The Hard Shoulder

We now know the details of Budget 2027, and many eyes may be drawn to the announcement today by Tánaiste Simon Harris on Irish Investment Accounts... But what do they look like? And what does it mean for your pocket? Joining Ciara to discuss this and kick off The Hard Shoulder Budget Special is Patricia Callan of Financial Services Ireland, as well as Shane Coleman.

Joining Shane to discuss the impact Budget 2027 has on savings, business, health and childcare is Susan Hayes Culleton, Presenter of Taking Stock, Barra Roantree, Assistant Professor of Economics at Trinity College, Owen Reidy, General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Christopher Moran, Director of Strategy, Economics and Investment with the Federation of Early Childhood Providers,...

Joining Shane to discuss Budget 2027 and its financial impact to you is Barra Roantree, Assistant Professor of Economics at Trinity College, Emma Howard, Senior Lecturer in Economics in TU Dublin and Daniel Murray, Policy Editor with the Business Post.

Joining Shane Coleman to give their reactions following the speeches delivered by Táinaiste Simon Harris and Minister Jack Chambers for Budget 2027 is Barra Roantree, Assistant Professor of Economics at Trinity College, Susan Hayes Culleton, Presenter of Taking Stock and Emma Howard, Senior Lecturer in Economics in TU Dublin and Ger Hyland, President of the Irish Road Haulage Association.

Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers delivers his speech outlining Budget 2027 from the Dáil Chamber.

Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris delivers his speech outlining Budget 2027 from inside the Dáil Chamber.

Seán Defoe, Newstalk’s Political Correspondent, joins Shane Coleman to give an overview of what we can expect from today’s announcements in Budget 2027 ahead of the speeches from Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris and Minister for Public Expenditure, Jack Chambers...

Neurodistinct (ND) conditions such as autism, ADHD and dyslexia are genetic and hereditary. In anonymous surveys of parents attending my “parenting exceptional children” courses, 79% say that they are or think they might be neurodivergent in some way, and 85% think the other parent might be. So, should parents of neuro-divergent children be encouraged to embrace their own neurodiversity? Joining S...

For this week’s Kids Clinic, Ciara was joined by Ollwyn Moran, M.Ed . & Clinical Director at CogniClinic.ie to discuss loosening the reigns a bit and giving your child more independence!

The US has withdrawn all of its B1 bombers from RAF Fairford with no explanation. The UK military base was at the centre of a major incident on the 27th of September when police were alerted to three "suspicious vehicles" near the airbase. Joining Ciara to discuss what this means for security and the US-UK relationship is Duncan Bullivant, CEO of the Henderson Risk Group.

Budget 2027, to be presented on October 6th, is due to involve a package of €8.5 billion, with €7 billion in additional spending and €1.5 billion in tax reductions. The issue of cost-of-living is expected to be a key focus across the whole package. Joining Shane to discuss this is Louise Burne, Political Correspondent for the Irish Examiner.

Most of us remember the days when individual seasons of TV would run from Autumn to Spring, with 20 plus episodes per year. This kind of TV allowed us to spend much more time with the characters and featured themed Christmas, Halloween and other holiday episodes. We also were treated to so-called ‘filler’ or ‘bottle’ episodes where characters spend the entire time in one room, often speaking about...

An appeal by the residents of Portadown's Garvaghy Road against a ruling to allow an Orange Order parade along the route was heard at the Court of Appeal in Belfast today, with a Barrister for the residents describing it as "one of the most polarising parades in the history of Northern Ireland". Joining Shane to discuss is Claudia Savage, Press Association Journalist based in Belfast and Tom Kelly...

Primary and secondary schools across the country experienced disruptions from today as teachers began industrial action in the form of a work-to-rule. Joining Shane to discuss this is Eric Nelligan, Assistant Principal at St Munchins College, Limerick and Darren O'Rourke, Sinn Féin Education Spokesperson.

This week, Ciara was joined by Freelance Journalist Niamh O’Reilly and Richard Hogan, Family Psychotherapist, Columnist with the Examiner and co-host of the ‘They Mess You Up’ podcast to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists...

From Monday, primary school teachers across the country will begin industrial action in a row over public sector pay. The INTO says its members will begin a work-to-rule, which will mean teachers no longer carrying out additional duties outside their normal school hours. The action could have a knock-on effect for families, with some schools saying arrangements like early drop-off and after-school...

Off The Ball’s John Duggan joined Ciara on The Hard Shoulder to review the week in sport and look ahead to the weekend action…

Bertie Ahern is allegedly in talks to take up a mediator role in the Drumcree stand-off. The news comes as Drumcree talks to resolve the dispute end without agreement… Joining Ciara to discuss is former Labour MP for Ealing North and former Northern Ireland Shadow Minister, Stephen Pound.

There are growing concerns over diesel prices and supply across Europe. US President Donald Trump is threatening a 90-day ban on US diesel exports unless European countries release some of their emergency reserves. EU Energy Ministers are meeting today to discuss the situation, so what does it mean for Ireland? Joining Ciara to discuss is Kevin McPartland, CEO for Fuels for Ireland and Aoife Foley...

Niall McCoitir has released his 5th book, ‘Ireland’s Animals. Myths, Legends and Folklore’ about creatures that have shaped storytelling in Ireland. It draws from Celtic myth, medieval bestiaries, folk stories and even saintly legends. He joins Ciara to discuss!

The Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD, and the Minister of State with responsibility for Sport and Postal Policy, Charlie McConalogue TD, today announced the key timetable dates for the 2026 new round of the Community Sport Facilities Fund. Joining Ciara to discuss this and more is Minister Charlie McConalogue.

The Irish Times and Electric Ireland are announcing the winners of their search for Ireland’s Greenest Places.  With over 90 entries all around Ireland in 5 different categories, it's now time to find out who came out on top. Mary Minihan, Irish Times Features Editor joins Ciara to exclusively reveal this year’s winners!

Dublin 1 has been unfairly burdened with a huge over-concentration of social services, so says Robert Watt, the Head of the Dublin Task Force. Is he right? Joining Ciara to discuss is Marie Sherlock, Labour TD for Dublin Central.

Sarina Bellissimo, Broadcaster and Presenter of the Bellissimo Files Podcast and John Fardy, Presenter of Screentime on Newstalk joined Ciara and Shane to review the latest TV and movie releases…

Rape Crisis Ireland (RCI) is launching new independent research showing that Ireland’s ‘rape shield’, the law meant to stop complainants in sexual offence trials being cross-examined about their other sexual experiences, is routinely failing to do so… For more on this Shane is joined by Sinéad Ring, Maynooth University Associate Law Professor and author of the report.