The Pat Kenny Show

What do we know about the mystery disease killing people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo? To give us more information Pat spoke to Kingston Mills Professor of Experimental Immunology at Trinity College Dublin.

Despite not meeting value formoney benchmarks, the government is moving forward with awarding a significant construction contract to ‘Invesis’, a BAM-controlled subsidiary. BAM is the main contractor for the National Children’s Hospital. So will the gamble pay off for the government. Pat speaks to Jack Horgan Jones who has the story on the front of The Irish Times today.

A major Survey of electric car owners and non owners reveals positive attitudes towards electric cars with 85% of EV drivers planning to stay electric for their next car, while nearly half of non-EV drivers say they could be convinced to make the switch. To discuss further Pat was joined on the show by Pierre Boutin, CEO of Volkswagon Ireland.

Businesses in Ireland can now register their accounts to sell on Amazon to customers around the world, ahead of the launch of Amazon.ie in 2025. Newstalk Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly brings us the details.

Number of students going on to university stalls as young people face unpredictable future. At the same time, record numbers of students from disadvantaged areas are attending college. Experts call for reform of Leaving Cert and say a degree isn’t always the right choice. Pat chats to Cecelia Munro about what she sees as a principal in a college of further education. 

With Al Assad gone what does the future of Syria look like? In one of the most ethnically diverse and fragmented nations on earth can peace and stability ever become the norm in the war-torn country?  Pat discusses this and more with Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondent for The Economist. 

The Irish Hospice Foundation have advice for those who may struggle with grief over the festive period. Speaking to Pat this morning was Orla Keegan Head of Bereavement at the Irish Hospice Foundation. 

A number of talks with a view to forming a Government took place yesterday with more scheduled today…but has there been any progress? Fionnán Sheehan of the Irish Independent joins us to discuss.

Chef Derry Clarke and his wife Sallyanne are supporting An Post’s Send Love campaign this Christmas which celebrates the joy and tradition of staying connected through sending handwritten cards and letters. Derry and Sally joined Pat in studio this morning.

Fear of the dentist. Many of us might have anxiety, or even a phobia, when visiting the dentist but how can we tackle it? Our expert, dentist Dr Niall Neeson, is here to answer all your dental anxiety queries.

We hear from a Jesuit recently returned from Syria about what life is like there on the ground and the hopes of the people following the fall of the Assad regime. Speaking to Pat this morning was Tony O’Riordan SJ, Jesuit, returned from Syria in June.

Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are meeting with different parties to secure a solid coalition but who will it be? Harry McGee breaks down the latest meetings and prospects for a new government.

Tourists in Italy will no longer be able to access short-term rentals using key boxes after the country's police chief said owners must verify the identity of guests in person. We get the details of this change with Nick Squires, Itay Correspondent for Daily Telegraph.

We hear from the theatre company of the year ‘Glass Mask Theatre’ and their exciting plans for 2025. Joining Pat this morning was Founder of ‘Glass Mask Theatre’  Rex Ryan. 

Just twelve days since rebels launched their surprise offensive in Syria, rebels have captured the capital Damascus. Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad, has resigned and fled to Moscow. We get the latest and analysis from Fawaz Gerges from the London School of Economics.

Gareth Mullins will be talking us through some Christmas party food ideas that are suitable for freezing for any seasonal last minute entertaining.

Irish racehorse trainer Willie Mullins has list of accolades to his name. This year, he became the first trainer to surpass one hundred wins at Cheltenham. He has over four thousand race wins to his name and is the most winning Irish trainer of all time. He joins us to talk about his life and career.

A look back on the stories of the week on our Friday Forum. Joining Pat on the panel today was Thomas Byrne TD, Meath East and Minister of State for Sport and Physical Education, Richard Boyd-Barrett TD, Dún Laoghaire along with Orla Ryan, News Correspondent, The Journal and Alice Leahy, Director of Alice Leahy Trust. 

Hundreds of people have been detained in Northern Ireland for attempting to enter Britain having crossed the border into the north. Gangs are offering packages that they term as ‘safer’ than crossing the English channel and charging high prices for it. Lisa O’Carroll of The Guardian joined Pat to discuss this.

The European Champion Cup returns as Munster host Stade Francois at Thomond Park, and plenty of Premier League action, including a London derby, is coming up on this weekend’s sports.

Who’s paying what? Frank Greaney breaks down the fees involved in the civil case against Conor McGregor.

As talks and negotiations are set to continue over the formation of the 34th Dáil. Economist and Writer for The Currency Colm McCarthy discusses the predicted economics of our next government and its financial implications.

A retired professor gets a new lease on life when a private investigator hires him to go undercover inside a San Francisco retirement home. Screentime’s John Fardy talks to us about the new Netflix comedy series, ‘A Man on the Inside’.

Author and disinformation expert David Robert Grimes joined Pat on the show today to talk about the arla milk debacle and other heath scares caused by disinformation .

Professor Luke O'Neill tells Pat about two medical breakthroughs this week. New CRISPR system pauses genes, rather than turning them off permanently and the first breakthrough in 50 years in severe asthma and COPD.