The Hard Shoulder

A TD has made a call to make July 12th a public holiday in the south of Ireland. Green Party TD Patrick Costello thinks the government should legislate for a new holiday, and it would help bring the island together. St Patrick’s Day and July 12th are both celebrated in Northern Ireland, so would marking July 12th south of the border be a step towards uniting Ireland? Kieran was joined by Peadar Tóibín is the leader of Aontú and John O’Brennan is Professor and Jean Monnet Chair of European Integration at Maynooth University to discuss...

Tomorrow at 12:30 pm, Forsa Trade Union and Cork City Library staff will hold a solidarity march to Cork City Hall in support of the library workers’ rights. This action comes in response to harassment from far-right activists attempting to ‘cleanse’ the library of LGBTQ+ materials and others they deem inappropriate. The library staff and those who stand with them are hoping this action results in the removal of harmful individuals from their workplace to ensure a healthy and safe working environment. The head of local government in Forsa Trade Union Richy Carrothers joined Anton to discuss.

The final Ford Fiesta will roll off the production line today, Friday 7 July, following the company's decision late last year to axe the popular supermini. It brings 47 years and eight generations of the Fiesta to an end. Anton was joined by two very sad Ford Fiesta enthusiasts, our own Newstalker, Eamonn Torsney and John Egan, Vintage Car Enthusiast...

Kevin Bakhurst may not officially be the Director General of RTE until Monday but it’s clear his work has started. Following his meeting with Media Minister Catherine Martin yesterday – Bakhurst today met with union officials to discuss the crisis engulfing the state broadcaster. One of those present today is Emma O’Kelly Chair of the Dublin Broadcasting Branch of the NUJ who of course you will better know as RTE’s Education Correspondent joined Anton on the show...

Muireann Lynch, Energy Economist at the ESRI joined Anton Savage on the show to discuss energy prices...

Devices including mobile phones are set to be banned from classrooms to stop them from disrupting learning, the Dutch government has announced. The initiative is being introduced in collaboration with schools and is to take effect at the start of next year. Eric Nelligan Secondary School Teacher in St Munchins College, Corbally and Aontú Spokesperson on Education joined Anton on the show to discuss if we are in need of something similar here..

We’ve had more people in front of committees and news of Ryan Tubridy and Noel kelly due to appear next Tuesday before both PAC and Media Oireachtas committees. We’ve learned a lot more about the RTE corporate spending and the details fo the Toy Show the Musical. To go through this Anton was joined on the show by Alan Hughes, Panto Producer and Longest Running Panto Star and Willie O’Reilly, Columnist at the Business Post and Former Group Commercial Director of RTÉ...

The people of Ghent in Belgium are having an issue with beer bikes – huge vehicles where stag parties of up to 20 drink 50 liters of beer while pedaling around and listening to deafening music. The city is now considering a ban on stag groups. This follows Amsterdam who in March launched an online advertising campaign designed to keep rowdy packs of stag parties away. Freek Wallagh is the Night Mayor of Amsterdam and joined Anton on the show...

A new bill updating Ireland's laws on hate crime and hate speech has been approved by the government and is currently with the Seanad. Many have been critical of the bill and it has certainly divided opinion Minister for Justice and Fine Gael TD for Meath East, Helen McEntee who introduced this bill last year joined Anton in studio...

Anton Savage was honored to have been joined by Vera Twomey, who as many of you will know is a medical cannabis campaigner, and mother of Ava, who died recently.

Speaking fluently and clearly should be given the same status as literacy and numeracy on a school curriculum. That is the vow from UK Labour Party Leader Keir Starmer who has been discussing the future of education across the Irish Sea. Anton was joined by Brenda Hyland Beirne Founder and Managing Director of The Irish School of Etiquette.

A survey by LV General Insurance showed one-third of people are unsure where the fusebox is in their home, and a quarter admit they don't know where their boiler is. Newstalk Reporter Henry McKean investigates why DIY has not been passed down through generations...

It’s time once again for the shopping trolley hotline where we review the same product from various stores and as ever Anton was guided by expert shopper Simon Tierney...

The Special Criminal Court has dealt with some of the biggest trials of the state under the offenses against the state act most recently the Trail of Gerry “The Monk” Hutch. But is the court's structure fundamentally flawed? Cian O'Concubhair Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice in the Department of Law and Criminology at Maynooth University joined Anton on the show.

