The Hard Shoulder

As Ireland reaches full employment we discuss if we need to lower our visa entry requirements for workers coming into the country. Adrian Cummins, CEO of the Restaurant Association, and James Lawless, Fianna Fail TD, Kildare North both joined Kieran Cuddihy on the show.

Enda Murphy, Psychotherapist, and Director of SeeMe.ie joined Kieran Cuddihy on the show to explain just exactly what it means to be a narcissist. It comes after Robbie Williams took a narcissism test.

“I wonder when a peace movement will start in relation to the conflict in Ukraine. Neither side seems keen to compromise or involve diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire leading to peace talks” - so says Conor Lenihan - former Fianna Fáil politician who served as Minister of State for Science, Technology, Innovation and Natural Resources. In his opinion the costs to people and the global econom...

We’re going back to the issue of homeless now...we spoke to Ruth yesterday from Galway about her own housing situation, and Ronan has got in touch after listening to her.

A third tax band of 30% continues to be considered for Budget 2023. Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has asked Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe to examine whether a new rate could be introduced, in an effort to alleviate some pressure on middle-income earners. Karina Doorley, Research Area Coordinator for the Tax, Welfare and Pensions team at the ESRI spoke to Pat Kenny this morning and had this to say. Fine...

This week Diarmuid Gavin joined Kieran to discuss his life and gardening career.

There may or may not be a major celebrity in Kerry. Rumours of Tom Cruise holidaying in Kerry are spreading like wildfire around the nation after his plane touched down near Killarney. Jerry O'Sullivan, Presenter of the Kerry Today program on Radio Kerry, joined Kieran, Ger Kennedy,owner of The Moorings Hotel in Kerry and Owen McQuail, owner of Some Neck Guitars, to chat about where the star might...

Sinn Fein’s housing spokesperson Eoin O’Broin presented The Hard Shoulder on Tuesday, and following a piece around the housing crisis, listener Ruth was in touch with the show to share her own housing situation and how she is about to be homeless.

According to a new proposal made to the Department of Housing, gardens should be reduced in size in order to help combat the housing crisis. Glenveagh Properties found that the back part of gardens was commonly unused, and said smaller gardens for three-bedroom houses could make space for additional housing. Brendan O’Sullivan, Head of University College Cork’s Planning School, joined Kieran and C...

Late night LUAS services, for now, have been ruled out by the National Transport Authority. Transport Minister Eamon Ryan has asked them a couple of months ago about the prospect of making these services available. Kieran was joined by Brian Caufield, associate Professor at the School of Engineering at Trinity College, and Hazel Chu is Green Dublin City Councilor, to discuss how much of a need the...

Scientists at Yale University in the United States have managed to revive cells in dead pigs an hour after they had died using a custom-made solution which got the pigs heart beating again. Sean Duke, science journalist, joined Kieran to discuss if there could come a time when we could use this method to reverse human death.

Alive and Kicking’ Clare McKenna joined Eoin to discuss the benefits of heat therapy.

A group of climate change activists have set up camp in a field in Kerry. They’re protesting against plans to build a liquefied natural gas terminal in the Shannon estuary. The proposal for the terminal, and a power station at the estuary at Ballylongford is currently before An Bord Pleanála. William Hederman from Climate Camp Ireland, joined Regina to explain the reasons behind the protest.

Gardai today issued a warning about fake €2 coins after they seized coins to the value of almost €3,000 at the end of July. They say it’s the first large seizure of counterfeit coins in this jurisdiction. Colin Baker is a retailer from Back From The Future, joined Regina to discuss how big of an issue counterfeit money is.

An Cailín Ciúin is an Irish Language film which is based on the short story ‘Foster’ by Claire Keegan. The film which translates to the Quite Girl has been selected by the Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) to represent Ireland at next year’s Oscars. Colm Bairéad, Writer and Director of An Cailín Ciúin, joined Regina to discuss his delight at being recognized for the award.

According to figures from the Society of the Motor Industry electric vehicle use continues to grow. There is an 80% year on year growth and a market share of 13%. Paddy Comyn, who is Director of Communications with AA Ireland, Emma Mitchell, the Operations Director with the Society of the Irish Motor Industry, and Lunchtime Live presenter, Andrea Gilligan, joined Regina to discuss if Ireland has t...

Demand for electric heating, driven by an increased use of heat pumps, will see generation costs rise by as much as 46%, a new study by the ESRI has found. Daragh Cassidy from Bonkers.ie and Dr. Cara Augustenborg, Member of the Climate Change Advisory Council, joined Regina to discuss how to decarbonize the grid.

The US killed the leader of al-Qaeda overnight in a drone strike in Afghanistan. President Joe Biden said Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed in a counter-terrorism operation carried out by the CIA in Kabul on. Eoin was joined by author of ‘The New Threat: The Past, Present, and Future of Islamic Militancy’ Jason Burke, who is also the Africa Correspondent for The Guardian.

TV Chef and Mindful eating coach Aisling Larkin, joined Eoin to take a closer look at paella.

It’s World Breastfeeding Week this week. Ireland’s figures are amongst the lowest in the world for breastfeeding. Eoin was joined by Katie Mugan, Lactation Consultant and Journalist and Mother of 7 Jen Hogan, to discuss if more could be done to encourage mothers to breastfeed.

The climate deal’s been done, but Eoin was joined by Sadhbh O’Neill, Lecturer in Climate Policy and Environmental Politics at DCU, Sinead Mercuir, lecturer in Planning and Environment Law at the UCD Sutherland School of Law, And Saoi O’Connor climate activist to discuss is anything can be done to get to our net zero.

Figures released show nearly 10,500 people homeless o that’s nearly 2,500 more than compared to the same period last year Mike Allen from Focus Ireland. Juha Kaakinen, Former CEO of the Y-Foundation in Finland, joined Eoin to discuss what can be done to address the situation.

After 37 years and 8,903 episodes, Neighbours has come to an end, the emotional final episodes having aired in Australia ahead of the UK broadcast. Actress Jackie Woodburne joined Kieran to look back at some of the biggest moments of her time on the beloved soap.

A report published today into defective apartments has not recommended that the construction sector should face a levy to help the State pay the repair bills. The cost of the remedial work required on up to 100,000 apartments built during the Celtic Tiger may cost the taxpayer up to €2.5 billion. Eoin Ó Broin TD, Sinn Féin Housing Spokesperson, joined Kieran and Mark Fitzmaurice, a resident of a d...

A report on defective apartments built during the boom years has not recommended a levy on the construction sector to help the State meet the bill for repairs. Minister for housing Darragh O'Brien, joined Kieran to discuss how families can be supported to get their lives back on track.