The Hard Shoulder

The Road Safety Authority have said that over the past couple of years the NCT has struggled to retain staff. It’s as there are reports of up to six month waiting times for NCT tests in some areas of the country. Transport Consultant Conor Faughnan, joined Kieran and Michelle Hall, Lord Mayor of Drogheda and Labour councillor, to discuss what can be done to combat the long delays.

After 37 years (started in Australia on 18 March 1985) and 8903 episodes, Neighbours is finally coming to an end (Thursday night in Australia, Wednesday 3rd August on RTE). So today we’re looking back at some of the best bits and people to come out of Ramsay Street.  Sarina Bellissimo, Host of the Bellissimo Files on Spin 103.8 joined Kieran Cuddihy live from the Killeshin hotel Portlaoise.

Cabinet have approved a bill to strengthen laws around consent in rape. The bill will see laws around consent, knowledge and belief in rape cases strengthened. It will also see a change to the current system where an accused person can be found not guilty of rape if they believed that they had received consent. Helen McEntee, Minister for Justice and TD for Meath East and joined Kieran Cuddihy on...

Electric Picnic along with the National Ploughing Championships are both set to return in September after a two-year absence. Two of the biggest events in Ireland are to be held here in County Laois later this year. Kieran Cuddihy was joined on the show live from the Killeshin hotel in Portlaoise by Anna Marie McHugh of the National Ploughing Association, Thomas Cosby of the Electric Picnic Festiv...

Supermacs CEO Pat McDonagh joined Kieran on Wednesday's edition of The Hard Shoulder to talk about why Portlaoise is a great place to do business, and why he's worried about food supplies this Christmas.

A legal case on behalf of rugby players has been issued against World Rugby, RFU and Welsh Rugby Union. The case now destined for the courts involves a group of rugby players diagnosed with early onset dementia and irreversible neurological impairments. Lisa Ryan, Head of the Department of Sport Exercise and Nutrition in the school of science and computing at Atlantic Technological University, joi...

With the marking of the centenary of the Free State, Newstalk want to find out who just who is Ireland’s Greatest Hero. The final results will be revealed on a special programme on Newstalk this coming bank holiday Monday. Simon Tierney is presenter of Irelands Greatest Hero and he joined Kieran to share with listeners all they need to know about getting their votes in.

A Taxback.com survey has found that 4 in 10 workers in Ireland say they suffer from imposter Syndrome, with 45% of women feeling this way at some point in their career, and 37% of men. 17% of women say they experience it all the time. Kieran was joined by Aimee Connolly, Founder of Sculpted by Aimee Cosmetics, to discuss her experience of imposter syndrome.

Talks continue with the agriculture sector to try reach an agreement on carbon emission reductions. Jackie Cahill Chair of the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee joined Kieran, Sadhbh O’Neill Lecturer in Climate Policy and Environmental Politics at DCU to debate how much more needs to be done by the All sectors also need to be used to solve this -not just very strong focus on the agriculture sector.

Shocking scenes over the weekend of passengers disembarking the Dart on to the tracks, because of the high temperatures. A spokesperson for Iarnród Éireann said a Dart was awaiting a clear platform at Bray before proceeding into the station just before 3pm when a number of people forced open the doors and walked on the track. Kieran was joined by Anne Graham, CEO of the National Transport Authorit...

According to Linda Doyle Provost at Trinity College ‘Ireland’s housing crisis is eroding university life’. This year there is unprecedented demand for student accommodation which is going to leave many students up and down the country with no other option but to commute to college campuses. Kieran was joined by Molly Greenough, President of the Students Union at UCD, Mairead Maguire, Trinity colle...

All eyes are once again on Croke Park this weekend where Galway take on Kerry in the All-Ireland Football Final. It is Galway’s first time in an All-Ireland in 21 years while Kerry’s last All-Ireland success came eight years ago back in 2014. But who will be bringing Sam Maguire home? Ray Silke, Former Galway Footballer and Former Kerry Footballer, Billy O’Shea both joined Kieran Cuddihy on the sh...

Aisling Larkin, TV Chef and Mindful eating coach on how to build the ultimate burger.

Shane Burgen, Physicist from UCD School of Education and Contributor to FutureProof joined Kieran Cuddihy on the show to discuss a study about the risks communal lavatories pose to public health if any.

Joe Molloy an Off The Ball presenter joined Kieran Cuddihy on the show to preview the weekends sporting action.

A government authority has endorsed plans to allow flights take of from Dublin Airport’s second runway from 6am until midnight. The runway under current planning rules has flights curtailed from 11pm to 7am. Ian Carey Green Party Councillor for Swords and Pat Byrne CEO of Cityjet joined Kieran Cuddihy on the show.

Louise Cooney, Fashion and lifestyle blogger, and host of the new ‘Open Book’ Podcast on GoLoud joined Kieran Cuddihy on the show to discuss her new podcast.

The Kingdom and the Tribesmen will be going head to head in Croke Park this Sunday with hopes of winning the Sam Maguire." Galway have been waiting 21 years to win the All-Ireland while Kerry haven't won since 2014. We sent our reporter Josh Crosbie to his home county of Kerry to give us a taste of the hype leading up to the game.

The Government is once again looking to hotels to solve the problem of housing for Ukrainians. They’ve made an urgent appeal to hotels and guest houses are offering them €135 a night for single adults. But how is filling up our hotels impacting the tourist industry here? Eoghan O’Mara Walsh, CEO of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation joined Kieran Cuddihy on the show.

AIB has reversed its decision to end cash services at 70 branches around the country. Kieran Cuddihy was joined on the show by Danny Healy Rae Independent TD for Kerry, Michael Somers Former board member of AIB and the former CEO of the National Treasury Management Agency and James O’Connor Fianna Fail TD

People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett joined Kieran for this week's Thursday interview.

According to new statistics, five nurses a day were assaulted in the last month. Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, general secretary Phil Ní Sheaghadh joined Kieran to discuss what can be done to make work safer for health care workers.

The European Central Bank has increased interest rates by 0.5%. It’s the first rate hike in eleven years. It means the borrowing rate going from 0 to 0.5%. Which means mortgage costs are going to go up. Kieran was joined by Shane Quinlan, Economist and Managing Director of SherryFitzGerald Financial Services and Brendan Burgess, Founder of Askaboutmoney.com and Fair Mortgage Rates campaigner.

The domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid has now revealed that it is in talks with ITV bosses after viewers expressed concern over the “misogyny and controlling behaviour being shown on screen.” Dr Charlotte Proudman, a barrister specialising in violence against women, joined Kieran to discuss the damage that reality TV can do to younger viewer's.

The Taoiseach has told AIB to reconsider their decision to turn 70 of their branches cashless. Seamus Boland CEO, Irish Rural Link and Tara Buckley RGDATA Director General joined Kieran to discuss who will be hardest hit by this decision.