The Hard Shoulder

A report from the State’s Commission on tax and welfare has said that wealth, property and inheritance taxes should be raised. If these recommendations are followed, it could represent a clear shift in focus to taxing wealth, rather than income. Kieran was joined by Marie Sherlock, Labour Party Senator and spokesperson for Employment Affairs, Media, Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, and Barry Ward, Fine Gael Senator to discuss if it is time to further tax the rich.

US President Ronald Reagan back in 1987, imploring Mikhail Gorbachev to ‘tear down the wall, and open up the USSR and that is what Gorbachev did, as the world remembers is legacy following his passing in Moscow at the age of 91. Jon Snow, the former presenter of Channel 4 News, joined Kieran to recall his time reporting on Gorbachev during his years as leader.

The government have proposed a 6.5% pay increase to public sector workers over two years. Kieran was joined by Neil McDonnell, CEO of ISME, to discuss his reaction to the proposed deal and where this leave those who work in the private sector.

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

All this week on The Hard Shoulder is taking a deeper look into some of the religions that exist in Ireland. Today he was joined by Amanullah de Sondy, Lecturer in Contemporary Islam, UCC, to discuss the Islamic faith and what it means to him.

With the midterm elections coming soon, President Joe Biden putting a student debt forgiveness plan in place, and questions remaining over the raid on Donald Trump’s Mar-A-Lago home, Kieran was joined by Former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer to give his take on all the stories dominating the American headlines.

Change and Transformation coach, Niamh Ennis, calls herself a “recovering people pleaser”, she joined Kieran to share her tips on how to avoid people pleasing.

Public sector unions are considering the Government’s revised 6.5 per cent pay offer. It follows concerns over the cost of living crisis as we head into the winter months. Micheal McGrath, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform joined Kieran to discuss the proposed deal and comments made on yesterdays Hard Shoulder about the possibility of the country heading into recession.

As students go back to school this week, there are still many who are waiting to receive their school bus tickets. Teresa Mangan, a parent in Skryne, Co.Meath, joined Kieran to discuss the impacts of the long wait, on her daughter who is going into first year.

As the battle continues to try and reduce emissions, one proposals is to ban Sports Utility Vehicles, or SUVs. Michael Taft, researcher with SIPTU, joined Brian Cooke, Director General at the Society of the Irish Motor Industry, to discuss what makes these car's so damaging to the environment and what the impact would be if they were to be banned completely.

32 children in Ireland will be affected by the latest announcement of cancellations of all complex spinal surgery operations over the next three weeks at Temple Street Children’s Hospital. Kieran was joined by Amanda Coughlan, Co-Lead of the Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Paediatric Advocacy Group, to discuss the impacts of these cancellations.

Recently the Synod in the Catholic Church promised to consider its teachings on issues like LGBT, women in leadership, and more besides. Dr John Murray, who is the Assistant Professor of Moral Theology and Christian Ethics at DCU, joined Kieran to kick off a week long series on religion in Ireland.

With businesses struggling to fight against rising costs, IBEC are calling for specific measures to come in Budget 2023. Danny McCoy, IBEC CEO, joined Kieran to discuss the measures they are hoping will be brought in.

An Bord Pleanála were expected to have made a decision on planning today for Dublin’s first supervised injection facility on Merchant’s Quay, which has now been delayed. Kieran was joined byMichael Pidgeon, Green Party Councillor and Mannix Flynn, Independent Councillor to discuss the delay and what it could mean for crime in the area.

With energy costs at an all time high, retailers and restaurateurs are calling for more support as they start the run into Christmas. Kieran was joined by Duncan Graham, Managing Director, Retail Excellence Ireland, JP McMahon, Chef, author and restaurateur and Gina Murphy, Proprietor of Hugo’s Restaurant to discuss if more support should be made available.

The number of homeless people in the State has reached a record high of 10,568 people which includes 3,137 children. Emmet spoke to Peter McVerry of the Peter McVerry Trust about the issue.

Panda Recycling is to introduce double-digit price rises on households next month affecting over 360,000 customers. The company has blamed surging fuel costs. Emmet was joined by Mick Barry, People Before Profit TD for Cork North-Central and Conor Pope, Pricewatch Editor for the Irish Times.

€309 million was allocated last year for active travel projects however, only 180 million has been claimed so far. Minister Eamonn Ryan has ordered the local authorities to spend the unclaimed funds amounting to almost €129 million. Emmet was joined on the show by Transport Commentator Conor Faughnan and Green Party Senator Pauline O'Reilly.

SSE Airtricity has announced an increase in energy rices for consumers from October with gas bills expected to rise by 39% and electricity by 35.4%. Emmet was joined on the show by Independent TD for Roscommon-Galway, Denis Naughten.

Concerns have been raised over the use of escooters, and the impact they have obesity, with people working or cycling less. It comes as more treatments and medicines become available to treat obesity. Carel Le Roux, Obesity specialist at St Vincent's Hospital, joined Emmet to discuss how best to treat a weight issue.

New CSO figure show that the employment rate in the second quarter of the year was 73.5%.It is the highest rate since the current series of records began in 1998. CEO of the ESRI, economist Alan Barrett joined Emmet to discuss his predictions for the economy in the upcoming months.

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.

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

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.

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.