The Hard Shoulder

Banks will be allowed to pay bonuses of up to 20,000 euro to staff after Government agreed to ease recession-era restrictions. Ministers also lifted the 500,000 euro pay cap on staff at Bank of Ireland, in which the State no longer has a stake. Kieran was joined by Roisin Shortall, Co-Leader of the Social Democrats and Michael Somers, Former CEO of the National Treasury Management Agency to discuss...

A new deposit return scheme for cans and plastic drinks has been launched today. Kieran was joined by Ossian Smyth, Minister of State with responsibility for Communications and Circular Economy to discuss this, proposals to allow banks pay bonuses to staff and toll charges... Image: Leah Farrell/Rollingnews

It’s been a smash hit ever since its release 2018 release, but Derry Girls may well have just snagged its biggest celebrity endorsement in one Martin Scorcese. His comments have drawn jubilation all across the Derry Girls set! Kieran was joined by Aoife Moriarty, culture journalist with Buzz.ie and Tomm Moore, Director, & Co Founder at Cartoon Saloon to discuss…

Home sizes need to be cut by 28 per cent and the construction of detached houses discouraged – that’s according to the Irish Green Building Council. Kieran was joined by Cian O’Callaghan Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson and Karl Deeter from Irish Mortgage Brokers to discuss…

Carbohydrates often get a bad rep when it comes to weight loss but a new study has revealed including potatoes in your diet could actually help with weight loss. Kieran was joined on the show by nutritionist, Gaye Godkin to discuss...

A universal levy to replace the TV licence fee has been suggested by the Taoiseach. Micheál Martin says all households should pay to fund public service broadcasting, whether or not they watch television. Kieran was joined by Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil’s Seanad Spokesperson on Climate Action, Communication Networks & Transport and Declan Ganley, Businessman and entrepreneur to discuss...

US burger chain Wendy’s is coming to Ireland. The American brand has over 7,000 outlets worldwide and is best known for its made-to-order square hamburgers. The company said it is “actively recruiting franchise partners” in Ireland. Newstalk’s own, Simon Tierney and Anthony Gray, owner of Eala Bhan and Hooked Restaurants in Sligo and Chair of Sligo Tourism joined Kieran to discuss…

‘A Man From Cork’ tells the fascinating true story of Dermot Fenton who made national headlines in 1998 following a rare heart and lung transplant operation which involved a race against the clock and a ‘mercy dash’ to London on the Irish Government Jet. His brother Pio joined Anton Savage on the show...

With the countdown to Christmas already begun, Aisling Larkin TV Chef and mindful eating coach joined Anton to delve into the world of Christmas baking...

Off The Ball's Ger Gilroy joined Anton Savage on The Hard Shoulder to review the week in sport and look ahead to the weekend action...

A Red C survey conducted by Women's Aid has found that 81% of 18-25 year olds believe that pornography is increasing young men’s interest in seeking rough or violent sex. It also discovered that most Irish people felt pornography is too accessible to children, and that it is contributing to gender inequality, coercion and sexual violence against women and girls. Anton Savage was joined by Enda Murphy Psychotherapist and director of SeeMe.ie, Mary Crilly CEO Sexual Violence Centre, Cork and Peadar Toibin TD, Leader of Aontú to discuss...

This evening, The Late Late Toy Show will be on in most television screens around the country and Ryan Tubridy joined Anton Savage on the show ahead of the big night...

Christmas party season is well and truly now upon us. Colleagues are socialising outside of the workplace, in many cases it’s straight to the pub for a night of drinking. But if that’s not for you, and you hate the thought of having to mix with co-workers. Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie has been examining a court case in France where a man won his legal right to be what is being described as boring at work. Hear various views on work parties and find out your employment rights.

Kieran was joined in studio by Niamh Ferry, whose own battle with bowel cancer have prompted her to promote the importance of home test kits and early detection. Professor Reza Kalbassi, consultant colorectal surgeon and Niamh’s surgeon at The Beacon Hospital also joined Kieran on the show...

Today saw the Housing Agency host their annual conference, with a keen focus on solutions to the housing crisis. One of the speakers at the event was Michaela Kauer, Director of the Brussels Office of the City of Vienna, with the city being used as a role model. Michaela joined Kieran Cuddihy on The Hard Shoulder to discuss..

