The Hard Shoulder

Met Éireann has issued two Status Orange weather warnings for large parts of the country over the next 24 hours, with significant accumulations of snow and ice forecast. Kieran was joined by Head of Forecasting at Met Eireann Evelyn Cusack to discuss. Furthermore, a woman was rescued from a snowbound Carrauntoohil in county Kerry this morning. The six person party got into trouble in a gully known...

With the Oscars fast approaching Sarina Bellissimo, host of The Bellissimo Files Podcast joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to take a look at some of the most memorable Oscar moments from the past few years...

Transport Minister Eamon Ryan today announced plans to extend DART trains from Dublin city centre to Hazelhatch and Celbridge train station in Co Kildare, as part of a wider expansion of DART services in the coming years. Barry Kenny Corporate Communications Manager of Iarnród Éireann joined Kieran to discuss…

In its latest quarterly bulletin, the Central Bank is forecasting inflation to ease to 5% this year, while Permanent TSB is to increase the cost of its fixed-rate mortgages for the third time since the summer. Kieran was joined by John Fitzgerald, who is Adjunct Professor of economics at Trinity College Dublin, and he joins me now.

The Taoiseach says "we are a republic unfinished" until we have equality between men and women. Leo Varadkar was speaking as the Government announced referendums on gender equality, that will be held in November. Kieran was joined by Josepha Madigan, Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion to discuss...

This afternoon, Aer Lingus flew the Oscar Nominees and their families to LA for the Oscars, Henry McKean was on board and sent Kieran this report. All with thanks to Aer Lingus, flying the Irish stars to Hollywood.

Referendums on gender equality will be held in November, the Government has announced. The 2020-21 Citizens’ Assembly on Gender Equality recommended several changes to the Constitution including; a new clause to refer explicitly to gender equality and non-discrimination and the replacement of Article 41.2 which recognises a woman’s “life within the home”. Kieran was joined by Sandra McCullagh, The...

Just one in three 18–25-year-olds are able to do basic DIY, compared to two-thirds of those aged 58 and over, according to a new survey by care home provider Sanctuary Care. Map reading, growing fruit and vegetables and basic car maintenance, such as changing a tyre are also more common skills amongst the Boomer generation. Kieran was joined by Newstalk’s own Gen-Z-er Alex Rowle and Sandy Cole, Li...

Dr Tara Logan Buckley, Clinical Psychologist joined Kieran for a new segment where they will dig a little deeper into the mysteries of the mind and mental health.  The series continued by taking a look at why are humans so out of balance compared to animals...

Every week, Tuesday Travel on The Hard Shoulder with thanks to Emirates, will take a closer look at some of the fantastic destinations Emirates fly to around the world. This week, Anton Savage was joined by Fionn Davenport, travel writer and broadcaster to look at Porto...

There are suggestions that once Irish employees see a four-day week as their right, a three-day week will be their next demand. Anton Savage was joined by Cormac Lucey, Economics Commentator with the Sunday Times Ireland and Dr Orla Kelly Assistant professor of Social Policy at UCD and proponent of the 4 day week.

According to Freedom of Information figures released to Newstalk, the Department of Education spent more than €104 million on the salaries of teachers in private schools last year. In fact, the bill for two schools in Dublin was over €4 million. Should there be any subsidies for private schools? Aodhan O’Riordain, Labour Party spokesperson on Education and TD for Dublin Bay North and Arthur Godsil...

Anton Savage was joined in studio 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 animal testing ever ok?'

Coalition leaders have agreed to end the eviction ban as planned on the 31st of March. There won't be any extension and evictions will return on a phased basis depending on when someone was issued with a notice to quit. This means some tenants will be entitled to remain in the property until June. Anton Savage was joined by Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien to discuss...

Coalition leaders have agreed to end the eviction ban as planned on the 31st of March. There won't be any extension and evictions will return on a phased basis depending on when someone was issued with a notice to quit. This means some tenants will be entitled to remain in the property until June. Anton Savage was joined by Newstalk’s Political correspondent Sean Defoe and Neasa Hourigan Green Par...

A new survey has found spending just half an hour a week with a dog makes people more successful. 80 per cent of dog owners see a rise in their self-esteem after getting a puppy, while three quarters felt less stressed since getting a dog. Anton Savage was joined by dog trainer and behaviorist, Samantha Rawson, Newstalk Reporter and former dog trainer, Heather Lawrie andJournalist and Broadcaster,...

Senator Mark Daly joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss the 175th anniversary of the first flying of the Irish tricolour and the future of the flag…

The Rural Independent Group of TDs is calling on the government to maintain the public’s access to cash. The group will introduce a bill to the Dáil this week that will aim to push back against a cashless society. Danny Healy Rae, Independent TD for Kerry and Paul Dolan, who runs The Barn gastropub in Glanmire, Cork joined Kieran to discuss...

This evening the three coalition party leaders will meet with Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien to discuss whether to extend the eviction ban. Notably both Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Tánaiste Micheál Martin have pointed out the negative impacts extending the ban could bring. Kieran was joined in studio by Fine Gael Senator, Barry Ward and Sinn Féin spokesperson for Housing, Eoin Ó Broin to discuss…

The Taoiseach says the purpose of the education system is to teach children about the world around them, which includes transgender people. Leo Varadkar's comments come as the Catholic Primary School Managers Association has written to the government on the topic. In the letter the group said highly impressionable young children should not be taught what it means to be transgender. Kieran was join...

Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Jack Chambers joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss the Government's plan for tackling drones at Ireland's airports and the new transport plan that will be presented to cabinet tomorrow...

The Transport Minister is set to bring plans to Cabinet tomorrow which aim to slash Ireland’s reliance on private cars.  One aspect of this will include a commitment to develop a demand-management strategy in transport, detailing the ways in which the country can move to end congestion and change the way road space is used. Kieran was joined by Green Party Senator Pauline O’Reilly, Eugene Drennan,...

One person is likely to die from hunger every 36 seconds in East Africa due to the worst drought in more than 40 years. Newstalk reporter, Josh Crosbie, has been in Somalia the past week meeting with Trócaire workers and those who are most impacted. Josh brings us his second report from Somalia looking at some of the services and supports Trócaire is providing on the ground, to help ease the situa...

The World Health Organisation has stated that the number one factor that speeds up Dementia is hearing issues, as it creates a cognitive drain on the brain. A new generation is barreling towards hearing loss, that’s according to Dr Sandra Cummings, Audiologist at the Beacon Hospital. Sandra spoke to Kieran on the Hard Shoulder.

Kieran spoke to Fine Gael Senator, Regina Doherty, & Evan Cullen, President of the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association about the ongoing drone issue at Dublin Airport.