In The News

As the colder winter months approach, the energy crisis shows no signs of abating. So, what is being done about it and how bad will it get? Conor Pope speaks to Irish Times political reporter Jack Horgan-Jones about the Government’s response to soaring energy prices and what measures they will take to further protect consumers, while ESRI energy economist Dr Muireann Lynch explains why we are facing blackouts this winter and what can be done to find a way out of the crisis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sorcha Pollak speaks to Irish Times crime correspondent Conor Gallagher about a recent incident in Dublin, which saw international protection applicants forced to leave their temporary accommodation centre, after a local campaign of intimidation and criminal damage. We also hear from Fiona Hurley of NASC Ireland, the Migrant and Refugee Rights Centre who talks about the two-tier immigration system which is emerging and how certain accommodation providers are refusing to house non-Ukrainian asylum seekers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Climate denial can take many forms. Some refuse to accept the science, while others avoid the overwhelm by diverting their attention elsewhere. Professor John Sharry from UCD’s School of Psychology talks to Conor Pope about the reasons people choose to deny the crisis and why ultimately, it’s an unhelpful coping mechanism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Students now need more CAO points than ever to secure a spot in many university courses, thanks to grade inflation caused by the predicted grades system of the pandemic years. And while this year's grades will be raised to match the inflated grades of the past two years, the situation means some deserving students will miss out on their preferred places. Even if students do secure a place at university, how will these young people find a place to live in a country grappling with a severe accommodation crisis?“I think about it all the time. If I don’t get my accommodation, I cant go,” Leaving Cert student Leah Quigg told the In the News podcast. “It’s on everyone’s minds… it’s having somewhere to lie down at the end of the night.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In early 2006, just days away from her due date, Cork woman Mairie Cregan was told her unborn baby, Liliana, had no heartbeat. Here, she tells Sorcha Pollak about her experience of stillbirth and why it remains a subject that many people struggle to talk about. Mairie has since set up the charity Féileacáin to help parents going through the same grieving process and explains why it’s time to break the silence around stillbirth and baby loss. This episode discusses neonatal deaths and pregnancy loss, which some listeners may find upsetting.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Could psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, play a role in the treatment of PTSD, OCD and eating disorders? A global series of trials, including one in Tallaght, may add to the evidence that psilocybin can play a unique role in therapy.Patrick Freyne talks to Conor Pope about the potential of psychedelic therapy and how decades of research were lost to the "war on drugs". Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Demands by Irish Catholics for major change in the church’s attitude to women, LGBTI+ people, those who are divorced or remarried, and single parents have been sent to Rome as part of a Vatican project to take the considerations of the faithful on board. But will the Church really change? Patsy McGarry is Religious Affairs Correspondent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The killing of Michael Collins created the greatest "what if" in Irish history. If he had lived, would Irish history have played out differently? Would the influence of the Catholic Church have been less? Would he have attempted to win back the six counties of Northern Ireland? 100 years on from Collins' death, Irish Times reporter and historian Ronan McGreevy looks at the outstanding questions over his life, death and influence today. Ronan mcgreevy is the author of a new book Great Hatred: The Assassination of Sir Henry Wilson MP, which explores the origins of the Civil War. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One year on from the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, what is life like for the people living under their rule? Conor pope speaks to Fatema Mohammadi, an Afghan woman who has been living in Ireland since fleeing Kabul earlier this year. She explains what life is like for the women and girls there who have been denied access to work and education. We also hear from Colin P Clarke,  a senior research fellow at The Soufan Center, who speaks about the country’s prospects for peace and recovery. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What's going on at An Bord Pleanála? The state body with final say on planning appeals and power over fast-tracked housing developments is in focus this week after a report into conflict of interest claims against its former deputy chairman Paul Hyde was sent to the Gardaí and the Director of Public Prosecutions. Current affairs editor Arthur Beesley has been reporting on the story and he explains what it's all about. