The Hard Shoulder

According to the latest Children’s School Lives study, Junior infants are ‘over-prepared’ in numeracy and literacy. The study outlines emphasizing play-based learning for social and emotional development. Clara Maria Fiorentini, Lecturer in Initial Teacher Education, Literacy and Early Childhood Education in Marino, joined Emmet to discuss the inportance of play.

There was great excitement yesterday at Dublin Airport when the new North Runway officially opened, however the excitement was short lived as 24 hours on some residents are up in arms over the noise. Emmet was joined by Dean Mulligan, Independents for Change Councillor for the Fingal area and Adrian Kennedy, Broadcaster, to discuss the noise pollution brought on by the runway.

In November 2021, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly committed to enhancing the current Travel and Subsistence allowances for student nurses on their clinical placement by September 2022. As nursing placements start back this week, student nurses across Ireland are concerned as they are yet to see these allowances being implemented. Emmet was joined by Breeann, who is a student nurse and Roisin Shortall, TD for Dublin North West and co-leader of the Social Democrats, to discuss the knock on affect for the countries health service.

Today marks 6 months since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Nadia Dobrianska fled Ukraine in March of this year and has since settled here. She joined Emmet to look back at the conflict and her new life in Ireland.

With holidays still in full swing, plenty of people will be doing their last minute shopping before the nights draw in and winter draws in. Emmet was joined by Laura Mullet, Fashion Expert for RSVP Magazine and Ireland AM to discuss if women still buy their partners clothes, or if that is a tradition that has fallen out of style.

Today marks 6 months since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, it fall's on the 24th August which is also Ukraine's Independence Day. Emmet was joined by Larysa Garesko Ukrainian Ambassador to Ireland to mark the day.

The University of Texas at Austin will be offering students a chance to learn about Taylor Swift’s songwriting skills alongside classic literary greats like Shakespeare, Chaucer and Keats this Autumn. Emmet was joined by Deirdre Molumby, Film and TV Critic, to discuss what a Taylor Swift course might look like and if there are really enough fan's who would take it up.

Startling new worst -case scenario figures suggest almost 70 per cent of households face energy poverty. The figures paint a bleak picture as the summer draws to an end and Emmet was joined by Louise Bayliss, Spokesperson for SPARK and Verona Murphy Independent TD for Wexford, to give their reaction.

Kids are returning to school this week and there are thousands of families across the country waiting to hear if their children will have places on school buses. Caroline from Kilkenny, is a parent who is still waiting and she joined Emmet and Fine Gael Senator, Tim Lombard, to discuss how the wait is affecting parents across the country.

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

The Zutons will be playing at the Night and Day Festival in Roscommon, Craig Hughes is the political correspondent with the Irish Daily Mail, and he joined Emmet to explain how he has teamed up with TG4 to launch the festival.

This week the Galway Rose, Clare Anne Irwin, spoke about her career change from teacher to undertaker. She discussed the family business and about how more and more people are coming in to plan their own funeral. Emmett was joined by David McGowan, of McGowan’s Funeral Directors in Ballina, who trained Clare and Brian Kennedy, to discuss end of life planning.

The world's largest and most powerful space telescope has revealed unprecedented views of the planet Jupiter. The James Webb Telescope captured images of the planet that astronomers say are unlike anything seen before, Emmet was joined by Leo Enright, Space Commentator and former member of the Board of Governors of the School of Cosmic Physics at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, to discuss the discovery.

The Teachers Union of Ireland yesterday announced that there is a severe teacher recruitment and retention problem in Ireland due to the cost of living crisis. Emmet was joined by Peter, a Dublin-based Secondary School Teacher who will be moving to Dubai and Sean Twomey, Principal of St Al’s College Secondary School in Carrigtohill to discuss the situation.

The Rose of Tralee returned to TV screens on Monday night, much to the delight of fans across the country. Emmet Oliver was joined by Newstalk's Simon Tierney to look back at the history of the event.

Even though we are coming to the end of summer, there is still time to get away with the family whether it’s before the school year starts, or a weekend break. Michelle Walsh Jackson is from thenoveltraveller.com, and she joined Kieran with recommendations, for those planning a family holiday.