Current and former RTE executives are currently appearing before Oireachtas Media Committee. With details emerging that RTE spent hundreds of thousands on corporate events for clients through now multiple barter accounts. Including 5000 euro worth of Havaiananian flip flops. Anton was joined by Sinn Fein Finance Spokesperson Pearse Doherty and Newstalk’s Political Correspondent, Sean Defoe who is at the Oireachtas media committee.

The latest poll from the Sunday Independent and Ireland Thinks shows that 41% of the country wants the Government to be led by Sinn Fein, and not include Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael. Can that be a reality? And if so, surely Sinn Fein would need the support of those who are further left on the political divide? Trade Unionist Brendan Ogle joined Anton on the show.

The amount of parents who say back-to-school costs are a financial burden has risen to almost 80 percent as the cost-of-living crisis continues to hit homes across the country. Louise Bayliss, Spokesperson for SPARK ( Single Parents Acting for the Rights of Kids) joined Anton in studio to discuss the burden felt by parents…

RTE representatives are in front of the Oireachtas Media Committee today, and one of those who is glued to it is Ireland Editor for the Irish Independent, Fionnan Sheahan who joined Anton Savage on the show.

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. This week, Fionn joined Anton to give him tips for a location a bit closer to home... Galway!

An appeal by Enoch Burke against his suspension and dismissal from his position at Wilson's Hospital School in Westmeath will take place this Friday. Newstalk's Courts Correspondent Frank Greaney joined Anton with the details.

An extensive review of RTE’s governance and culture has been signed off on, following on from revelations of non-disclosed payments by RTÉ to presenter Ryan Tubridy totaling €345,000 over several years. Anton was joined by Niamh Smyth, Fianna Fáil Spokeperson on Arts and Culture. Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and Emma O’Kelly, Chair of the Dublin Broadcasting Branch of the NUJ, and RTE’s Education Correspondent.

The Summer Economic Statement confirmed 2.25 billion euro extra will be put towards new capital building between next year and 2026. The figures were revealed alongside a budget package which will include 2 billion euro in extra spending and 1.1 billion in tax cuts. Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform spoke to Anton.

Anton Savage 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 conclusion of talks with the Irish Medical Organisation in recent days has paved the way for the long-delayed roll-out of the additional GP visit cards. More than 78,000 children aged six and seven are to be give free GP care in the coming weeks, while another 400,000 people will qualify through an easier means test. Kildare GP and assistant professor for public health and primary care at Trinity college, Dr. Brendan O'Shea spoke to Anton.

The Bill for the Metrolink has hit €300m before construction has started. Professor of Transportation at the School of Engineering at Trinity College Dublin, Brian Caulfield joined Anton to discuss.

The cost of hotels has been in the spotlight recently but it has caused one tour operator to say a tour he is offering in Ireland will be his last. Paul Byrom is a renowned tenor but in recent years he has been providing Irish tours to visitors from the US, Canada and Australia. Paul told Anton how hospitality prices in Ireland have impacted his business.

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin has announced two separate external reviews into RTÉ will take place, one into Governance and Culture , the other will focus on Contractor Fees and HR issues. Separately, Minister Catherine Martin says she wants to hear the actions being considered by RTE's new Director General to deal with those who were aware of the controversial payments. The spoke to Anton about the terms of reference for the examination.

It’s the 4th of July and today Newstalk's Henry McKean has been asking if America is at a crossroads? Ireland right now is in peak tourism with thousands of Americans on every street corner. Henry has been out chatting to them.

Australia has become the first country to legalise medical psychedelics. Dr. David Erritzoe runs the world’s first psychedelic research centre in London and he spoke to Anton.

Wimbledon has begun today! Conor Niland, former professional tennis player, spoke to Anton about his predictions for the tournament.

London Based Journalist, Enda Brady gave Anton the latest on Kevin Spacey’s trial in London…

A wave of protests have broken out in France after a 17-year-old youth was shot by police near Paris on Tuesday, CBS News Correspondent in Paris, Elaine Cobb gave Anton the latest.

“We are sleepwalking our way towards a deeply dysfunctional, inequitable and unbalanced Ireland” That is the assessment of former Environment Editor with The Irish Times, Frank McDonald on the imbalance forming in Ireland due to Dublin’s growth. Frank spoke to Anton about the impact of Dublin's growth on the rest of the country.