Newstalk's Chief Reporter, Barry Whyte joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss the protests about asylum seekers being accommodated in an old ESB office block in the East Wall area...

The 24th November 2022 marks the American Thanksgiving festival and while we might know it involves a Turkey dinner and pumpkin pie, what is the history of the Thanksgiving Festival? Kieran was joined by Scott Lucas, Professor of International Politics at the Clinton institute at University College Dublin to discuss...

People Before Profit TD Gino Kenny today introduced a bill in the Dail which aims to end the criminalisation of cannabis for personal use, Kieran was joined by Deputy Kenny and Christy Galligan, Former Garda Sergeant to discuss...

Black Friday is tomorrow, and for many, will represent a chance for consumers to avail of many discounts as they spend millions in advance of Christmas. A recent survey from Currys revealed that 91% of punters will get the bulk of their Christmas shopping done during the period. But is it all positive for retailers? Eoin Shanley, founder Copper Fish Studio in Delgany and Adrienne Sweeney is Managing Director with rainforest.ie to discuss...

Cities in Ireland should be carefree on Sundays, that's according to the National Youth Assembly on Climate. Kieran was joined by Magdalena Sedlmayr, climate activist and part of the Youth Assembly on Climate and Keith Gavin, Chair of the Irish Parking Association to discuss...

Sarina Bellissimo, host of The Bellissimo Files Podcast joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to take a look at some of Miley Cyrus' on screen ventures as she turned 30 this week...

Newstalk's own, Simon Tierney joined Kieran for the new 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 brands of baby wipes on the shelves...

The Special Criminal Court has been listening to more recorded conversations between Gerry Hutch and Jonathan Dowdall that took place a month after the Regency Hotel attack. Paul Williams, Author of The Monk: The Life and Crimes of Ireland's Most Enigmatic Gang Boss and crime journalist with the Irish Independent joined Kieran to give an update on today's proceedings..

The Glazer family have announced that they are open to selling Manchester United. The family is open to listening to offers after owning the club for 17 years. Football journalist, John Brewin joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss...

Leader of the Scottish National Party Nicola Sturgeon earlier today called the next UK General Election a de facto referendum on Scottish independence. It’s after the UK Supreme Court ruled today that Westminster needs to give permission for a second independence referendum to take place. John Nicolson, the SNP’s Shadow Culture Secretary, and MP for Ochil and South Perthshire joined Kieran on the show…

The final review into the Cervical Check controversy has found that substantial progress has been made. In 2018, Dr Gabriel Scally published his report into the scandal and made 50 recommendations for change. That same year, the HSE confirmed over 200 women had developed cervical cancer after a mis-diagnosed cervical check test result Dr Gabriel Scally joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss his review and the progress thus far...

Under a new pilot project, community wardens are to be introduced to patrol Dublin's north inner city aiming to tackle anti-social behaviour. Martin Harte, CEO of the Temple Bar Company and Martin Kenny, Sinn Féin spokesperson on Justice joined Kieran to discuss...

Ireland’s least curable cancers are set to double in the next 30 years. That’s the troubling statistic from Breakthrough Cancer Research who say research trials and treatments are the only way to achieve lifesaving results. Newstalk’s Sarah Madden has been speaking with the experts, the medics, and the patients and she sent us this report.

Actor Chris Hemsworth is to take some time away from acting after he discovered he has a significantly greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease due to genetics. Sabina Brennan, Health Psychologist and author of '100 Days to a Younger Brain' joined Kieran to discuss...

Sexual Consent is the subject of a new play launched recently in the University of Galway. The hour-long sex positive performance is aimed at secondary school students and will help teachers tackle trickier sex education topics too. Our reporter Sarah Madden sat in on a preview performance and she sent us this report.

Though the use of human bodies for anatomical study has been the cornerstone of medical training for over 400 years, precious few Irish people will decide to donate their own in 2022. What is the process, what are the benefits and what puts people off signing up for the scheme? Sarah Madden reports.

Kieran Cuddihy was joined in studio by Fine Gael Senator, Regina Doherty, and Socialist Party TD for Cork North Central, Mick Barry. For the next few weeks, in a brand new series called ‘Common Ground’, they will debate some of the biggest, most divisive topics around. The series continued with a discussion around should the Presidency be abolished?

