The Hard Shoulder

The Road Safety Authority have said that over the past couple of years the NCT has struggled to retain staff. It’s as there are reports of up to six month waiting times for NCT tests in some areas of the country. Transport Consultant Conor Faughnan, joined Kieran and Michelle Hall, Lord Mayor of Drogheda and Labour councillor, to discuss what can be done to combat the long delays.

After 37 years (started in Australia on 18 March 1985) and 8903 episodes, Neighbours is finally coming to an end (Thursday night in Australia, Wednesday 3rd August on RTE). So today we’re looking back at some of the best bits and people to come out of Ramsay Street. Sarina Bellissimo, Host of the Bellissimo Files on Spin 103.8 joined Kieran Cuddihy live from the Killeshin hotel Portlaoise.

Cabinet have approved a bill to strengthen laws around consent in rape. The bill will see laws around consent, knowledge and belief in rape cases strengthened. It will also see a change to the current system where an accused person can be found not guilty of rape if they believed that they had received consent. Helen McEntee, Minister for Justice and TD for Meath East and joined Kieran Cuddihy on the show.

Electric Picnic along with the National Ploughing Championships are both set to return in September after a two-year absence. Two of the biggest events in Ireland are to be held here in County Laois later this year. Kieran Cuddihy was joined on the show live from the Killeshin hotel in Portlaoise by Anna Marie McHugh of the National Ploughing Association, Thomas Cosby of the Electric Picnic Festival, and by Hugo Jellett who is the organiser of Electric Picnic's Salty Dog, Trailer Park, BerlinHaus, Spike Island, Providencia areas and is a local to Laois.

Supermacs CEO Pat McDonagh joined Kieran on Wednesday's edition of The Hard Shoulder to talk about why Portlaoise is a great place to do business, and why he's worried about food supplies this Christmas.

A legal case on behalf of rugby players has been issued against World Rugby, RFU and Welsh Rugby Union. The case now destined for the courts involves a group of rugby players diagnosed with early onset dementia and irreversible neurological impairments. Lisa Ryan, Head of the Department of Sport Exercise and Nutrition in the school of science and computing at Atlantic Technological University, joined Kieran to discuss the full impact concussion can have on people.

With the marking of the centenary of the Free State, Newstalk want to find out who just who is Ireland’s Greatest Hero. The final results will be revealed on a special programme on Newstalk this coming bank holiday Monday. Simon Tierney is presenter of Irelands Greatest Hero and he joined Kieran to share with listeners all they need to know about getting their votes in.

Talks continue with the agriculture sector to try reach an agreement on carbon emission reductions. Jackie Cahill Chair of the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee joined Kieran, Sadhbh O’Neill Lecturer in Climate Policy and Environmental Politics at DCU to debate how much more needs to be done by the All sectors also need to be used to solve this -not just very strong focus on the agriculture sector.

A Taxback.com survey has found that 4 in 10 workers in Ireland say they suffer from imposter Syndrome, with 45% of women feeling this way at some point in their career, and 37% of men. 17% of women say they experience it all the time. Kieran was joined by Aimee Connolly, Founder of Sculpted by Aimee Cosmetics, to discuss her experience of imposter syndrome.

Shocking scenes over the weekend of passengers disembarking the Dart on to the tracks, because of the high temperatures. A spokesperson for Iarnród Éireann said a Dart was awaiting a clear platform at Bray before proceeding into the station just before 3pm when a number of people forced open the doors and walked on the track. Kieran was joined by Anne Graham, CEO of the National Transport Authority, to discuss the incident.

According to Linda Doyle Provost at Trinity College ‘Ireland’s housing crisis is eroding university life’. This year there is unprecedented demand for student accommodation which is going to leave many students up and down the country with no other option but to commute to college campuses. Kieran was joined by Molly Greenough, President of the Students Union at UCD, Mairead Maguire, Trinity college student from Donegal and Rebecca Johnson, NUIG student from Kildare, to discuss how lack of accommodation is impacting students college experience.

All eyes are once again on Croke Park this weekend where Galway take on Kerry in the All-Ireland Football Final. It is Galway’s first time in an All-Ireland in 21 years while Kerry’s last All-Ireland success came eight years ago back in 2014. But who will be bringing Sam Maguire home? Ray Silke, Former Galway Footballer and Former Kerry Footballer, Billy O’Shea both joined Kieran Cuddihy on the show to preview the All-Ireland football final between Galway and Kerry on Sunday.

Aisling Larkin, TV Chef and Mindful eating coach on how to build the ultimate burger.

Shane Burgen, Physicist from UCD School of Education and Contributor to FutureProof joined Kieran Cuddihy on the show to discuss a study about the risks communal lavatories pose to public health if any.

