The Hard Shoulder
7,245 episodes — Page 126 of 145
Nursing home owner calls for 'supports' to help patients move on from hospital
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has said there are 489 patients on trolleys waiting for admission to a bed today. Kieran was joined by Priscilla Lynch, Clinical Editor of the Medical Independent and Diarmuid O’Dalaigh, owner of Oaklodge Nursing Home in Cork to discuss...
NCT: 'There's an inconsistency in how the tests are being done'
New analysis has found a 22% difference in the pass rate at two of the country’s NCT testing centres last year. The Independent.ie study found that the centre in Deansgrange in Dublin had a pass rate of 62.65%, while the centre at Derrybeg in Donegal had a pass rate of just 40.01%. Dave Humphreys, motoring journalist and Road Test Editor for CompleteCar.ie and Shane P O’Reilly, Independent Cavan County Councillor joined Kieran to discuss…
'I do not regret going to Lesbos' - Irishman Sean Binder facing trial in Greece
Sean Binder is set to face trial tomorrow, more than four years after he was arrested. He faces charges including people smuggling and being a member of a criminal organisation. Sean joined Kieran on the show from Lesbos in Greece...
'Our generation's open to everything!' - Henry looks into polyamory
Ex-boxer David Haye has set tongues wagging with unconfirmed rumours he is in a throuple with singer and presenter Una Healy and model Sian Osbourne. According to the Irish Sun he told friends and family he was. Posting photographs on social media getting close on a sun holiday and holding hands in London. Henry McKean has been out and about asking how commonplace are these type relationships? Image: : @davidhaye/Instagram
Health Minister says 'we're not through the peak' of flu cases
This week has been the worst on record for overcrowding in hospitals here. Between Tuesday and Friday this week the Irish Midwives and Nurses Association say there were almost 3,000 people on trollies. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly joined Kieran in studio to discuss the current crisis...
Brianna Parkins: New Year's Resolutions for the Neurodiverse
As January draws to a close, Brianna Parkins, Irish Times Contributor has been writing about alternative New Year's Resolutions as a woman with ADHD. She joined Kieran in studio to discuss...
Shortall: Irish healthcare 'out of line with the rest of Europe'
This week has been the worst on record for overcrowding in hospitals in Ireland. Co-Leader of the Social Democrats and TD for Dublin North West, Róisín Shortall joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss..
How the brain perceives time
Pete Lunn, Behavioural Economist at the ERSI joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to chat through the science behind how our brains perception of time...
Doctor says lack of space is 'incredibly challenging' to provide care
Dr Peadar Gilligan, consultant in Emergency Medicine at Beaumont Hospital, and Member of IMO Consultant Committee joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder whilst on a break from his shift to discuss the ongoing hospital crisis..
'I'm sorry for knocking Ireland out of Italia 90' - Henry meets Toto Schillaci
People will remember the sights and sounds and memories of Italia 90 with Toto Schillaci knocking Ireland out of the World Cup. This evening in Dublin Castle a free football sticker exhibition opens celebrating Ireland’s ties with Italy. Henry McKean went along for a sneak peek...
Hospital Crisis: 'Wrong message' being sent to mental health patients
The national trolley figures were at 838 today, down from a peak of earlier this week of 931, but still way above what would be normal for January. The INMO have been reporting nurses in tears at the pressure being put on certain hospitals. Kieran was joined by Finian McGrath is a former Junior Minister at the Department of Health and Keith Walsh, who is a writer, broadcaster and mental health advocate..
Politicians must communicate 'what Ireland's membership of the Union is about'
All this week, we’re commemorating the fact that it is 50 years since Ireland joined the then EEC - now the EU. And plenty of different characters have walked through the corridors of power in Europe. Kieran was joined by John O’Brennan, Jean Monnet Professor of European Integration at NUI Maynooth to discuss...
Cannon: Attacks on politicians becoming 'more acceptable' in society
Fine Gael TD for Galway East Ciaran Cannon and Minister for State, Anne Rabbitte had bags of excrement thrown at them at a meeting last night. It’s lead to calls for the perpetrators to be caught and prosecuted. Ciaran Cannon joined Kieran on the show to discuss...
Workplace perks: 'Some companies can use them as a smokescreen'
According to a new survey of millennial and Gen Z workers, some of the perks that create a better workplace include life coaches, cakes and pets in the office. Kieran was joined by Peter Cosgrove, Managing Director of Futurewise, Niamh Maher, Creative Director with Journal Media and Ciara Murran, Head of Communications at Dogs Trust Ireland to discuss...
Behind The Screens: Film and TV for 2023
Sarina Bellissimo, host of The Bellissimo Files Podcast joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to take a look at some of the film and TV coming to our screens over the next year...
Hospital crisis 'intolerable and unsafe' - Former Head of INMO
There are 838 patients on hospital trolleys across the country today, the second highest figure on record. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly's asked the HSE to source all available capacity from private hospitals - including beds and diagnostics. Kieran was joined by Liam Doran, former head of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation and former member of the Slaintecare Implementation Council to discuss the current crisis...