Audrey Dalton is the daughter of Major General Emmet Dalton, who was with Michael Collins as he was killed, 100 years ago today. Audrey joined Lisa to mark the day and share the pride she has for her father.

Latest stats show Ireland ranking 40th out of 43 nations for access to fertility treatment. It comes as plans for legislation on the issue to be brought forward next month. Lisa was joined by Anne Marie Gillooley, who’s living in Dublinl Mary Wingfield, former Clinical Director Merrion Fertility Clinic and Katharina O’Cathair, Associate Professor of Health Law at the University of Copenhagan, to discuss the financial and emotional burden fertility issues bring with them.

Fans of Garth Brooks are being asked to pay more than €350 a month for a hotel room within walking distance of Croke Park when the country superstar plays his gigs next month. Dermott Jewell is Policy and Council Advisor for the Consumer Association of Ireland, and he joined Lisa, and Jim Waldron of the National Private Hire and Taxi Association, to discuss the impact of high priced large scale events.

Pat Lawless a retired fisherman is set to sail around the world departing from France and joined Kieran Cuddihy on the show to discuss the event that he is due to take part in.

Tinder celebrated its 10th birthday this week. After 10 years of online dating apps, has the dating landscape changed for the worse or for the better? Annie Lord, Vogue’s dating columnist and author of ‘Notes on Heartbreak’ joined Kieran Cuddihy on the show.

Off The Ball’s Ger Gilroy discusses all your sports news and talking points ahead of the weekend in sporting action.

The cost of repairs on fire-safety defects at apartments in Park West Dublin first sold in the early 2000s, has risen from an estimated €5 million to €15 million. Residents were informed of this on Tuesday this week. Peter Byrne, an apartment owner at Park West, and Mick Clifford, Special Correspondent with the Irish Examiner joined Kieran uddihy on the show.

Harmful "forever chemicals" or PFAS, may not be forever anymore! New research from scientists at Northwestern University, claims, Chemists have identified how to destroy these "forever chemicals" in a low-cost way for the first time But what are PFAS and how are they harmful? Angela Ruttledge, Researcher and Policy Officer with VOICE Ireland joined Kieran Cuddihy on the show.

Nora Owen, the Grandniece of Michael Collins and the former Minister for Justice spoke to Kieran at Collins Barracks to mark the Michael Collins anniversary.

Ciara O’Loughlin, News reporter with the independent.ie and Tara Logan Buckley, clinical psychologist both joined Kieran Cuddihy to discuss living at home as stats show that people are now moving out at the age of 28.

Former mayor of London Ken Livingstone joined Kieran for this week's Thursday interview.

Ronan McGreevy, Irish Times journalist and author of the book ‘Great Hatred: the Assassination of Field Marshal Sir Henry Wilson MP, joined Kieran for the final part of our series looking at the life and legacy of Michael Collins, ahead of the centenary of his death on Monday.

Budget 2023 is set to be announced on the 27th of September, and some of the proposals include social welfare changes. Kieran was joined by Regina Doherty,Fine Gael’s Seanad leader, and Claire Kerrane Sinn Fein’s Social protection spokesperson, to discuss the impact of a welfare increase.

Junior Agriculture Minister Pippa Hackett has said that she wants to see if the horse breeding sector can be incentivized as part of efforts to cut Ireland’s agriculture emissions. She has encouraged livestock farmers to think about the move. Kieran was joined by Pat McCormack is President of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association to discuss her proposal.

Music education must be available to every child regardless of geography and class,that is the view of Grace Tallon, Executive Director of Newpark Academy of Music in Dublin. She joined Kieran and Niall Breslin or ‘Bressie’, The Blizzards frontman and host of the Where Is My Mind Podcast, to discuss why musical education is so important for children.

Kieran was joined by Journalist and author Ronan McGreevy, to tell the story of Michael Collins as he cossetted with the Plunketts in Dublin.

On this day in 1982 Abba ‘The Visitors’, became the first CD ever produced. Colin Baker of Back From The Future joined Kieran to discuss how the CD music and technology forever.

Ireland's first Lego store is to open on Grafton Street tomorrow. Kieran went down for a behind the scenes look ahead of the opening.