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Data centres already consume 14 per cent of Ireland’s electricity supply, more than all rural housing. Now these centres are on track to consume about a third of all Irish electricity by the end of this decade. As concerns mount over energy shortages as close as this winter, should more be done to regulate the industry? Sorcha Pollak speaks to Irish Times columnist Una Mullaley and Niall Farrell, energy and environmental economist with the ESRI to find out more.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just over 25 years ago, the Criminal Assets Bureau was established in the wake of the killings of Detective Jerry McCabe and journalist Veronica Guerin. The murders shocked the nation and served as a wakeup call to the authorities that they were losing the fight against gangland figures and paramilitary groups. Over the years, the Criminal Assets Bureau has seized almost €200million in the proceeds of crime, forcing many to move abroad to keep hold of their cash. Today, Conor Pope speaks to Crime editor Conor Lally about the impact of Cab on the Irish criminal landscape. This episode was originally published in November 2021. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was originally published in January 2022. Just 30 kilometres north of Dublin, lies a hidden oasis in Meath called Dunsany Castle. Home to Ireland’s biggest rewilding project, it’s run by Lord Randal Plunkett, a heavy metal-loving filmmaker and producer. In this episode, Sorcha Pollak travels out to Dunsany to discover how rewilding has changed the landscape and contributes to the fight against climate change. However, not everyone is happy with Randal’s unconventional approach to the land and new national transport plans could threaten everything he’s created so far. See more about Dunsany Nature Reserve here.https://www.instagram.com/dunsanynaturereserve/?hl=en Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What can we do for ourselves to ensure that we live long, fulfilling, happy and fit lives? In this episode, Conor Pope speaks to Professor of Medical Gerontology at Trinity College, Rose Anne Kenny about the surprising and novel ways in which we can keep ourselves feeling younger.This episode was originally published in January 2022. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In October 2001, Apple chief executive Steve Jobs debuted the original iPod, the first MP3 player that could hold 1,000 songs and had a 10-hour battery life. This week the company announced it was discontinuing the iconic device, saying other gadgets have made the iPod redundant. Patrick Freyne talks to Conor Pope about how the iPod transformed the way we consume music and the impact it has had on the relationship between music, culture and identity.This episode was originally published in May 2022. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

European countries are welcoming Ukrainian refugees with open arms. But migrants from other parts of the world get much different treatment, as reporter Sally Hayden reveals in her new book. 'My Fourth Time, we Drowned" tells the story of how EU policy has helped create an inhumane system that ends in imprisonment in Libyan detention centres for thousands of migrants. Sally talked to Sorcha Pollak about how she communicated with migrants trapped in Libya and the unseen consequences of Europe's determination to keep migration numbers down.This episode was originally published in April 2022. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How much do you think about where your food comes from, how the animals used to produce it live and die, or its impact on the environment? Journalist and author Henry Mance investigates our relationship with animals in his book How To Love Animals: In a Human-Shaped World. He talked to Conor Pope about what he discovered.This episode was originally published in September 2021. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was originally published in August 2021. As more and more people take to the outdoors to explore Ireland’s hiking trails and mountain paths, rescue services are experiencing an alarming rise in callouts. In the first 19 days of August, Kerry Mountain Rescue responded to one incident per day, stretching their volunteers and resources to the limit. So why have more people started hiking around Ireland and why are so many embarking on these adventures with zero preparation?Hosted by Sorcha PollakGuests: Harry McGee and Gerry Condon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was originally published in December 2021. Demand for cosmetic procedures is on the rise across Ireland, but what are the risks involved when the industry remains unregulated? Features writer Jennifer O’Connell speaks to Sorcha Pollak about the growing demand for fillers and 'tweakments'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode was originally published in January 2021. More than two dozen “lunatic asylums” were built throughout Ireland in the 1800s. Today some are hospitals, while others are derelict.Through interviews and archive research, Rosita Boland pieces together what life was like inside the walls of these state-run institutions.She discovers that for many of the thousands of Irish citizens who passed through them, mental illness was not the only reason, or even a reason at all. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Conservative leadership contest has been underway for two weeks and the eight candidates have been whittled down to two.Now things get serious. London editor Denis Staunton explains the strengths, weaknesses and campaign strategies of Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the war in Ukraine approaches its sixth month, many of the five million refugees who fled the country are returning. In total, more than two million Ukrainians have gone back so far. But what awaits them when they get there? Sorcha Pollak talks to Irish Times central and eastern Europe correspondent Daniel McLaughlin about life inside the country as those returning and those who stayed, try to rebuild their lives. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, British athlete Mo Farah revealed he was illegally trafficked into the UK at the age of nine. Flown over from Djibouti, he was given the name Mohamed Farah and forced to work as a domestic servant. Sharing his story in a BBC documentary this week, the olympic champion has put the spotlight firmly on the global issue of human trafficking. What impact will his revelations have on helping other victims come forward and how difficult is it to secure prosecutions against traffickers? Sorcha Pollak speaks to Sally Hayden, who reports from Africa for The Irish Times and Senior Counsel Fiona Murphy to find out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At Eleventh Night bonfires and 12th of July parades, the experience hits very differently depending on your background. Northern correspondent Seanín Graham reports on events she witnessed and people she spoke to, and how the burning of effigies of female politicians has overshadowed the events and drawn criticism from all sides of the political spectrum.Plus: Much of the fight to define the meaning of Loyalist events now takes place online, in shared videos, memes and posts, explains Paul Reilly, a researcher at the University of Glasgow who has looked at the role of social media in sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2019, at fourteen weeks pregnant, Emma Connors was told that her unborn baby had a fatal foetal abnormality. Just a few weeks later, she and her husband were on a plane to England to terminate the pregnancy. Despite abortion legislation being introduced in Ireland in 2019, Emma is one of the hundreds of women still forced to travel to the UK to access termination services every year. Today she shares her story. Conor Pope also speaks to Social Affairs correspondent Kitty Holland to find out about the latest HSE report which says the legislation “falls short” of women’s needs and has a “chilling” effect on clinicians. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The prices of cryptocurrencies have plummeted this year. Bitcoin, the most popular one, has lost over 70 per cent of its value in the last six months and crypto companies are letting staff go, with Coinbase firing nearly a fifth of its employees in June alone. Crypto is no stranger to boom and bust cycles, but investors are now turning their backs on the notoriously volatile assets in their droves, amid market jitters over the cost of living crisis, interest rate hikes and the war in Ukraine. So, is the tide going out on crypto forever? Conor Pope talks to Professor of Finance at Trinity College Dublin Brian Lucey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From the moment on Tuesday morning when a retired British civil servant went public about how Boris Johnson was covering up his involvement in yet another scandal, the prime minister's fate was sealed. But why was it this of all scandals that finally took him down? What comes next for UK politics - and how will it affect Ireland? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All of Europe is in the grip of inflation, and Ireland is no different. But here we already had some of the highest prices in Europe across a range of products and services including energy, food, broadband and mortgages. What's behind our high prices - and could our own consumer culture have anything to do with it? Conor Pope talks to Dargh Cassidy of bonkers.ie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eight years after Scotland said no to independence in its 2014 referendum, Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon now wants to put the issue back at the top of the agenda. In a speech to the Scottish parliament last week, the first minister set out the route map for holding a vote on the issue on October 19 next year. The question put to Scots would be the same as in the 2014 referendum – Should Scotland be an independent country? But holding a second referendum is shrouded in legal problems and there’s no certainty it will even happen, as London Editor Denis Staunton explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the US, in places where women get abortions, but also in courtrooms and within political campaign headquarters, the decision of the Supreme Court to overturn the Roe v Wade right to abortion has transformed American life and set many fresh battles over reproductive rights in train. One week on from the ruling, we talk to US journalist Kara Voght about what impact it is already having. Kara Voght is politics reporter with Rolling Stone magazine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The current energy crisis shows little sign of easing, and the worst may be to come. Some have warned that, with Russian gas supplies in doubt, Europe could face energy rationing this coming winter. Jack Horgan-Jones looked into the issue and he tells Conor Pope how likely it is to happen here in Ireland and what plans there are to deal with it if it does. