The Hard Shoulder

There have been reports of Cabinet disagreement over Equality Minister Roderic O’Gorman’s proposals to limit the offer of state-provided accommodation for Ukrainian refugees to 90 days.  Kieran was joined by John Lannon, CEO of Doras and Michael McNamara, Independent TD for Clare...

Newstalk's own, Simon Tierney joined Kieran Cuddihy for the series 'The Shopping Trolley Hotline'. The series will give listeners pause when they’re filling their trolleys, to consider their options. This week, with Halloween around the corner, Simon and Kieran take a look a some of the options for barmbrack on the shelves...

The United Nations’ secretary general Antonio Gutterres has called for an immediate ceasefire to end “epic suffering” in the Gaza Strip.  In an address yesterday Mr Gutterres criticised the Israeli response to the Hamas attacks earlier this month.  In response Israel’s Ambassador to the UN called on Mr Gutterres to step down from his position.  Kieran was joined by Alistair Bunkall,...

Dating App Tinder have announced users can give access to up to 15 people over  24 hours, who can view profiles and suggest possible matches even without an account. Tinder is now letting family members suggest potential partners on the dating app. Kieran was joined by Henry McKean to discuss...

Reports of Cabinet disagreement over Equality Minister Roderic O’Gorman’s proposals to limit the offer of state-provided accommodation for Ukrainian refugees to 90 days.  Some are saying that doing so would only pass the issue on to another department. What is our strategy moving forward on housing Ukrainians?  Kieran was joined by Tom McEneaney, media Consultant and Founder of Effe...

The EU Tax Observatory has suggested a minimum 2% tax rate on billionaires' global wealth.  They have said that it would raise well over €200 billion a year.  Kieran was joined by Neasa Hourigan, Green Party TD for Dublin Central and spokesperson on Finance and Health and Seamus Coffey, the former Chair of the Fiscal Advisory Council and Lecturer in Economics at UCC...

Every week for Tuesday Travel on The Hard Shoulder, Fionn Davenport takes a closer look at some of the fantastic destinations to visit around the world. Ahead of Halloween, Fionn joined Kieran to tell him about Ireland's spookiest locations...

Robert Watt, Secretary General of HSE was today discussing the increased costs of running in the Irish health sector.   He was before the Oireachtas Health Committee who met this morning to examine the funding allocated in the health Budget.  Mr Watt also claimed that Ireland’s hospitals have a ‘weak productivity’ due to lack of funding into physical infrastructure and a lack on IT...

Businesses and organisations worst hit by flooding during Storm Babet could get up to €100,000 in financial aid under new plans brought to cabinet today.  The scheme will allow for quick payments of €10,000 and audited and assessed payments of up to €100,000.  Simon Coveney, Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment joined Kieran to discuss this and also calls for the expulsion of...

Kieran Cuddihy was joined by Fine Gael Senator, Regina Doherty, and Socialist Party TD for Cork North Central, Mick Barry. Continuing the series, ‘Common Ground’, they will debate some of the biggest, most divisive topics around. The series continued with a debate on 'Should the Israeli Ambassador be expelled?'...

Sinn Fein are calling for the Government to increase funding in the health budget stating that it is underfunded and will have an adverse effect on our health services.  The party will speak on this motion tonight in Dáil Eireann with members from the Department of Health already meeting in front of the Oireachtas Health Committee to discuss this issue around funding.  David Cullinane, S...

Sports clubs, radio personalities and TV programmes are among the most common passwords amongst internet users, making them prime targets for cybercriminals.  That’s according to Cyber Skills who has urged people to reconsider their security choices.  Jess Kelly, Newstalk's Technology Correspondent joined Kieran to discuss...

Here in Ireland, we love to criticise landmarks, statues and monuments. Many have caused controversy and have gained their own nicknames but others have drawn crowds from around the world. Last week, the statue of Michael Collins was unveiled in Cork and it got us thinking about our relationships with statues and public art. Newstalk reporter, Josh Crosbie, sent us this report on our fascination w...

In the Irish Times today, Simon Tierney is writing about vasectomies and says they should be free to all men to take away the contraceptive responsibility from women and narrow the gender gap on this issue.  Simon and Dr. Emmet Kiran, from Gentle Procedures Ireland who performs vasectomies on a daily basis joined Kieran on the show to discuss...

Over the next few weeks, Kieran Cuddihy will be taking Irish classes as part of a 'Couch to Comhrá in 6 Weeks' challenge and each Monday he will be sharing his journey alongside some Irish speakers.   Éamonn Ó Domhnaill, Co-Founder and Director of Education of Gaelteanga joined Kieran to kickstart the challenge...

As the Israel-Hamas war continues into its third week, Israeli forces have continued to strike Hamas positions across the Gaza Strip.  The Israel Defense Forces said it struck some 320 targets belonging to the Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror groups in the Gaza Strip over the past day.  Kieran was joined by Dr. Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid the Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland and Ib...

Brian Lloyd  , Movies Editor with Entertainment.ie  joined Kieran to discuss what to do with your old dvds...

The Citizens Assembly on Drugs has recommended the ending of the current prosecution of individuals caught with illegal substances for personal use, following the last meeting of the assembly yesterday  Chair of The Citizens Assembly On Drugs, Paul Reid  joined Kieran to discuss...

There were chaotic scenes in Offaly yesterday after referee Barry Tiernan was pushed to the ground by a spectator after Tullamore exited the Leinster club Senior Football Championship against Summerhill.   Is this treatment of a GAA official acceptable and do we have an issue in our game regarding respect for those who referee our matches?  Rory Hickey, Former GAA Referee and Aislin...

Pub group Wetherspoons is putting its regional pubs in Ireland up for sale. The British chain is to sell properties in Cork, Waterford, Galway and Carlow for a guide price of over €10 million. It got us thinking about the Irish pub and even though owners face many challenges, punters generally prefer the old-style pubs to the large franchise. Newstalk reporter, Josh Crosbie, has been in and out of...

Brendan Kelly, Professor of Psychiatry at Trinty College Dublin and Consultant Psychiatrist at Tallaght University Hospital and Dr Mary O’Kane, Lecturer in Psychology and Early Childhood Education joined Kieran to discuss how to talk to children about the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel...

Burt Young, who played Paulie in the ‘Rocky’ films has died aged 83. John Fardy , Presenter of Screentime on Newstalk joined Kieran to pay tribute and look back at the movie franchise...

Many parts of Cork have been damaged by extreme flooding. What was only meant to be a status orange alert, has turned into much more than that, with my homes and businesses destroyed by torrential rainfall. What needs to be done going forward to prevent further damage?   Kieran was joined by Fianna Fáil TD for Cork North Central, Padraig O'Sullivan, Cork City Cllr, Joe Kavanagh and Quali...

Technology has taken over the majority of what we do in our daily lives. With some schools wanting to implement technology into exam settings, students will no longer use handwriting at all. What does that mean for the future of handwriting.   To give us their thoughts on the topic, I am joined by Letter collector and curator, Lis Maguire and Today FM Presenter Louise Cantillon. &nb...

Children’s Ombudsman Niall Muldoon has warned the Government that history will not judge Ireland well for the way it has treated children in the Direct Provision system.  Niall Muldoon joined Kieran on the show following the publishing of a special report on the safety and welfare of Children in Direct Provision...