The Shopping Trolley Hotline: Baked Beans
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 baked beans options on the shelves...
'Three days waiting to get seen!' - Henry meets patients and doctors at Beaumont Hospital
According to Consultant in Emergency Medicine at Beaumont Hospital, Peadar Gilligan, five thousand more beds are needed in the acute hospital system. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar says 700 people are on trolleys according to the HSE. The INMO say yesterday there were more than 900 patients were waiting for a bed. This has dropped to around 800. Meanwhile the INMO have called for mandatory mask wearing in congregated areas. Henry McKean has been meeting with patients and doctors outside Beaumont Hospital in Dublin and he joined Kieran in studio to discuss...
Canada bans foreigners from buying homes
As of January 1st, Canada enacted a wide-ranging ban on the purchase of residential property by non-Canadians for two years. It’s all with a view to tackling surging house prices in the country, but what does this policy hope to achieve? And how exactly does it work? Kieran was joined by May Warren, Housing Reporter with The Toronto Star to discuss…
Quirky Tech for 2023
With the New Year comes a new batch of technology trends for people to get their heads around. Jess Kelly, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to chat through some of the pieces of making waves in the tech world... Image: PA
Minimum unit pricing 'hasn't worked and should be dropped' - Ian O'Doherty
Today marks one year since the introduction of Minimum Unit Pricing in Ireland. Was it the right decision and how has it been working? Kieran was joined by CEO of Drink Aware Sheena Horgan and Columnist for the Irish Times, Ian O’Doherty to discuss the effect of minimum unit pricing…
Healy-Rae: Increase in fines for speeding 'the wrong approach'
Research from the Road Safety Authority has raised concerns that increased fines may not be an effective way of curbing reckless driving, with the suggestion that drivers are of the belief that they were unlikely to be caught, due to a perception of “not enough [gardaí] policing the road.” Kieran was joined by Michael Healy Rae, Independent TD for Kerry and Shane Ross, Former Minister for Transport to discuss..
Wellness: Alternative New Years Resolutions
Kieran was joined on The Hard Shoulder by Clare McKenna, presenter of Alive and Kicking on Newstalk, to discuss the some the alternative ways to make New Years Resolutions...
Quinlivan: 'There's no plan to get us out of this mess'
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has recorded the highest number of patients waiting without a hospital bed since 2006. Maurice Quinlivan, Sinn Fein TD for Limerick joined Kieran on the show to discuss...
2023 Political Preview
John Lee, Executive Editor of the Daily Mail Group joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to look towards the 2023 political year and what can be expected...
The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time
Rolling Stones’ contentious new list of 200 Greatest Singers of All Time has been released with some notable omissions. Kieran was joined by Pat Carty of Hot Press to discuss some of the rankings and those who missed out...
'An enormous success' - Ireland's EU membership at 50
50 years ago in January 1973, Ireland formally joined the European Union. Kieran was joined by EU Special Representative for Human Rights and former Labour Party Leader and Tánaiste, Eamon Gilmore to reflect and analyse on Ireland's EU membership, the legacy of the European Union and Ireland's place in it...
CSO figures show 'renting sector is still a difficult world for people'
Jill O'Mahony, Sociology Lecturer at South East Technological University joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss the findings from the review of the year by the Central Statistics Office...
Merchants Quay injection facility 'a wrong move' - Dublin City Councillor
An Bord Pleanála have given the green light on the country’s first ever drug injection facility on Merchants Quay. Will this clear up drug usage on the streets of Dublin’s City Centre? And will we see it implemented across the country? Kieran was joined by Labour Party TD for Dublin Bay North, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin and Independent Councillor for Dublin City Council Mannix Flynn to discuss…
Trolley Crisis: 'You shouldn't be afraid of going to the hospital'
People have been urged to consider alternatives before going to A&E as the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation counts the highest number of patients waiting without a hospital bed since 2006. Kieran was joined by Frances Watkins, journalist with the Limerick Leader whose sister was on a trolley last year and Geraldine Leonard, whose father spent time on a trolley last year too…
Zelensky's US visit 'was a great success'
Ukraine President Volodomyr Zelensky has had what seemed to be a very successful visit to the White House over the last 24 hours. A massive aid package has been pledged to the country in order to help continue the fight against Russia. Jim Townsend was the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO during the Obama administration, and he joined Kieran on the show to discuss…
'A national hero' - Private Seán Rooney laid to rest in Donegal
Hundreds of mourners made the trip to County Donegal this afternoon, where Private Seán Rooney was laid to rest. The young soldier who was killed in Lebanon last week was buried with full military honours in Newtowncunningham this afternoon. Aoife Kearns, Newstalk reporter was at the funeral mass and joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder from Donegal...
Dr Colm Henry: 'Hospital admissions are up 90 per cent'
Dr Colm Henry, Chief Clinical Officer with the HSE joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss the pressure on hospitals and the recent spike in Covid 19 cases...