Joe Molloy an Off The Ball presenter joined Kieran Cuddihy on the show to preview the weekends sporting action.

A government authority has endorsed plans to allow flights take of from Dublin Airport’s second runway from 6am until midnight. The runway under current planning rules has flights curtailed from 11pm to 7am. Ian Carey Green Party Councillor for Swords and Pat Byrne CEO of Cityjet joined Kieran Cuddihy on the show.

Louise Cooney, Fashion and lifestyle blogger, and host of the new ‘Open Book’ Podcast on GoLoud joined Kieran Cuddihy on the show to discuss her new podcast.

The Kingdom and the Tribesmen will be going head to head in Croke Park this Sunday with hopes of winning the Sam Maguire." Galway have been waiting 21 years to win the All-Ireland while Kerry haven't won since 2014. We sent our reporter Josh Crosbie to his home county of Kerry to give us a taste of the hype leading up to the game.

The Government is once again looking to hotels to solve the problem of housing for Ukrainians. They’ve made an urgent appeal to hotels and guest houses are offering them €135 a night for single adults. But how is filling up our hotels impacting the tourist industry here? Eoghan O’Mara Walsh, CEO of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation joined Kieran Cuddihy on the show.

AIB has reversed its decision to end cash services at 70 branches around the country. Kieran Cuddihy was joined on the show by Danny Healy Rae Independent TD for Kerry, Michael Somers Former board member of AIB and the former CEO of the National Treasury Management Agency and James O’Connor Fianna Fail TD

People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett joined Kieran for this week's Thursday interview.

According to new statistics, five nurses a day were assaulted in the last month. Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, general secretary Phil Ní Sheaghadh joined Kieran to discuss what can be done to make work safer for health care workers.

The European Central Bank has increased interest rates by 0.5%. It’s the first rate hike in eleven years. It means the borrowing rate going from 0 to 0.5%. Which means mortgage costs are going to go up. Kieran was joined by Shane Quinlan, Economist and Managing Director of SherryFitzGerald Financial Services and Brendan Burgess, Founder of Askaboutmoney.com and Fair Mortgage Rates campaigner.

The domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid has now revealed that it is in talks with ITV bosses after viewers expressed concern over the “misogyny and controlling behaviour being shown on screen.” Dr Charlotte Proudman, a barrister specialising in violence against women, joined Kieran to discuss the damage that reality TV can do to younger viewer's.

The Taoiseach has told AIB to reconsider their decision to turn 70 of their branches cashless. Seamus Boland CEO, Irish Rural Link and Tara Buckley RGDATA Director General joined Kieran to discuss who will be hardest hit by this decision.

Almost 500,000 workers across the country have overpaid the taxman by €600 meaning you could be entitled to a share of the €620 million overpaid to Revenue. Sinead Ryan presenter of the home show joined Kieran to discuss the best way of getting back what you are owed.

According to officials from Massachusetts Institute of Technology they have detected a mysterious radio signal from a distant galaxy which lasted three seconds. Dr Niamh Shaw Scientist Engineer and Communicator specialising in outer space, joined Kieran to discuss what these waves could mean.

New research out today is questioning the need for antidepressants, saying they may not actually help with mental illness. Patricia Casey, Consultant Psychiatrist at the Hermitage Clinic and Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry in UCD, joined Kieran to explain how the research might not be all that it seam's.

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have tied the knot after a long on again, off again relationship. Sarina Bellisimo joined Kieran to discuss the best 'Bennifer' movies.

Unlocked: An Irish Prison Officer’s Story’ is a newly co-written book which takes a look at the history of the Irish Prison Service. The book gives an authentic account of life in one of the most dangerous and toughest workplaces dealing with some of the most notorious criminals on this island. Kieran was joined by co-authors David McDonald who is also a former prison officer and Mick Clifford special correspondent with the Irish Examiner, to discuss the process of writing the book.

AIB is to turn 70 of its 170 branches into cashless outlets as a result of what it has claimed is declining demand for these services. Timmy Dooley Fianna Fail senator, David Hall CEO of the Irish Mortgage Holders Association and Anne Marie Cronin Photographer and owner of the Photography Gallery at West End in Castletownbere, Co. Cork, joined Kieran to discuss their reaction to the news.

The European Union has proposed a 15% in natural gas consumption over the course of the next eight months. The cut will affect households as well as power producers and could be made legally binding if Russia cuts its gas supply to Europe. Conor Minogue, IBEC's Senior executive with responsibility for infrastructure, energy and environmental policy, Paul Deane, Research professor at University College Cork and Ciaran Cuffe Green Party MEP for Dublin, do discuss what this winter could look like.

