The Hard Shoulder

Uisce Eireann has warned that water supply is critically low and that there is absolutely zero capacity for more water in Dublin. Demand on Monday breached capacity for the first time, highlighting that the services unsuitable without further investment in infrastructure.  Maria O’Dwyer, Infrastructure Delivery Director with Uisce Éireann, spoke with Anton to outline Ireland’s water capacity...

Michael Horan, policy and regulation manager with Insurance Ireland, joins The Hard Shoulder to explain why motor insurance premiums are up over 8% year-on-year, and whether real reform is on the way. Listen here for more.

A potential upgrade to the electricity grid could cost anywhere up to 19 billion euro according to an investment plan published by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities. But will that mean anything for your bills? Muireann Lynch is Senior Research Officer for the ESRI, and she spoke with Anton earlier. Listen here.

Ollwyn Moran, neurodevelopmental therapist and founder of Cognikids, and Richard Hogan, psychotherapist and columnist with the Irish Examiner, join The Hard Shoulder to discuss a new study suggesting children show signs of addictive behaviour on TikTok after just 35 minutes of use. Listen here

Fine Gael’s Ray McAdam has been elected as the new Lord Mayor of Dublin.  His term will focus on ‘celebrating Dubin’ in which he hopes to champion the city’s people and potential.   Lord Mayor of Dublin Councillor Ray McAdam spoke with Anton earlier to address his plans for the capital. Listen here.

Newstalk's own, Simon Tierney joins The Hard Shoulder for this week’s “How To Do Stuff” segment. This week, Simon digs into the science, myths, and questionable parenting methods that have given way to some of sport's greatest performers. Listen here

Dr Aileen McGloin, Director of Nutrition at safefood, joins The Hard Shoulder to explore whether soaring food prices are leading consumers to rely more on cheap, highly processed products. Listen here

Ria Czerniak-LeBov is an artist, writer, musician and the granddaughter of a Holocaust escapee. She is one of many Jewish people who are speaking out against Zionism and Israel’s continued attack on Gaza. Listen here for all this brilliant conversation.

Carlow Weather’s Alan O’Reilly joins Anton to talk weather – both here at home and abroad.  The heatwave across the UK and Europe continues, but will that heat and sun ever reach this island? Listen here.

Jess Kelly, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent, joins Anton to talk about the growing reach (and perhaps overreach) of artificial intelligence. Get all the latest tech news and tips, listen here.

Fr Bryan Shortall joins The Hard Shoulder to pay tribute to the late Fr Kevin Crowley, the beloved founder of the Capuchin Day Centre, who passed away this week at the age of 90. Listen here

Feljin Jose, Green Party TD and transport spokesperson, Lynn Boylan, Sinn Féin MEP for Dublin, and Brian Caulfield, Professor of Transportation at Trinity College Dublin, join The Hard Shoulder to debate the government's new Luas expansion plan. Although the plans are welcomed, the wait for another 25 years has many people questioning if they'll even live to see its opening. Listen here for all th...

Tánaiste Simon Harris has been telling a trade forum that US tariffs of 10% on exports from Ireland will be the "new normal" but that efforts are continuing to agree 'zero-for-zero' taxes in some key areas.   The meeting takes place a week before the scheduled lifting of a pause on higher tariffs by the US president Donald Trump.  Peter Burke is the Minister for Enterprise and Fine...

Harriet Alexander, a US-based journalist, joins The Hard Shoulder to unpack the court verdict involving Sean “Diddy” Combs, who was found guilty of only one of the charges he was brought to court over. Arguably, it carried the lightest sentence of all his charges. Listen here

Frank Greaney, NewsTalk’s Courts Correspondent, joins Anton to deliver the latest on two of Ireland’s highest-profile court stories — the legal proceedings involving DJ Carey and the most recent developments in the Conor McGregor case. DJ Carey today pleaded guilty to 10 of the 21 charges he was facing linked to defrauding people out of money.  Listen here for all the latest.

From shoppers and a farmer to a retailer and fishmonger, NewsTalk's Josh Crosbie hti the streets to ask whether high grocery prices are here to stay, and how inflation is changing how people shop. Listen here for Josh's full report.

Families are paying thousands of euro more for their groceries. Many consumers will have noticed their weekly shopping bills go up and there’s a warning these will rise even further. Newstalk reporter, Josh Crosbie has been meeting with farmers and shoppers about these costs.

Denmark are to introduce protections giving individuals automatic copyright over their own likeness in effort to tackle AI and deepfakes.  But, will it actually do much about the rise of this phenomenon?  Eoin O’Dell is an Associate Professor of Law in Trinity College Dublin and he joined Anton to discuss earlier. Listen here.

"Meno-washing" - what is it and how can you best sound out the products that you should buy into?     Loretta Dignam, CEO and Founder of the Menopause Hub spoke with Anton to discuss. Listen here.

US President Donald Trump threatened to deport Elon Musk to South Africa when their spat reignited after the tech billionaire increased his attack on the 'Big, Beautiful Bill' and vowed to launch a new political party if the bill gets passed.  For the latest, Anton is joined by US based journalist, Harriet Alexander  

Amidst a 10-year plan to rejuvenate Dublin’s City Centre and the increase in visibility and frequency of Garda patrols, has the North inner city benefitted at all?  Gary Gannon, Social Democrats TD for Dublin Central joins Anton to discuss.  Listen here.

Mentalist Keith Barry joins the show to share what he’s been reading and why certain books resonate with him. As a mentalist, expect to hear books that strengthen the mind, empower the person, and maybe even a little bit of witchcraft. Listen here.

Disability rights campaigner, Cara Darmody, joins Anton to discuss her successful meeting with HSE Chief Executive Bernard Gloster. Listen here.

Anton hosts a debate between Pearse Doherty, Sinn Féin’s Finance Spokesperson, and Fine Gael TD for Dublin Bay South, James Geoghegan over the government’s controvsersial plans to redevelop the GPO in Dublin city centre. Listen here.

Seamus Mulconry from the Catholic Primary School Management Association and Áine Lynch of the National Parents Council join Anton Savage to discuss the imposition of 'voluntary contributions' to public schools as they cope with rising prices. We also hear from parents affected by these new costs. Listen here.