The Hard Shoulder

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.

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

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.

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...

There are a number of events taking place this month to mark the 60th anniversary of John F Kennedy's trip to Ireland. A panel discussion has taken place at EPIC with Tánaiste Micheál Martin, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey; US Ambassador to Ireland Claire D. Cronin; Stephen Kennedy Smith who is a son of former US Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith, and nephew of President Kennedy. Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie went to the Homecoming: JFK in Ireland exhibition to meet with those in attendance.

RTÉ representatives today were questioned at an Oireachtas hearing over the scandal of hidden payments paid to Ryan Tubridy. Anton was joined by Dr Finola Doyle O’Neill Broadcast and Legal Historian at the School of History, UCC and a former member of the Future of Media Commission...

New Zealand, rats are seen as a harmful pest and a significant threat to natural biodiversity. That is why they have decided to exterminate rats and eradicate them from the area of Miramar and then for all of New Zealand. The government expects the task to be completed by 2050. How important rats were to the ecosystem and should we do the same here in Ireland? Anton Savage was joined by Wildlife expert, Eanna Ní Lamhna to discuss…

RTÉ representatives were questioned today at the Oireachtas Media Committee surrounding the ongoing controversy surrounding secret payments made to Ryan Tubridy. It also emerged today that Ryan Tubridy is out of contract at RTE, a fact which he refutes. Interim deputy director-general Adrian Lynch stated today that for editorial reasons he would not be on air in the current moment. Anton Savage was joined by Newstalk’s Political Correspondent Sean Defoe and Trevor Keegan, Chair of the RTE Sub Branch of the National Union of Journalists…

‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ the latest instalment in the tale is out this week. Screentime presenter John Fardy joined Anton Savage to discuss…

Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey stood trial today in Southwark Crown Court accused of sex offences against four men. The Hollywood star, 63, previously denied 12 charges including sexual assault and indecent assault. Anton Savage was joined by London Based Journalist, Enda Brady to discuss…

Anton Savage was joined by Independent Senator Michael McDowell, who has been considering the Hate Speech Bill that has been making its way through the Seanad. The Dáil recently passed the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022.

Wales has recently published plans to crack down on unhealthy options in supermarkets in efforts to tackle obesity. By removing unhealthy options from supermarket meal deals, they hope to lessen the appeal of unhealthy foods and promote healthier choices. Could Ireland follow suit? Anton Savage was joined by Columnist with the Irish Independent, Mary McCarthy...

Former RTÉ Director General Dee Forbes was “directly involved” in negotiating aspects of Ryan Tubridy’s contract, RTÉ has confirmed. In a statement detailing why Mr Tubridy’s salary was published incorrectly, RTÉ set out how Mr Tubridy’s contract differed from other broadcasters. Anton Savage was joined on The Hard Shoulder by Sean Defoe, Newstalk’s Political Correspondent and Emma O’Kelly, Chair of the Dublin Broadcasting Branch of the NUJ and RTE’s Education Correspondent...

The final day of the Government's Consultative Forum on International Security Policy has been taking place in Dublin Castle today. Some of the questions being discussed surrounded how to define Ireland's neutrality. MEP for Dublin, Clare Daly joined Anton Savage on The Hard Shoulder to discuss…

More than 60% of people would give up their car in exchange for 'reliable and frequent' public transport, according to a new Newstalk poll. Nearly eight-in-ten people want to see more road upgrades and 60% want more motorways. The survey found that 72% of people do not want the next two increases on fuel excise duty to happen, with women more likely than men to be against the plan. To discuss these findings and more, Anton Savage was joined by a panel including; Brian Caufield, Associate Professor at the School of Engineering at Trinity College, Geraldine Herbert, Motoring Journalist and Michael Healy Rae Independent TD for County Kerry…

The government has approved new laws for abortion "safe access zones" which will make it illegal to protest outside locations offering abortion services. The proposals will see a 100-metre buffer zone imposed outside clinics while anyone in breach of the law could face a €2,500 fine or six months in prison. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly joined Anton Savage on The Hard Shoulder to discuss safe access zones, the National Children's Hospital and the ongoing RTÉ pay scandal...

It’s been another busy day at RTÉ as the Media Minister Catherine Martin has announced a review into Governance and Culture at RTÉ. RTÉ staff held a protest outside the station’s campus and Newstalk's Chief Reporter Barry Whyte was there...

Newstalk commissioned a survey carried out by Amárach Research to look at a variety of issues relating to transport. If you’re in the car, bus, train, we have been getting the pulse of the nation on all modes of transport. Newstalk reporter, Josh Crosbie runs through the findings in the first in a series of surveys.

There wasn't a dry eye at Dublin Airport this afternoon. The Special Olympics Irish team had a homecoming with crowds 10 deep. Team Ireland brought back 75 medals in Gold, Silver and Bronze. Henry McKean was there at Dublin Airport to soak up the atmosphere and met the athletes, coaches and volunteers...

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman joined Anton Savage on The Hard Shoulder to discuss new care-leave entitlements for parents and carers that are to take effect next week, accommodation for Ukrainian refugees in hotels and the ongoing Ryan Tubridy pay scandal…

The fallout from RTÉ’s undisclosed payments to Ryan Tubridy is continuing with the broadcaster set to come before the Oireachtas Media Committee on Wednesday followed by the Public Accounts Committee on Thursday. It was confirmed this morning that the broadcaster’s suspended Director General Dee Forbes resigned with immediate effect. Anton was joined by Melanie Finn, Senior News Correspondent for the Irish Independent and David W Duffy, CEO and co-founder The Corporate Governance Institute…

Could the rise in cancel culture potentially be undermining debate and free speech? Anton Savage was joined by Stella O Malley, psychotherapist and author of ‘What your teen is trying to tell you’...

House prices have fallen in year-on-year terms for the first time since mid-2020. According to Daft.ie’s latest report, it found that house prices in the second quarter of 2023 were 0.5% lower than the same period a year ago. Anton was joined by Conor Skehan, Sunday Independent columnist and former Chair of the Housing Agency and Susanne Rogers, Research and Policy Analyst for Social Justice Ireland...