The Hard Shoulder
7,235 episodes — Page 121 of 145
Eviction ban extension 'the least worst move' - Threshold
On Wednesday, People Before Profit tabled a bill in the Dáil urging the Government to extend the ban. The Government intended to oppose the legislation but after the Minister failed to inform the Dáil, the bill progressed to detailed scrutiny stage. John Mark McCafferty, Chief Executive of Threshold joined Kieran to discuss the possibility of an extension to the eviction ban...
Moncrieff in Ukraine: Investigations into war crimes and torture of prisoners
As part of a series of reports done by Sean Moncrieff while he was in Ukraine last week to mark a year of the war, Sean got into discussions about whether Vladimir Putin could be tried for war crimes. He met with Roman Koval, who is head of communications and field researcher in Truth Hounds. They are private war crime investigators who’ve been gathering evidence since the invasion of Crimea in 2014. Kieran was also joined by Yvonne Mcdermott Rees, Professor in law at Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law at Swansea University, who specialises in International criminal law to discuss war crimes further…
Mispronounced Irish names
The CSO have today revealed Jack is once again Ireland’s most popular boys’ name, holding onto the top spot for the sixth consecutive year, while Emily became the most popular girls’ name for the first time since 2019. The Irish name Fiadh fell two places, from first to third - which got us thinking about Irish names and the challenges that can arise when trying to pronounce them. Niamh Maher Creative Director with Journal Media and Newstalks Roisin Davis joined Kieran to discuss the trouble they run into having Irish names…
As I Remember It: Bertie Ahern & The Good Friday Agreement
'As I Remember It: Bertie Ahern & the Good Friday Agreement' is a new podcast that tells the story of the Good Friday Agreement as told by those who negotiated it and marks the first time all those involved have reunited to reflect on the negotiations in 25 years. Head to newstalk.com/goodfridayagreement.
Nadia Dobrianska recalls the 'terrifying' journey fleeing Ukraine one year ago
On the 24th of February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, making tomorrow the 1-year anniversary of the war. The often to-ing and fro-ing battles have gone one way then another, with a myriad of atrocities committed. Ukrainian Historian, Nadia Dobrianska who had to relocate to Ireland due to the conflict, joined Kieran from Newstalk’s Cork Studio to discuss…
Tánaiste Micheál Martin says ‘issues’ remain around Bertie Ahern’s past
Micheál Martin, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss the shooting in Omagh of DCI John Caldwell, the ongoing discussions around the Northern Ireland Protocol and the return of Bertie Ahern to Fianna Fáil...
'A wonderful voice' - George Hamilton remembers the legendary John Motson
Legendary commentator, John Motson sadly has passed away today at the age of 77. He leaves behind a résumé which spanned 10 World Cups, 10 European Championships & 29 FA Cup finals Broadcaster and commentator, George Hamilton joined Kieran to remember the man himself…
Liz O’Donnell: Omagh shooting ‘a chilling reminder’ of the importance of peace
Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern’s new podcast ‘As I Remember It’ was launched last night. A Newstalk Original podcast, it tells the story of the Good Friday Agreement through the eyes of those who negotiated it – marking the first time they have come together to reflect on the agreement and the 25 years that followed. Liz O’Donnell, Former Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs from 1997 -2002 features in episode seven of the podcast, and she joined Kieran on the show this evening to discuss her role…
Eating out in Dublin 'an absolute fortune compared to London'
Well a new survey this week ranking European cities has shown eating out in Dublin is more expensive than London, Paris or Rome. CEO of Fáilte Ireland Paul Kelly told Breakfast Business with Joe Lynam yesterday that pricing was related to Dublin being a good quality destination. Kieran was joined by Martin Hart, CEO of the Temple Bar Company and Ciara Treacy, Newstalk's Digital and Social Media Executive to discuss...
Omagh Shooting: 'Do the people responsible have no children of their own?'
Three men have been arrested in relation to the attempted murder of Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell in Omagh. Newstalk's Chief Reporter Barry Whyte joined Kieran with the latest...
Conor Sketches: 'I was always a good storyteller'
Conor Moore of 'Conor Sketches’ fame is winning huge acclaim with his current stage show. Conor Sketches Live returns to the 3Olympia Theatre next week and he joined Kieran in studio to discuss...
The Shopping Trolley Hotline: Instant Coffee
Newstalk's own, Simon Tierney joined Kieran again 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 Simon and Kieran took a look a the different options of instant coffee on the shelves...
