke is a tech journalist and host of the ‘For Tech Sake’ podc...

Gen Z has become synonymous with ethics, environmentalism and authenticity. So why are they so fixated with fake bags and replica shoes? Sarah Madden investigates the #dupes industry in Ireland and asks the genuine generation why counterfeits are now cool.

Many Schools across the country are operating with few or some cases no Male Teachers. Joining Kieran to discuss why we are facing a Male Teacher crisis in our education system was Assistant Principal, Aontú representative for Limerick and Education Spokesperson, Eric Nelligan and Fearghal Hughes a 6th class teacher in Co. Roscommon.

Business owners in the Temple Bar area of Dublin are reporting high levels of anti-social behaviour that is not only  impacting their trade but are leaving staff feeling scared and threatened on a daily basis.  Bob from the Cappuccino Bar Temple Bar, actress and comedian Katherine Lynch, who is a resident of Temple Bar, and Hazel Chu Former Mayor of Dublin joined us to discuss.

There were calls earlier in the week for Ireland to introduce a dedicated Junior Minister for Loneliness. According to the National Institute on Ageing, loneliness can be as damaging as smoking 15 cigarettes per day. Today on The Hard Shoulder, Kieran talked about male loneliness, something that can often go unnoticed.

"I'd rather they criticise me than any of the acts that take part!", so says Michael Kealy, Executive Producer at RTE Television, and leader of the Irish delegation over in Liverpool. He joined us today to discuss, why Ireland falls short at Eurovision.

Every week, 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 and Kieran took to the railways of Europe and looked at some of the best spots to stop off when interrailing...

Former Eurovision winner Mickey Joe Harte joined Emmet Oliver to reflect on Ireland's 2023 Eurovison disappointment, our relationship with the contest and hopes for the future... Image: IMRO

Yesterday evening, Former US President Donald Trump was found liable for sexually assaulting E. Jean Carroll a magazine columnist in a department store in the 1990s. He was also found liable for defamation as he labeled her a liar . Emmet Oliver was joined by Former Chief of Staff to Donald Trump and Chair of Actum Global Consultants, Mick Mulvaney to discuss...

Newstalk's own, Simon Tierney joined Emmet Oliver 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 Emmet are looking at the household favourite, Corn Flakes...

The ongoing GAAGO debate has heated up in recent days as to whether or not GAA matches should be free to air. Emmet Oliver was joined by Timmy Dooley Fianna Fáil Senator and Enda McNulty CEO of McNulty Performance and former Armagh player…

Finance Minister Michael McGrath joined Emmet Oliver on The Hard Shoulder to discuss Government plans for spending budget surpluses over the coming years, the ongoing GAA GO controversy and the monitoring of the cost of groceries...

Wild Youth failed overnight in their bid to get Ireland to the final of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool. It’s the fifth time in a row that Ireland has failed to make the grand finale. It’s lead to some calls for drastic action, with some even asking whether we should go at all. Emmet Oliver was joined by John O’Brennan, political scientist at NUI Maynooth and Johnny Fallon of Carr...

There have been renewed calls from Aontú Leader Peadar Tóibín to remove the statue of Prince Albert from Leinster House. Kieran was joined by Ronan McGreevy, Irish Times Journalist and author of 'Great Hatred: the Assassination of Field Marshal Sir Henry Wilson MP' to discuss the history of the Prince Albert statue... Image: Twitter @dmc_fadden

10 years ago Alex Ferguson announced that he would be ending his 27 year spell as manager of Manchester United. Editor of the United We Stand podcast Andy Mitten Joining me discuss the ups and downs of the last decade at old Trafford

The Cabinet is being briefed on proposals for using the large budget surpluses expected in the coming years. €65 billion is being forecast up to 2026, with much talk about how future finances can be ‘future proofed’. Kieran was joined by Shane Ross, Former Minister for Transport and Sport, Ray Yeates, Dublin City Arts Officer and Frank McDonald, Former Environment Editor of the Irish Times...

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 discussion around 'Is it good to be part of the European Union?'