The Hard Shoulder

The Environmental Protection Agency says that Ireland is falling short on its targets when it comes to plastic waste. However, we are achieving high levels in the case of the likes of glass, paper and metal, but plastic is a struggle. Kieran was joined on The Hard Shoulder by Mindy O’Brien, who is Coordinator with VOICE of Irish Concern for the Environment and Claire Downey, who is Policy and Research Director with the Rediscovery Centre...

Comedian and podcaster Jarlath Regan, joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss parenting and his new podcast called ‘Honey You’re Ruining My Kid’, with his wife and child behaviourist, Tina Regan...

All next week here on Newstalk we're getting into the cars, buses, trains, trams and headphones of pedestrians and cyclists as they go about their commute. On The Hard Shoulder Kieran was joined by Richard O'Donoghue Independent TD representing County Limerick, Emmet Kerrigan Owner of All About Kombucha in Galway and Motoring Journalist Geraldine Herbert to discuss the country’s worst bottleneck areas...

There should be a “substantial” reduction in the amount of money parents can leave to their children tax-free. That’s according to the Government-appointed commission on taxation and welfare. Kieran was joined by Neale Richmond, Fine Gael TD for Dublin Rathdown and Colette Bennett, economic and social analyst with Social Justice Ireland to discuss...

National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI), reveals more than seven in 10 adults aged between 18 and 24 years old are looking at the possibility of moving away from Ireland because they believe working overseas offers them better prospects in life. Kieran was joined now by Aleesha Wiegandt, a final year student in UCC and Conor Brummell, who is currently working in Brussels...

Kieran was joined on The Hard Shoulder by Public Expenditure and Reform Minister, Michael McGrath from the Fianna Fail Party Think-In, to discuss the energy crisis and the rising cost of living ahead of the Budget in two weeks time...

Health experts are calling to raise the smoking age to 21 in an effort to reduce the number of young people taking up smoking. A new report from the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland claims that smoking is on the rise among teenage boys and, after “decades of progress,” tobacco reduction is now stagnating in Ireland. Kieran was joined by John Mallon Forest Spokesperson and Dr. Brendan O'Shea Assistant Professor of General at Trinity College and Spokesperson for the Kildare faculty for the ICGP to discuss...

EU Energy Ministers met today in Brussels to try and come to an agreement on the way forward to help reduce the impact of the current energy crisis. Ciaran Cuffe is Green MEP for Dublin, and he joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to give an update...

Today is international Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder day. Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders or FASD is a term for a series of developmental disorders that are caused by exposure to alcohol in the womb. Ireland is the third worst country in the world for alcohol-related birth defects because of women drinking during pregnancy. Kieran was joined by Professor Maeve Eogan, Consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist in the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin to discuss...

A TikTok on how to make the best CV has blown up online. Erica Rivera is a Chicago-based senior recruiter at Google – a company notorious for their interview process. Her TikTok goes over the things you really shouldn’t put on your CV. Jane Downes, Founder of Clearview Coaching Group and author of ‘The Career Book’ joined Kieran to tell us the best ways to make a good CV...

Ahead of King Charles III being proclaimed King at the session council tomorrow morning, Kieran was joined on The Hard Shoulder by Simon Jenkins, author and columnist with The Guardian to discuss...

A Dutch city will become the first in the world to ban meat advertisements in public spaces in a bid to reduce consumptions and greenhouse gas emissions. Should we adopt similar measures in Ireland to combat climate change? Eddie Punch, General Secretary with Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association and Caroline Rowley, Director of Ethical Farming Ireland joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss...

Kieran was joined on The Hard Shoulder by former Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern to discuss the passing of Queen Elizabeth II...

John Simpson, World Affairs Editor with the BBC joined Kieran on the passing of Queen Elizabeth II...

Our three part series on the best TV nobody's watching continues today with Cuán Ó Flatharta, Presenter of Splanc on Newstalk. Cuán joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder with his final pick, 'The Americans'..