Fergus Finlay: I can't see Holly Cairns or Gary Gannon objecting to Ivana Bacik leadership
The co-leaders of the Social Democrats have announced they are stepping down. Catherine Murphy and Róisín Shortall confirmed they are resigning with immediate effect, and a leadership contest will take place soon. Kieran was joined by Fergus Finlay, Columnist with the Irish Examiner and Hugh O’Connell, Deputy Political Editor with the Irish Independent to discuss...
'Next on the agenda is victory' - Ukrainian Ambassador to Ireland
Friday marks the one year anniversary since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. From the day the war began, to Ukrainians making their way here to Ireland, to audiences in the Dáil with President Zelensky, it’s been quite a year. Kieran welcomed Ukrainian Ambassador to Ireland Larysa Gerasko to the programme today…
88-year-old woman with broken hip and shoulder waited 14 hours for ambulance
It took over four hours for an ambulance to arrive at a life-threatening emergency call 94 times last year. According to Freedom of Information figures, released to Newstalk, 21 of these were over five hours. The HSE aims to respond to life-threatening heart and respiratory calls within 18 minutes and 59 seconds in 80% of cases. Kieran was joined by Eamon in Cork and David Hall, CEO of Lifeline Ambulance Services to discuss…
'The city is just unsafe' - Rise in violence in the capital
In light of recent events involving attacks on Gardaí, An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar condemned the incident but he also raised concerns about a general rise in violence in society. For more on this and what can be done, Kieran was joined by James, a taxi driver in Dublin, Jill O’Mahony, Sociology Lecturer at Southeast Technological University and Padraig Rice, Policy and Research Manager at LGBT Ireland...
Digging Deeper: Attachment Styles
Dr Tara Logan Buckley, Clinical Psychologist joined Kieran for a new segment where they will dig a little deeper into the mysteries of the mind and mental health. The series continued by taking a look at the different attachment styles out there, how they form and how they affect our romantic relationships...
Tuesday Travel: Seville
Every week, Tuesday Travel on The Hard Shoulder with thanks to Emirates, will take a closer look at some of the fantastic destinations Emirates fly to around the world. This week, Kieran was joined by Fionn Davenport, travel writer and broadcaster to look at Seville...
Oireachtas ‘needs reassurance’ that DJ Carey’s debt write down was fair - Paschal Donohoe
Public Expenditure Minister, Paschal Donohoe joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss the details of the €1.3 billion package of cost of living measures announced by the Government today. Minister Donohoe also addressed comments made by Former Taoiseach, John Bruton on Newstalk Breakfast and the ongoing controversy surrounding former Kilkenny hurler DJ Carey after he received a 99 per cent debt write-down from AIB...
'Every word that comes out of his mouth is an untruth' - Bill Browder on Putin
Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine and the West of starting the war almost a year ago, while Moscow simply used "force to stop it". The Russian President made the accusations during his State of the Union address, laying out his plans for the next 12 months. Putin says Ukraine was made "anti-Russian" long ago. Meanwhile the US president Joe Biden has been speaking in the past hour in Poland. He says the democratic world has stood up to Moscow and NATO is more united than ever. Bill Browder, CEO and co-founder of the investment fund Hermitage Capital Management joined Kieran to discuss…
Common Ground: Should we increase the size of the military?
Kieran was joined in studio 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 discussion around 'Should we increase the size of the military?'
Ballyfermot area experiencing 'structural inequality' for years, says community worker
The Taoiseach and Tánaiste have condemned an attack on gardaí in Ballyfermot in Dublin. An officer was struck in the face with a bottle after being surrounded by a crowd of young people. Two Garda vehicles were also damaged in the incident. Barry Whyte, Newstalk’s Chief Reporter joined Kieran from Ballyfermot where he met with locals to discuss…
Ed Smith's Top Diss Tracks
‘Flowers’ by Miley Cyrus has taken over the charts all through 2023, so much so that it recently broke the Spotify record for most streams in a single week. It’s also already become one of the most dissected “diss tracks” of all time, given the not-so-subtle shade which is thrown at ex-husband Liam Hemsworth. This world of the diss track is nothing new of course, and to talk through some of the more memorable examples through the years, Kieran was joined in studio by Ed Smith of Today FM Rocks…
Kerrane: Cost-of-living package ‘wholly inadequate’
The government has signed off on a €1.3 billion package of cost of living measures. This includes €200 of bonus welfare payments, a €100 child benefit top-up, more supports for businesses to meet energy costs, and an extension of the lower VAT rate of 9 per cent for the hospitality industry. Kieran was joined by Newstalk’s Political Correspondent Sean Defoe to talk through the key points of the announcement. Claire Kerrane, Sinn Fein TD and party spokesperson on social protection and Elaina Fitzgerald Kane, Chair of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation joined Kieran to analyse the measures.