Rents in Ireland have risen by 14.1 per cent in just 12 months. One of the groups being affected by these high rents are teachers. John Boyle, General Secretary of the INTO, Heather, a teacher in Dublin and Cliona, a teacher in Kerry joined Kieran on the show to discuss…

The Government has agreed to place a cap on all market revenues of non-gas electricity generators. The cap will operate from next month until June 2023, with excess revenue being used to support consumers. Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe joined Kieran on the show to discuss…

Day 3 of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar is underway and Dion Fanning, Associate Editor with The Currency joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss the controversy and politics surrounding the abandonment of the OneLove armband...

A second protest was held in the East Wall area in Dublin over the housing of refugees in an empty ESB building. Kieran was joined by Gary Gannon, Social Democrats TD for the area to discuss…

Writer and broadcaster Keith Walsh joined Kieran in studio to discuss his recent diagnoses, with ADHD and autism...

Seven nations including England and Wales have decided not to wear OneLove armbands at the World Cup following threats from FIFA. Kieran was joined by Miguel Delaney, Chief Football Writer with The Independent and John Coary, CEO of the Dublin Devils, the LGBT+ inclusive club in Dublin to discuss...

The kindle is one of the most popular electronic devices, allowing users to download whatever book they might fancy getting stuck into without ever having to leave the house. This month marks fifteen years since its launch and Jess Kelly Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent and Author of 'What Eden Did Next?', Sheila O’Flanagan joined Kieran to discuss...

Home Alone 2, the sequel to the infamous Christmas movie ‘Home Alone’ marks it's thirty year anniversary this month we are going to be taking a look at some of the best Christmas sequels. Kieran was joined by Pop Culture and Entertainment expert Deirdre Molumby…

A Garda is being treated hospital after he and a colleague were seriously assaulted in Ballyfermot in Dublin. The two gardaí, a man and a woman, responded to a public order incident last night. Kieran was joined by Jim O’Callaghan, Fianna Fail’s Justice spokesperson and Antoinette Cunningham, President of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors to discuss...

New research from the ERSI has revealed that more than half of nine-year-old's now own a phone. Kieran was joined by Siobhán O'Neill White, founder of Mams.ie and Karl Hegarty, Principal of Leinster Senior College to discuss...

Twitter’s offices in Dublin are set to remain closed until next week. It comes as hundreds of staff are believed to have rejected Elon Musk’s “extremely hardcore” email ultimatum. Jess Kelly, Newstalk's Technology correspondent joined Jonathan Healy to discuss...

Aisling Larkin TV Chef and mindful eating coach joined Kieran to take a closer look at vinegar...

Robbie Williams' wife Ayda Williams has revealed that their sex life is 'completely dead' since having four children. Jonathan Healy was joined by Stephanie Regan, clinical psychotherapist, and author of Relationships on the Edge, to discuss

Qatar has banned alcohol from World Cup stadiums just days before the tournament gets underway. For more on this and what can be expected from the tournament, Jonathan Healy was joined by Kieran Cunningham, Chief Sports Writer with the Irish Daily Star...

Permanent TSB have become the latest bank to raise fixed mortgage and deposit rates. Jonathan Healy was joined by Conor Pope, Pricewatch Editor with the Irish Times and David Hall, from the Irish Mortgage Holders Association to discuss..

Cristiano Ronaldo's unprecedented sit-down with Piers Morgan seems set to spell the end of his days at Manchester United. Jonathan Healy was joined by football journalist, Philippe Auclair and Vinny Perth, former League of Ireland winning manager to discuss...

Earlier in the week we saw a ban of gambling adverts across the board, on TV, & online. Today there are further calls which echo the same sentiments with calls for a blanket ban of online junk food adverts targeting Irish teens after a study revealed over 57% of Irish teens say online junk food adverts influence their food choices. Jonathan Healy was joined by Chris Macey, Director of Advocacy at the Irish Heart Foundation who launched the ‘Stop Targeting Kids’ campaign and Executive of the Irish Coalition for People Living with Obesity Bernadette Keenan...

Off The Ball’s Nathan Murphy joined Kieran LIVE from the Aviva Stadium to preview Ireland's international friendly against Norway...