Dublin City Councilors have agreed to move forward with the full pedestrianisation of South William Street, however, the decision to make the street traffic free has been met by some opposition from businesses in the area, particularly car park owners. Andrea Horan, Owner of Tropical Popical, which has been on South William Street for 10 years, joined Kieran and John Mitchell, owner of Mitchell Car Accessories on Capel Street, to discuss what pedestrianization can mean for businesses.

150 refugees will be accommodated at the Army camp in Gormanston from today. Since February over 40,000 Ukrainian refugees have arrived into the country, with difficulties now been seen in sourcing accommodation for those arriving. Liam O’Dwyer, Secretary General of the Irish Red Cross joined Kieran to discuss the ongoing issues surrounding accommodation.

Families could be forced to abandon their second car if farmers can’t agree to higher level carbon emission targets. Michael Healy Rae is the Independent TD for Kerry and Steven Matthews, Green Party TD for Wicklow, joined Kieran to discuss if this is the right move.

Children in Ireland are waiting as much as four years for autism assessments. Families are always told early intervention is key but the resources don’t seem to be there to help. Kieran was joined by Miriam Kenny, Chairperson of Involve Autism and Rebecca McDermott who has spent €16,500 for private autism assessments, to discuss the toll this is taking on families.

Research also shows nearly one-fifth of over 50’s have developed shingles, and over half know someone who was affected by condition. Senior Journalist with RTÉ, Teresa Mannion joined Kieran to discuss her own experience of experiencing the condition.

On the hottest day of the year, Kieran was joined by Newstalks Simon Tierney to take a look back at the history of the BBQ.

A draft new curriculum for SPHE and RSE in schools has been being published today. The new Junior Cert curriculum will look at issues including the influence of pornography, sharing sexual images online, consent and gender identity. Anjelica Foley, Welfare Officer with the Irish Second Level joined Kieran and Rebekah Connolly, Gender, Sexuality and Relationships Editor for SpunOut.ie, to discuss the proposed changes.

On the hottest day of the year so far, Evelyn Cusack Head of Forecasting at Met Éireann, joined Kieran as part of the Hard Shoulders summer special.

To celebrate the good weather, Kieran was joined by Oisin Davis, From Great Irish Beverages, Holly Dalton, Chef and Director at Conbini Condiments and Andrea Gilligan, Host of Lunchtime Live, to discuss the best ways to spend a summers day.

With many people on holidays and going abroad to soak up the sunshine, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly joined Kieran take a look at some of the must have technology for your summer.

Now many of you will be jetting off on your holidays soon and with hot weather forecast for the coming week – how will your houseplants survive the heat? Erin Thomas from Hopeless Botanics joined Kieran Cuddihy in studio.

All eyes are on Croke Park this weekend as Kilkenny face Limerick in the All-Ireland Hurling Final. We have been hearing from locals on the show today ahead of the big game but now it is time to hear from two men who were playing the last time these two sides faced off in an All-Ireland. Former Kilkenny hurler, Eoin Larkin and former Limerick hurler Ollie Moran both joined Kieran Cuddihy on the show ahead of the game.

Apparently, a lot of Irish people are worried about the number of refugees coming to Ireland and think there should be some sort of limit put on the number of Ukrainians coming here. Is this really reflective of how we feel? Margarita Kalinichenko of Ukrainians in Action, Ireland, and Enda O’Neill, Head of office at the UNHCR Ireland both joined Kieran Cuddihy on the show.

Sam McAlister, Producer of the Prince Andrew interview of which the film will be based off, joined Kieran Cuddihy on the show to discuss the famous interview being turned into a film.

Michael Guerin, Senior Addiction Therapist at charity organization Cuan Mhuire joined Kieran Cuddihy to discuss the 1,000 children hospitalised with drug and alcohol-related issues.

Diageo, the maker of Guinness has announced it’s moving most of its beer and ale production out of St James’ Gate in Dublin – but..the site will still be making Guinness. It comes as the housing crisis continues in the city, so should the site be fully. Cieran Perry, Independent councillor on Dublin City Council and Michael Pidgeon, Green Party councillor for Dublin South West Inner City joined Kieran Cuddihy on the show.

In this week's Thursday interview Kieran was joined by crime journalist Nicola Tallant, to discuss her career and Dublin's current gangland crisis.

The streaming giant Netflix is set to team up with Microsoft to offer a cheaper streaming service with adverts for cash-strapped consumers. Andy O’Donoghue technology writer and tech expert joined Kieran to discuss if this would be a way of clawing back subscribers.