Energy Prices 'a long way from returning to absolute normal'
The big energy news today has been that Pinergy has been the first in the Irish energy market to reduce its prices since the pandemic. Their prices will be reduced by 7.1% from the end of March. Daragh Cassidy of bonkers.ie joined Kieran in studio to discuss. In other energy and fuel news, AA Ireland are looking for clarity on fuel increases due in March. Paddy Comyn is Head of Communications with AA Ireland and he also joined the discussion…
'I've lost both my parents to strokes' - Actress Pauline McLynn
Actress Pauline McLynn joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss why she is supporting the Irish Heart Foundation FAST campaign, her latest work and Irish BAFTA wins…
Leaving Cert Reform: Conradh na Gaeilge 'very worried about the direction it's taking'
It’s almost one year since Education Minister, Norma Foley floated potential reforms for the Leaving Cert. The first reform would look at moving some of the coursework, including Paper 1 of English and Irish into 5th Year. However, there have been some concerns expressed on that front. Kieran was joined by Carl O’Brien, Education Editor with The Irish Times, Michael Gillespie, General Secretary of the TUI and Julian De Spainn from Conradh Na Gaeilge to discuss…
Gambling advertising should 'be slowly weaned out of the game' - Footballer David Wheeler
The seemingly inextricable link between sports and the gambling industry has been an increasingly prominent issue in recent years - but what about the athletes caught in the middles of these commercial links? David Wheeler, an English professional footballer who currently plays for Wycombe Wanderers, has recently written about his own misgivings around the prominence of gambling advertising in the sporting sphere. He joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss…
Speed camera technology should be used to check motor insurance - Fianna Fáil Senator
New research from the Motor Insurers Bureau has shown that the number of uninsured private vehicles on Irish roads grew for the third year in a row. Last year, the total number of private vehicles driving without insurance reached just over 187,000 - an increase of almost 14,000 on 2021. Kieran was joined by Fianna Fáil Senator, Timmy Dooley and Peter Boland from the Alliance for Insurance Reform to discuss...
Rewriting Roald Dahl's books 'a reckless way of intruding on literature'
Critics including the UK Prime minister have condemned the rewriting of Roald Dahl’s books to remove content deemed offensive, such as references to weight, mental health, violence, gender and race. Is it ok to modernise literature ? Or has this woke culture gone wild? Kieran was joined by Stella O’Malley, Psychotherapist and Author and Sheila O'Flangan, Author of ‘What Eden Did Next?’ to discuss…
You Are What You Eat: Pancakes
Ahead of Pancake Tuesday next week, Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joined Anton Savage today to discuss some of the best ways to serve your pancakes...
Nurses 'afraid and exhausted' - INMO sanctions industrial action over staff shortages
Serious concerns have been raised about the lack of nurses in hospitals, to provide a safe service to patients. It comes as the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has sanctioned a campaign of industrial action over staff shortages. The move follows a month-long period of consultation. Anton Savage was joined by Edward Matthews, Deputy General Secretary of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation to discuss...
Northern Ireland Protocol: 'Donaldson in a very difficult position'
The DUP says talks on the Northern Ireland protocol have reached a "big moment". British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been holding discussions near Belfast with Stormont parties. DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson says progress has been made in resolving the outstanding issues Anton Savage was joined by Ben Lowry, Editor of The News Letter to discuss…
John Creedon: 'The Irish love a get-together'
Broadcaster, John Creedon joined Anton Savage on The Hard Shoulder to discuss his series 'Fleadh Cheoil', his relationship with singer-songwriter John Prine and working setting up music gear as a young lad...
'He transcended his sport' - Michael Jordan turns 60
It’s over 25 years since his ‘Last Dance’ with the Chicago Bulls, but Michael Jordan remains the highwater mark for success in the sporting sphere and beyond! The basketball legend turns 60 today, and to reflect on his legacy at large, Anton Savage was joined by Kieran Shannon of The Irish Examiner...
'There is never a time that doesn't have a housing crisis' - Conor Skehan
Are we, as a country, in fact getting to grips with the accommodation crisis? Conor Skehan, the former chair of the Housing Agency, and columnist with the Sunday Independent joined Anton Savage to discuss…
Italian cheeses the best in the world?