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just three months on from the last pandemic wave which swept across the country, Ireland is once again experiencing a surge in Covid cases. But was it expected this time round and how long will it last? Conor Pope speaks to virologist Dr Gerald Barry to find out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nearly 300 years ago an earthquake off the coast of Portugal caused a tsunami which hit Ireland’s coast. Records show that the Lisbon tsunami, as it was known, damaged Galway’s Spanish Arch, caused a large body of water to pour into Kinsale harbour and made an island out of Aughinish in northern Clare.Last Saturday, locals in West Cork momentarily feared that history could be repeating itself, when unusual tidal activity saw water levels in some harbours drop dramatically. So, what happened on Ireland’s southwest coast last weekend? We hear from eyewitness, charter boat operator David Edwards.Sorcha Pollak also talks to oceanographer at Maynooth University, Dr Gerard McCarthy, about what caused the freak tides at Courtmacsherry and Union Hall last weekend, the likelihood of a big tsunami hitting Ireland and how prepared we would be for one. Links: Deep Maps Cork article on the Lisbon Tsunami: http://www.deepmapscork.ie/past-to-present/climate/1755-lisbon-earthquake-tsunami-west-cork-coast/Dr McCarthy's Twitter thread explaining the unusual tidal activity in Cork: https://twitter.com/ger_the_sea/status/1538660304699150337Watch David Edwards' footage from Courtmacsherry: https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2022/06/20/freak-west-cork-tides-not-caused-by-marine-earthquake-experts-say/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many hospitals around the country could soon be functioning without hundreds of junior doctors. Earlier this month, they voted in favour of strike action, in a ballot called by the Irish Medical Organisation. They’re fighting for better working conditions, improved pay and an end to unsafe and illegal hours. Sorcha Pollak speaks to Dr Jamie McGettigan from Limerick Hospital Group and Health Editor Paul Cullen to find out more.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With many Irish people now feeling the bite from the soaring cost of living, a new report has found a record number of households are experiencing energy poverty. The study by the ESRI makes for stark reading. It found 29 per cent of households are spending more than a tenth of their income to power their home, with people in rural areas, those on lower incomes and older people disproportionately affected. So why is this happening now and what needs to be done to address it? Sorcha Pollak talks to ESRI economist Barra Roantree and Tricia Keilthy, Head of Social Justice and Policy at the Society of St Vincent de Paul. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Earlier this week, George Gonzaga Bento walked out of Dublin’s Central Criminal Court, a free man. The 36-year-old from Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, had spent the last 16 months in custody, accused of murdering teenager Josh Dunne in January 2021. 16-year-old Josh died from stab wounds inflicted by Bento, during a fight over a stolen bike in Dublin’s East Wall. After a six-week trial, the jury found Bento not guilty on all counts, accepting his plea of self-defence. Court reporters Alison O’Riordan and Eoin Reynolds reflect on the events of January 2021, the six-week trial that followed and how George Bento convinced the jury to let him walk free.Hosted by Sorcha Pollak and produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After 11 months, nearly 100 subpoenas and more than a thousand interviews, the congressional committee investigating the January 6th attack on the US Capitol has begun holding a series of public hearings to present its findings. The key question for the committee is whether the violence seen on the day was just a spontaneous outpouring of anger and frustration by supporters of a defeated candidate, or whether there was an orchestrated attempt to frustrate the transfer of power following a legitimate election.In other words, was there an attempted coup?The Irish Times Washington Correspondent Martin Wall reports. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the first time since retiring, former chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel spoke out last week about how her government treated an increasingly aggressive Russia - treatment that is now under the spotlight. Derek Scally was there when Merkel spoke and tells Conor Pope about how she justified those decisions and whether her excuses stand up to scrutiny. In part two: what is the new chancellor Olaf Scholz saying and doing about Russia and the war in Ukraine? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2018, Andrew Barnes decided to trial a four-day working week at his New Zealand-based business Perpetual Guardian. His employees work 80% of the time, while still receiving 100% of their salary. The trial was such a success, it’s still in place four years on, with positive outcomes for both employees and productivity. Here he tells Conor Pope how it works and why more companies should adopt this approach. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two weeks ago, a jury in Virginia delivered the verdict that everyone had been waiting for: Johnny Depp had won his multimillion-dollar defamation case against his ex-wife Amber Heard.The trial lasted six weeks and was streamed live on Youtube for the entire world to see. Neither Depp nor Heard's reputations have emerged from the trial unscathed, but it is only Heard who has been vilified by an online mob.Irish Times features writer Jennifer O'Connell talks to Sorcha Pollak about how that narrative emerged and what it says about the MeToo movement. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's that time of year again. The Leaving Certificate has been in existence since 1925, so it may come as no surprise to learn that students, academics and politicians are calling for a complete overhaul of the final year exam system. Education Editor Carl O’Brien and Professor Ann Looney from Dublin City University explain what changes are on the way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gardaí will soon be using facial recognition technology to crack cases and help win convictions. But the technology is already widely available. For a small fee, online services can find images of you that you may not have known were out there. Crime correspondent Conor Gallagher has tested out one such online service, Pimeyes. He talks with Sorcha Pollak about how it can be used and abused. Conor also looks at the Gardaí's plan to use the technology. Does it work, and is it safe? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Queen Elizabeth was 21 when she told her subjects that she would dedicate her whole life, whether it be long or short, to their service and the service of the imperial family.Now, aged 96, she is reported to be in good health but frail and what her courtiers call “episodic mobility issues” have left her unable to perform most public duties.As she celebrates 70 years on the throne, Irish Times London Editor Denis Staunton says she should perform one last act of service by announcing her retirement. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The killing of 19 children and two teachers in a Texas elementary school has put the spotlight back on gun control - for now. But Robin Kowalski, a US-based professor of psychology who has studied school shooters, tells In the News that other factors are being overlooked, like rejection, bullying and mental health issues.There are ways to tackle these problems. But when mental health is discussed in the context of mass shootings, it's more likely as a deflection from gun control proposals than with any genuine intention to tackle the problem. Plus: Washington Correspondent Martin Wall on the investigation into police mishandling of the Robb Elementary shootings. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After everything that’s happened over the past few years, many of us are dying for a nice holiday.And we’re willing to pay for it, with many people prioritising holiday spending this year despite pressure on budgets. But it’s not cheap: hotels, airbnb and car hire prices are all up. On top of that, if you’re unlucky enough to need a new passport, there are major delays.And now there is renewed chaos at Dublin Airport, with lengthy queues resulting in many missing flights. Guests: Olivia Kelly and Fionn Davenport Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

London Editor Denis Staunton explains what a newly-published report into illegal gatherings in UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's home and office means for him and his Conservative government. Can Johnson finally outmanoeuvre this long-running scandal? What will it take for his MPs to turn on him? Has the affair damaged British politics and its ability to deal with a dire cost of living crisis? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It is a war that Putin and western analysts predicted would be over within days, but three months down the line, fighting still rages on in Ukraine. So what has gone wrong with the Russian approach and what will it take for Ukraine to win the war? Jennifer Ryan speaks to Phillips O’Brien, a professor of strategic studies at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland to find out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is part three of a three part series. If you haven't listened to part one or two yet, we recommend you go back and do so - they're the previous episodes in the feed. Former RTE journalist Tommie Gorman, who interviewed Roy Keane after he returned from Saipan, joins the lineup for the final episode of a series looking back at the sporting scandal that rocked Ireland 20 years ago this week. Plus: Ken Early, Mary Hannigan, Emmet Malone and Eamon Dunphy on the national Mick v Roy debate and how far Ireland could have gone in the World Cup with Keane in the team. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is part two of a three part series. If you haven't listened to part one yet, we recommend you go back and do so - it's the previous episode in the feed. Warning: contains explicit language Former football writer for The Irish Times Emmet Malone, who travelled to Saipan with the Ireland team back in 2002, joins the podcast to tell the story of how things went so badly wrong between captain Roy Keane and manager Mick McCarthy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

20 years ago this week, Irish football fans were in a state of giddy excitement about the World Cup, which was about to begin in South Korea and Japan. But then something went terribly wrong. In the first of three episodes looking back at the controversial events of 2002, Conor Pope talks to Mary Hannigan, Ken Early, and Eamon Dunphy about the events that preceded Ireland's departure for its infamous training camp on the island of Saipan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.