Diarmuid Lyng says deodorant was 'inhibiting' his natural scent
In an image obsessed society, how you present yourself to the world holds a lot of currency. How you look is important but how you smell is equally crucial. We’re all keen to oust the odour but more and more people are turning to more natural alternatives in a bid to protect the environment and safeguard their health. Former Wexford Hurler and owner of Wild Irish Retreat, Diarmuid 'Gizzy' Lyng has binned the antiperspirant and he joined Kieran on the show to discuss… Image: Twitter - Diarmuid Lyng (@diarmuidlyng)
'Let’s try it!' - Irish Rail encouraged to operate on St Stephen's Day
With many shops and restaurants opening now on St Stephen’s day, is it time that trains operate on that day too? Kieran was joined by Adrian Cummins, CEO of the Restaurant Association of Ireland and Barry Kenny, corporate communications manager with Irish Rail…
The Shopping Trolley Hotline: Christmas Dinner
'The Shopping Trolley Hotline' will give listeners pause when they’re filling their trolleys, to consider their options. This week Simon and Jonathan Healy took a look at how to come up with the most cost saving Christmas dinner...
Climate plan ‘to engage in diversification away from beef and dairy’ farming
The Government’s updated Climate Action Plan has been published this afternoon Eamon Ryan, Green party leader and Minister for the Environment and Transport joined Jonathan Healy on The Hard Shoulder to discuss some of the key details of the plan…
Hospitals 'are really struggling balancing emergency and elective care'
This time of year is normally a busy one for Doctor practices and hospitals as flu, chest infections and now COVID spikes as we socialise more. Jonathan Healy was joined by Mick Molloy, Consultant in Emergency Medicine and Dr Maire Finn from Ennis Centric Health…
Who makes the most money from Christmas songs?
Dave Hanratty, Host of the ‘No Encores Podcast’ joined Jonathan Healy on The Hard Shoulder to discuss which music artists are making the most money from songs at Christmas...
Climate Action Plan: 'Everything about this is ambitious'
The Government’s updated climate action plan has been published this afternoon. Jonathan Healy was joined by Sean Defoe, Newstalk’s Political Correspondent and Peter Thorne, Chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council’s Adaptation Committee to discuss…
‘It’s a good idea to have rules’ for phones at Christmas
Christmas is around the corner and Santa will be bringing the boys and girls all over the country gadgets, phones and videogames. Columnist for The Irish Times and mother of 7, Jen Hogan joined Jonathan to discuss managing young peoples screen time around the Christmas holidays...
Wellness: Christmas Survival Guide
Jonathan Healy was joined on The Hard Shoulder by Clare McKenna, presenter of Alive and Kicking on Newstalk, to discuss her Christmas survival guide...
'None of us expected it to be as horrible as it turned out to be'
Violence broke out in the town of Rathkeale last night, rival gangs have left the town in disarray. Fianna Fáil Councillor, Kevin Sheahan joined Jonathon Healy on the show to discuss...
New universal basic income 'would be giving people money who do not need it'
Workers could have their wages taxed at 40pc to pay for a new universal basic income. This would be under proposals examined in a new ESRI report today. But, is it feasible? Senator Regina Doherty and Colette Bennett, Economic and Social Analyst for Social Justice Ireland joined Jonathon Healy on The Hard Shoulder to discuss...
‘Bus Connects needs to be rolled out’ to help reduce emissions
The ending of free workplace parking along with a minimum parking charge in all urban areas are among the measures Government could look at to cut transport carbon emissions. Jonathan Healy was joined by John Fitzgerald Former chairman of the Climate Change Advisory Council to discuss…
O'Rourke: Golfgate 'was a traumatic thing at the time'
My next guest has a two-part series coming to your screens over the next couple of nights exploring the relationship between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, and Civil War politics. Two Tribes will air tomorrow night and Thursday night on RTE 1, and the spearhead of it all is none other than broadcaster Sean O’Rourke. Sean O’Rourke joined Jonathon Healy on The Hard Shoulder…
December trolley figures 'up 47 per cent' on last year
693 patients are waiting for a bed at Irish hospitals today. University Hospital Limerick is the worst affected with 94 people on trolleys, followed by 71 in Cork. Jonathan Healy was joined by Stephen McMahon Spokesperson with the Irish Patient Association and David Cullinane Sinn Fein’s Health spokesperson to discuss…
Buying Christmas presents for your pets
There are only five more sleeps until the big day arrives, for those who are fortunate, there will be presents left under the tree. But have we reached peak consumerism when the animals in our lives are receiving toys? Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie has been speaking with those who will be spoiling their furry friends.
Elon Musk has 'no intention of giving up' on Twitter
Twitter users have voted for Elon Musk to step aside as the company's CEO. The eccentric billionaire posted a poll on the social media site last night giving two options. Over 17.5 million users voted with 57.5 percent saying he should stand down as head of Twitter. Emmet Oliver was joined by Adrian Weckler, the Irish Independent’s Technology editor…
'It was pretty spectacular' - Irish actor Jason Barry on Titanic role
It’s been 25 years since the release of James Cameron’s Titanic. Emmet Oliver was joined by Irish actor Jason Barry who starred in the film as Tommy Ryan...