The Labour Party Think In took place today in Wexford, Ivana Bacik has said that €4m would be an appropriate figure to spend in this years budget. Ivana Bacik, Leader of the Labour Party joined Kieran on the show to discuss childcare costs, energy and transport...

Richard Aldous, expert in 20th Century British History joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to reflect on her 70 year reign thus far...

The search for Ireland’s favourite hymn is underway in ahead of the National Ploughing Championships in County Laois this month. Maeve Mahon, who is part of the team putting together the search for the favourite hymn, and Nuala Kelly, Director of the Laois I.C.A. Choir joined Kieran on the show...

The CAO round one offers were issued today. There were three courses where students with 625 points the maximum number of points, were not offered a place. It begs the question, should the leaving cert as we know it be reformed? Kieran was joined on the show by Brian Mooney, Guidance Counsellor and Irish Times Columnist and Miriam Duggan, President of ASTI to discuss...

Sarina Bellissimo, presenter of the Bellissimo Files on Spin 103.8 joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to chart the career highlights of Idris Elba as he turns 50...

Our three part series on the best TV nobody's watching continues today with Cuán Ó Flatharta, Presenter of Splanc on Newstalk. Cuán joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder with his second pick, 'For All Mankind'..

A second energy credit is likely to be arriving before Christmas. It comes after cabinet met today to discuss how to tackle the energy crisis. Kieran was joined on the show by Pat Leahy is the Irish Times Political Editor and Sean Kelly, Fine Gael MEP to discuss...

Comedian, Jack Dee joined Kieran on the show today. He played the Olympia in Dublin this past weekend, and will be in the Waterfront Hall in Belfast this coming Saturday. You’ll have seen him on your screens on the likes of 'Have I Got News For You', and all manner of other panel shows. He’s also had a glittering comedy career.

Trypophobia or a fear of holes, specifically small holes clustered together, has topped the list of the phobia that terrifies Irish people the most. A study by Psychic World, based on Google searches, has found that fears about open spaces, spiders, heights and confined spaces completed the top 5 things we Irish are afraid of. Patricia Casey, Consultant Psychiatrist at the Hermitage Clinic and Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry in UCD joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss phobias...

According to data from the Department of Integration, 85% of properties pledged for Ukrainian refugees has not yet been activated. Of 9,708 accommodation pledges sent to local authorities, only 1,440 pledges have been activated. Kieran was joined by Tom McEnaney, Media Consultant and Founder of Effective Aid Ukraine, who has helped over 1,000 refugees get into Ireland to discuss this...

Dublin has been named as the fourth most expensive city break in Europe. The research was done by Post Office Travel Money in the UK, who incidentally found Athens to offer the best value on the continent. But is Dublin value for money? Kieran was joined by Martin Harte is CEO of the Temple Bar Company and Stefanie Preissner is a broadcaster and presenter of the ‘Basically’ podcast to discuss...

Today kicked off a three part series on the best TV nobody's watching with Cuán Ó Flatharta, Presenter of Splanc on Newstalk. Cuán joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder with his first pick, 'The Offer'..

Tova Friedman was just 5 years old when she was sent to Auschwitz concentration camp. Her book, ‘The Daughter of Auschwitz’, is her account of being a survivor from the camp. Tova joined Kieran Cuddihy on The Hard Shoulder to discuss her time there...

Kieran was joined on The Hard Shoulder by Clare McKenna, presenter of Alive and Kicking on Newstalk, to discuss the skill of active listening...

Liz Truss has today officially become the prime minister of the United Kingdom after meeting with The Queen and being asked to form a new government. Kieran was joined on The Hard Shoulder by Lauren McEvatt Former Conservative Government Special Advisor to discuss...

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

One year on from the introduction of the Government's 'Housing for All' plan, Housing Minister, Darragh O'Brien joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss the delivery of the plan and future projections...

You might have noticed more eight legged visitors to your home in recent weeks, this is because it is officially spider season. Kieran was joined by Collie Ennis, Zoology research associate at Trinity College Dublin to discuss…

The Nord Stream pipeline between Russia and Germany has been a bone of contention for the last 20 years. And in an energy crisis, more focus than ever is being put on the relationship between the Kremlin and Europe. All the while, Governments are working out how to deal with the crisis. Declan Ganely, businessman and entrepreneur and Lorcan Allen, Business Editor with the Business Post joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss...

Many families across the country are still yet to receive their school bus tickets, two weeks after going back to school. An Oireachtas Committee has written to the Education Minister, Norma Foley requesting that she attends a meeting. Kieran was joined by Donnchadh Ó Laoighre, Sinn Féin TD for Cork South Central and Party Education Spokesperson and Joanne Geraghty, Mother and full-time carer in Galway to discuss the situation...

UCD's Colman Gallagher joins Kieran to talk about the International Space Station - what it is, what it's for, and whether it is worth the money spent on it.

The deaths of three siblings in Tallaght have caused great mourning, but how do you talk to children about these incidents? Child psychologist Colman Noctor joined Kieran to explain.

According to a Sunday Independent poll, 55% of respondents supported having a right to housing inserted into the Constitution. Tom Phillips is managing Director of Tom Phillips and Associates and Rhona McCord is a researcher and developer at Unite. They joined Kieran to debate whether this is a good idea.

In today's episode of "What Do We Really Believe?" Kieran was joined by Yanky Fachler, Founder and chair of the Jewish Historical Society of Ireland to discuss the origins, beliefs, and traditions of Judaism.

Michael Fitzmaurice, Independent TD for Roscommon-Galway has labelled Environment Minister Eamon Ryan a “total crackpot” over his plans to ban oil and gas boilers from new and existing homes. This latest climate action scheme would apply to newly built homes from next year and to installations in existing houses from as early as 2025. Michael Fitzmaurice joined Kieran today along with Green Party MEP Ciaran Cuffe.

As Leaving Cert results are announced today, the plight for students finding suitable accommodation has intensified. Chaplain for the Technological University of the Shannon, Father Shay Casey, says things have never been so bad. So desperate is the situation that this week, the priest who has 37 years experience of working with students, considered calling the army for help in sourcing tents. Father Shay Casey joined Kieran on the show.

Former Atomic Kitten star Kerry Katona joined Kieran for this week's Thursday interview. She spoke about fame, bankruptcy and over coming addiction.

Minister of State for Disability, Anne Rabbitte T.D, joined Kieran to discuss the announcement the HSE has commenced a process to re-instate the health and social care supports in special schools where previously they had been provided.

As electric Ireland get ready to raise prices once again, Kieran was joined by Denis Naughten, Independent TD for Roscommon-Galway, to discuss what can be done to ensure there are not outages this winter.

Roscommon county board are investigating an incident in a minor football fixture last night. The game between St Aidans and St Dominics was abandone after the referee was attacked and left needing medical attention. Former GAA referee, Rory Hickey joined Kieran to give his reaction to the incident.

It’s back to school season and schools across primary and second level are struggling with teacher shortages. Kieran was joined by Clodagh Farrell, Principal of Stapolin Educate Together National School and Paul Crone, Director of the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals, to discuss what can be done to draw more into the profession.

It's been exactly 25 years since the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. The "people's princess" was beloved by the public and there is still much affection for her. Kieran was joined by Lee Sansum, author and security specialist, who was Princess Diana's bodyguard.

Myozan Kodo, a Zen Buddhism priest, living in Dublin, joined Kieran to take a closer look at Buddhism.

Younger workers face paying an extra €2,500 in taxes so state pension age will stay at 66 years of age. The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council have said people no in their 20s, 30s and 40s will foot the bill for Ireland’s growing number of retirees, which is estimated to rise by 50pc by 2040. Kieran was joined by Seamus Boland, CEO of Irish Rural Link and Caillum Hedderman, Environmentalist & Social Activist to discuss what this means for younger generations.

Offenders convicted of the most serious crimes, including murder, could face a minimum term of up to 30 years without parole under proposed reforms by the Department of Justice. Minister for Justice Helen McEntee joined Kieran to discuss the proposals.