The Federation of Early Childhood Providers held a protest outside the Dáil this morning calling for increases in funding in the sector. This is the groups third protest, they say current funding levels are too low and 260 providers are at risk of closing by June 2023.Elaine Dunne, Chair of the Federation of Early Childhood Providers and Sonia Duggan, an Early Childcare Provider joined Kieran to discuss what need's to be done to address issue's in the sector.

Irish Catholics have called for major change in the church’s attitude to women, LGBTI+ people, those who are divorced or remarried, and single parents. It’s been hailed at the most ambitious attempt at reform in 60 years. Michael Kelly is Editor of the Irish Catholic Newspaper, and he joined Kieran and theologian, Gina Menzies, to discuss what it means to be a Catholic.

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

A new west Dublin town with a population greater than Galway city, will be virtually car free under the new City Edge Project announced by Dublin City Council and South Dublin County Council. Independent Councillor and Former Mayor of South Dublin County Council, Peter Kavanagh, joined Kieran and John O’Hara, City Planning Officer with Dublin City Council, to discuss the finer details of the project.

According to figures released by Sinn Féin, more then twelve health service staff a day are subjected, physical, verbal or sexual assaults. There health spokesperson David Cullinane joined Kieran to discuss what can be done to address the problem.

When the Dáil returns from summer recess, it’ll all be all eyes on the Budget, which will be along in a few short weeks. With the top 20% of income earners paying 77% of income tax and USC collected, and the bottom 75% of income earners, contributing 18%, is our tax system progressive, Kieran was joined by Economist Jim Power, and People Before Profit TD for Dublin South West, Paul Murphy, to debate if more can be done to support low income earners.

Mark Sheehan, aged 26, has been left with serious facial injuries after an unprovoked homophobic attack took place on Dublin Bus last night. He joined Kieran to describe his horrific ordeal.

Back to school costs are rising and many parents are feeling the pinch as the school year returns. Eric Nelligan, Assistant Principal at St Munchins College, Limerick and Emma Desouza, Writer and Campaigner, joined Kieran to discuss if scrapping school uniforms could be a way of cutting down the cost.

It's a year to the day since the Taliban entered Kabul unchallenged and took control of Afghanistan, transforming the lives of millions of people. Kieran was joined by Barialai Khoshhal, photojournalist, joined Kieran to discuss what the country looks like after a year of Taliban rule.

All this week The Hard Shoulder is taking a look at all things digital. Newstalk's technology correspondent Jess Kelly, joined Kieran to take a closer look at the admin side of tech.

Further and Higher Education Minister Simon Harris is encouraging families to avail of the rent-a-room scheme that allows for income of up to €14,000 a year tax free. Tony Campbell from GetDigs.ie, joined Kieran to discuss the on going issues surrounding student accommodation in this country.

According to a report from the National Council for the Blind in Ireland,two of Dublin’s local authorities are among 11 countrywide to have issued no fines for dog fouling last year. Claire Byrne, Dublin City Councillor, Green Party and Jade McCormack, who is visually impaired, joined Kieran to discuss what can be done to tackle the issue of dog fowling.

Amazon have been granted planning permission for two new data center's in north Dublin. Environmental groups have long been opposed to data center's due to the fact they place further pressure on limited energy supplies and have an adverse environmental impact. Kieran was joined by Conor Skehan, Sunday Independent Columnist and Jennifer Whitmore, Social Democrat TD for Wicklow, to discuss if it's time to ban data centers.

With over 1 billion users, TikTok is quickly becoming the fastest growing social media platform in the world. Kieran was joined in studio by Ryan Mar, the Irish TikTok star, with over 1.1 million followers, to talk about the responsibilities that comes with having a large following and what life is like as a content creator...

Today marks the 100th Anniversary of the death of Arthur Griffith, founder of Sinn Féin, the man who led the Treaty negotiations in 1921 and President of the first Dáíl Government. Kieran was joined in studio by Robbie Smyth, Editor of An Phoblacht and Former Sinn Fein, General Secretary to discuss Griffith's legacy...

Former senior garda, Tony Gallagher says that Dublin is now rife with anti-social behaviour as retailers face threats, intimidation and assaults every day. Kieran was joined on The Hard Shoulder by Mannix Flynn, Independent Dublin City Councillor, Richard Guiney, CEO of Dublin Town and Newstalk Breakfast's Shane Coleman to discuss the increasing anti-social behaviour in the city...