The Hard Shoulder

According to Paul Murphy, People Before Profit TD, it’s time to nationalise energy providers in Ireland. Deputy Murphy and Cormac Lucey, economics commentator with The Sunday Times joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss...

Taoiseach Micheal Martin told Ciara Kelly this morning on Newstalk Breakfast that Michael McGrath will become Finance Minister, in the cabinet reshuffle in December. It will mean that Paschal Donohoe will lose the presidency of the Eurogroup. For more on this, Kieran was joined by Stephen Kinsella, Professor of Economics and head of department at University of Limerick...

Gardai are set to follow the lead of their Japanese policing counterparts by incorporating the ancient martial art of Taiho Jutsu into their training… To learn more about this, Kieran was joined by Scott Langley, Chief Technical Director at Hombu Dojo Karate International, based here in Ireland...

Amsterdam, like Ireland, is struggling with a housing crisis of its own. Over 800,000 homes are rumoured to be needed by 2030 to meet demands. In Amsterdam fines may be imposed on those who own dwellings that aren’t being used. So can we learn something from the Dutch approach? Wim de Waard is a housing expert in Amsterdam, and he joined Kieran on the Hard Shoulder to discusss...

The Environmental Protection Agency says that Ireland is falling short on its targets when it comes to plastic waste. However, we are achieving high levels in the case of the likes of glass, paper and metal, but plastic is a struggle. Kieran was joined on The Hard Shoulder by Mindy O’Brien, who is Coordinator with VOICE of Irish Concern for the Environment and Claire Downey, who is Policy and Rese...

Comedian and podcaster Jarlath Regan, joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss parenting and his new podcast called ‘Honey You’re Ruining My Kid’, with his wife and child behaviourist, Tina Regan...

All next week here on Newstalk we're getting into the cars, buses, trains, trams and headphones of pedestrians and cyclists as they go about their commute.    On The Hard Shoulder Kieran was joined by Richard O'Donoghue Independent TD representing County Limerick, Emmet Kerrigan Owner of All About Kombucha in Galway and Motoring Journalist Geraldine Herbert to discuss the country’s worst bottlenec...

There should be a “substantial” reduction in the amount of money parents can leave to their children tax-free. That’s according to the Government-appointed commission on taxation and welfare. Kieran was joined by Neale Richmond, Fine Gael TD for Dublin Rathdown and Colette Bennett, economic and social analyst with Social Justice Ireland to discuss...

National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI), reveals more than seven in 10 adults aged between 18 and 24 years old are looking at the possibility of moving away from Ireland because they believe working overseas offers them better prospects in life. Kieran was joined now by Aleesha Wiegandt, a final year student in UCC and Conor Brummell, who is currently working in Brussels...

Kieran was joined on The Hard Shoulder by Public Expenditure and Reform Minister, Michael McGrath from the Fianna Fail Party Think-In, to discuss the energy crisis and the rising cost of living ahead of the Budget in two weeks time...

Health experts are calling to raise the smoking age to 21 in an effort to reduce the number of young people taking up smoking. A new report from the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland claims  that smoking is on the rise among teenage boys and, after “decades of progress,” tobacco reduction is now stagnating in Ireland. Kieran was joined by John Mallon Forest Spokesperson and Dr. Brendan O'Shea...

EU Energy Ministers met today in Brussels to try and come to an agreement on the way forward to help reduce the impact of the current energy crisis. Ciaran Cuffe is Green MEP for Dublin, and he joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to give an update...

Today is international Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder day. Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders or FASD is a term for a series of developmental disorders that are caused by exposure to alcohol in the womb. Ireland is the third worst country in the world for alcohol-related birth defects because of women drinking during pregnancy. Kieran was joined by Professor Maeve Eogan, Consultant obstetrician a...

A TikTok on how to make the best CV has blown up online. Erica Rivera is a Chicago-based senior recruiter at Google – a company notorious for their interview process. Her TikTok goes over the things you really shouldn’t put on your CV. Jane Downes, Founder of Clearview Coaching Group and author of ‘The Career Book’ joined Kieran to tell us the best ways to make a good CV...

Ahead of King Charles III being proclaimed King at the session council tomorrow morning, Kieran was joined on The Hard Shoulder by Simon Jenkins, author and columnist with The Guardian to discuss...

A Dutch city will become the first in the world to ban meat advertisements in public spaces in a bid to reduce consumptions and greenhouse gas emissions. Should we adopt similar measures in Ireland to combat climate change? Eddie Punch, General Secretary with Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association and Caroline Rowley, Director of Ethical Farming Ireland joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to di...

Kieran was joined on The Hard Shoulder by former Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern to discuss the passing of Queen Elizabeth II...

John Simpson, World Affairs Editor with the BBC joined Kieran on the passing of Queen Elizabeth II...

Our three part series on the best TV nobody's watching continues today with Cuán Ó Flatharta, Presenter of Splanc on Newstalk. Cuán joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder with his final pick, 'The Americans'.. 

The Labour Party Think In took place today in Wexford, Ivana Bacik has said that €4m would be an appropriate figure to spend in this years budget. Ivana Bacik, Leader of the Labour Party joined Kieran on the show to discuss childcare costs, energy and transport...

Richard Aldous, expert in 20th Century British History joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to reflect on her 70 year reign thus far...

The search for Ireland’s favourite hymn is underway in ahead of the National Ploughing Championships in County Laois this month. Maeve Mahon, who is part of the team putting together the search for the favourite hymn, and Nuala Kelly, Director of the Laois I.C.A. Choir joined Kieran on the show...

The CAO round one offers were issued today. There were three courses where students with 625 points the maximum number of points, were not offered a place. It begs the question, should the leaving cert as we know it be reformed? Kieran was joined on the show by Brian Mooney, Guidance Counsellor and Irish Times Columnist and Miriam Duggan, President of ASTI to discuss...

Sarina Bellissimo, presenter of the Bellissimo Files on Spin 103.8 joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to chart the career highlights of Idris Elba as he turns 50...

Our three part series on the best TV nobody's watching continues today with Cuán Ó Flatharta, Presenter of Splanc on Newstalk. Cuán joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder with his second pick, 'For All Mankind'..