Summer is here for the near 550,000 primary school children in Ireland. Many parents will be dreading the extra time and effort required to entertain their children over the break. Co-host’s of the ‘Honey Your Ruining Our Kid’ podcast, Jarlath Regan and Tina Regan spoke to Anton about how to survive the summer holidays.

According to trade magazine ‘The Grocer’, more office workers are making sandwiches at home and bringing a packed lunch into the office. As the cost-of-living crisis continues is making at-home lunches much more appealing? TV Chef and Culinary Lecturer, Edward Hayden spoke to Anton about how to make the best packed lunch for the office.

Lidl will be dropping the price of their own brand milk by 10c and major supermarkets are set to follow suit. Farmers who are already stretched thin with poor profit returns on milk have raised concerns. Fein Gael TD and Minster for state with responsibility for Business, Employment & Retail, Neale Richmond spoke to Anton Savage.

Plans have been proposed to create a new town on the land at Jamestown Business Park, the proposed plans for the town can hold up to 8,000 people. Newstalk's Sarah Madden spoke to the people of Finglas to hear what they think about the plan.

The European Space Agency is set to launch a groundbreaking spacecraft from Florida tomorrow. The 1.4 billion Euclid mission aims to undercover one of the biggest mysteries of space that being dark matter. Anton was joined by the one and only Irish man involved in the mission, Peter Coles who is Professor in theoretical physics at Maynooth University and Chair of the Euclid Consortium Diversity Committee (ECDC).

June is Acne Awareness Month. And as we near the end of it, Founder and Senior Skin Therapist Eavanna Breen joined Anton to discuss the causes of acne and how to properly manage it.

What a week it’s been for RTE. Appearances in front of the Oireachtas Committee and the Public Accounts Committee. Statement after statement from those in charge, politicians, Tubridy and more. Anton was joined by Brian Stanley who is Chair of the Public Accounts Committee and Sinn Fein TD for Laois Offaly

Enda Brady, Journalist and commentator joined Anton with an update on the Kevin Spacey case.

There were 12,441 people in emergency accommodation in Ireland in the last week of May, new figures show, as homelessness in Ireland reached a new record level. CEO of the Simon Community Catherine Kenny joined Anton Savage on the show.

Newstalk’s transport survey conducted by Amarach was released earlier this week, with interesting insights into people’s attitudes towards private and public transport being recorded Anton Savage was joined to discuss the survey’s findings by Anne Graham CEO of the National Transport Authority.

It’s a good day for all you music lovers out there! Yes, HMV have dropped the dial on their first bricks and mortar store in Ireland in over a decade. The iconic brand re-opened on Henry Street today and Newstalk Reporter Sarah Madden went down to have a snoop. Sarah Madden and Dave Hanratty Host of the No Encore Music Podcast joined Anton Savage on the show.

Anton Savage was joined on The Hard Shoulder by former British Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies to discuss her new book 'Unfair Play'.

RTÉ have today appeared before a second Oireachtas Committee. The Public Accounts Committee were taking a forensic look at the accounts of the broadcaster in the wake of hidden payments to Ryan Tubridy. Newstalk's Political Correspondent Seán Defoe and Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty joined Anton Savage to discuss...

Niall Breslin, aka Bressie will tomorrow embark on ‘The Rising’ challenge, which will see him kayak the length of the River Shannon, which is more than 330km, to raise money for the youth mental health charity he co-founded, A Lust for Life. Bressie joined Anton Savage on The Hard Shoulder ahead of the big day tomorrow...

'Is your name Wi-Fi, because I'm feeling a connection' has officially been ranked as the best chat-up line of all time. According to a new poll chat up lines are seeing a resurgence in popularity with younger generations but they do actually work? Niamh Maher Commercial Creative Director with Journal Media and Comedian Jim Elliott have joined Anton Savage to discuss...

AIB will be increasing its fixed and variable mortgage rates by an average of 0.46%. The increase will be across its AIB, EBS and Haven fixed and variable rates. The bank said the new fixed mortgage rates are effective from 30 June. Anton Savage was joined by David Hall, co-founder of The Irish Mortgage Holders Organisation...

Author, playwright and columnist with the New European Bonnie Greer joined Anton Savage on the show to discuss some of her own research into the Irish Civil War. She says she spent a few days learning about it, and found things out that she never knew before...