Italian cheese has topped a poll for the best cheeses in the world. Parmesan came in first, Burrata second and Grana Padano third — beating French cheeses such as Reblochon which came in outside of the top ten at number 13. Anton Savage was joined by Finbar Deery Head of Retail at Sheridan’s Cheese and Manuela Spenelli, Former interpreter for Giovanni Trapattoni who now runs Eurotoques Ireland, a community of chefs…
Hyperemesis: 'No rational whatsoever for needing consultant to prescribe drug'
A drug called Cariban is available to treat the condition hyperemesis which affects women during pregnancy. However concerns were raised today about patients could go about getting the cost of the drug covered. Anton Savage was joined by Jennifer Whitmore, Social Democrats TD for Wicklow to discuss…
‘I blamed myself’ - Mother of baby who died was given incorrect drug in labour
Cóilín Ó Scolaí joined us on the programme earlier this week following the settling of a High Court action over the death of his daughter. The O’Scolai family believe they’ve been lied to about what happened ever since. Anton Savage was joined by Roisin Molloy, whose baby son Mark died shortly after birth in 2012 following failings in his care at the Midlands Regional Hospital in Portlaoise. She’s been campaigning since for more open disclosure in the cases of preventable deaths in hospitals…
Energy credit: 'We are in the economic position to give something'
The Green Party will seek to pause energy credits this summer, when coalition leaders meet to discuss cost of living supports. The final 200 euro energy credit will be issued in April under the current plan announced last Autumn. The Government is under pressure to extend the support, as costs remain high for many, despite a fall in wholesale energy prices. Anton Savage was joined by Alan Farrell, Fine Gael TD for Dublin Fingal and Muireann Lynch, senior research officer with the ESRI to discuss…
'45 per cent of lone parents are living in deprivation,' group says
Figures released from the CSO have shown the consumer price index remains higher than this time last year, with the main drivers of higher living costs in the year leading up to January being housing, energy and food. Anton Savage was joined by Louise Bayliss, co-founder and spokesperson for S.P.A.R.K to discuss the challenges facing single parents amidst the cost of living crisis…
Harry Potter series 'lives in it's own space' separate from author JK Rowling
The video game Hogwarts Legacy is the newest potential franchise to emerge from the wider wizarding world of Harry Potter. But 26 years on from the first book in the series, why has Harry Potter held such staying power for adolescents and adults alike? Cameron Hill of Off The Ball joined Anton Savage on The Hard Shoulder to discuss…
'Improved public transport is the solution' to congestion in cities
According to a new study, Dublin is third worst for congestion in the world and the average driver in Dublin spent over 277 hours commuting in the last year. There have been many calls in recent years to reduce the number of cars in Irish cities like Dublin and Cork. Dan Boyle Green Party Councillor in Cork and Keith Gavin, Chair of The Irish Parking Association joined Anton Savage on The Hard Shoulder to discuss…
Price of a pint almost €10 in some Temple Bar pubs
The day has come when the price of a pint is almost €10. Many didn’t expect it to come this soon but in February 2023 a pint of beer is €9:95 in a pub in Temple Bar. Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie has been out on the town meeting with publicans, customers and tourists.
Behind The Screens: Spin-Offs
Sarina Bellissimo, host of The Bellissimo Files Podcast joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to take a look at some of the best TV spin-offs out there...
New Leadership Podcast with Bobby Kerr
In this new podcast, Life and Leadership, Bobby Kerr explores the lives of some of the most successful Irish business leaders and entrepreneurs of our time, including beauty guru Aimee Connolly and GAA star Bernard Brogan. Listen and follow the podcast now wherever you get your podcasts.
Blindboy: ‘I find the pomposity and ritual of English monarchy utterly fascinating’
King Charles is set to be coronated at the start of May. But is the coronation something we should be looking forward to? Or does people’s interest in it say something about the impact of imperial England? Blindboy Boatclub joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss...
The Shopping Trolley Hotline: Mayonnaise
Newstalk's own, Simon Tierney joined Kieran again 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 Simon and Kieran took a look a the different options of mayonnaise on the shelves...
Mother ‘devastated’ after truck driver who killed daughter has license restored
Amy Dutil Wall lost her three-year-old girl, Estlin in a car crash in 2017. The truck driver whose careless driving caused Estiln's death has had his driver's license restored by a judge. Amy joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss...
Coveney: VAT increase for hospitality sector 'may happen'
Simon Coveney, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss job cuts in the tech industry, VAT rates for the hospitality industry and the resignation of Scottish First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon...