The Hard Shoulder

Today is World Chocolate Day and Emmet was joined by founders of The Proper Chocolate Company in Glasnevin, Kellie and Patrick Marjolet, to mark the day.

Boris Johnson has resigned and in a week’s time the UK will have a new Prime Minister. Emmet was joined by Antoinette Sandbach Former Tory MP and former member of the 1922 Committee, Tom Baldwin Former Governmental Special Advisor and Lucy Fisher Chief Political Commentator Times Radio, to discuss what is next for Boris and also the British government.

Many believe that spreading out exercise is better then only exercising on weekends but, according to new research that might not be so. Siobhan Byrne, Director and owner of Body Byrne Training joined Emmet to put the case forward for those who save their work outs for the weekends.

The resignations of Sajid Javid and Rishi Sunak in the UK yesterday have cast major doubt on the future of Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Ann Widdecombe Former Conservative MP, joined Emmet to discuss what the future could look like if Boris resigns.

Jack Lambert Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases at UCD School of Medicine and Oonagh Carr, a long Covid patient, joined Emmet to discuss long covid and the challenges it can present to those who suffer with it.

Max Dickins was choosing a best man for his wedding he realised he had nobody to ask. He then learned he wasn’t the only one struggling with male friendships. He joined Emmet to discuss male friendship and the process of writing “Billy No-Mates: How I Realised Men Have a Friendship Problem."

After a number of cabinet resignations, LBC presenter James O'Brien joined Kieran to discuss what the future holds for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

A Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy has today recommended that both parents of children born via international surrogacy should be recognised for the first time under Irish Law. Jennifer Whitmore, Social Democrats TD and chair of the Oireachtas committee on International Surrogacy, joined Emmet and Ranae von Meding, mum of two girls born through reciprocal IVF with her wife, to discuss the on going issues facing families with children born through surrogacy.

According to a new survey for the Irish League of Credit Unions, back-to-school expenses are leaving parents in debt on top of the rising cost of living. One of those costs include, the price of school uniforms. Siobhán O’Neill-White, from parenting website Mams.ie joined Emmet and Eric Nelligan Secondary School Teacher in St Munchins College, to discuss if it is time to standardised uniforms across the board for children.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak and health secretary Sajid Javid have resigned from Boris Johnson's government. Emmet was joined by Presenter Shelagh Fogarty, to discuss if this could mean the end for UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Minister for transport Eamon Ryan has given the go-ahead for planning permission for Dublin’s MetroLink. It’s thought it will be up and running in the early 2030’s. Paolo Carbone, Head of Public Transport Capital Programmes Transport Infrastructure Ireland, joined Emmet to discuss why it seems Ireland is so slow when it comes to getting large projects up and running.

The metrolink has got the go-ahead. It’ll link north of Swords, stopping at the Airport and then go all the way to Charlemont Street in the South of Dublin. Eamon Ryan, the green party leader and minister for Transport, joined Emmet to discuss how this will benefit Dublin and the rest of the country.

Limerick is 7th, Cork comes 5th and Dublin tops the list for having the highest congestion levels across cities in Ireland and the UK. Sadhbh O’Neill, a lecturer in climate policy and politics at DCU's School of Law and Government, and Keith Gavin From the Irish Parking Association, joined Emmett to discuss if its time to bring in a congestion charge.

In 4 counties in Ireland, Dublin, Meath, Sligo and Wexford waiting lists for childcare run up to 2024. In just 7 counties of 26, childcare providers will have space by the end of this year. Mary Seery Kearney, Fine Gael Seanad spokesperson on Children, Mary Moloney, from Crann Support Group and Elaine Dunne, Federation of Early Childhood Providers, joined Emmett to discuss the on going issues facing the childhood sector.

Extending current fuel rebates beyond budget day, another round of the €200 energy credit, and an autumn welfare bonus will all be part of the €6.7bn budget package that is some of what has today been found out is in the summer economic statement. Ossain Smyth, Minister of State at the department of Public Expenditure and reform, joined Ged Nash, Labour party’s finance spokesperson, and Emmett to share their reaction to what is known so far about the statement.

A new report has found that most complaints made to the taxi regulator relate to passengers paying too much for fares, while many complained about smells and cleanliness. Research conducted by the National Transport Authority found a total of 439 issues were reported to the oversight body so far this year. Taxi drivers gave their reaction to reporter JJ Clarke.

Emmet was joined by Philip Ryan, Irish Independent’s Political Editor, Michelle Murphy Research and policy analyst with Social Justice Ireland Cliff Taylor Columnist with the Irish Times, to discuss the summer economic statement.

A new survey from AA Ireland has suggested that just over a third of people would be open to making the switch from fuel to electric cars - with fuel costs being a major reason. Paddy Comyn, who is the head of Communications at AA Ireland, joined Emmet and Philip Nolan, who is motoring correspondent with the Irish Daily Mail, to discuss if electric vehicles are the future.

Last week parents of those ages 9 – 11 months in Dublin West received a letter from the HSE stating that due to unprecedented staff shortages, their child’s routine developmental assessment would not be taking place. Broadcast Journalist and Mum of two Rebecca Horan, joined Emmet and Dr Susan Kent, Associate Professor of Nursing, Midwifery and Community and Public Health at DCU, to discuss

Chaotic scenes at Dublin Airport are continuing this weekend with Aer Lingus canceling 25 more flights to and from Dublin Airport across Friday and Saturday. There are even reports of vomit on the floor, overflowing bins and no paper in the toilets. One passenger whose luggage was lost is Nikolas Vidovic and he joined Anton Savage on the show along with Kieran O’Donnell, Fine Gael TD and Chair of the Oireachtas Transport Committee.

They say you are what you eat but how much do you know about the food you are eating. TV Chef and Mindful eating coach Aisling Larkin joined Anton Savage to take a closer look at some of the foods we eat, today we are talking about rosemary.

Fix-It Fortnight with Ronseal: BBQing. Ray McLoughlin, Head of Operations at the Orchard Home & Garden Centre joined Anton Savage with tips on getting your barbeque summer-ready.

Hannah Matthews, former Irish International Hockey Player joined Anton Savage ahead of the 2022 women's hockey world cup.

Aoife Farrelly, It’s a name you may have become familiar with earlier this week in particular, as she waived her anonymity following the jailing of her brother for rape and sexual assault against her, which happened from when she was 6 years old. Aoife joined Anton Savage on the show to tell us her story. If you are affected by anything you have heard during that conversation, you can contact the Rape Crisis Centre on 1800 77 8888 or you can contact Samaritans on 116 123.

John Everard, Diplomat, former British ambassador to North Korea, and member of the Last Joint Liason Group in Hong Kong discussed Hong Kong's 25 years under China.

Electric Ireland is set to raise gas by nearly 30% and electricity by over 10% from next month. An enormous blow during a cost of living crisis. Their fourth price hike in a year. So what can we do? Daragh Cassidy, from Bonkers.ie and Verona Murphy, Independent TD for Wexford joined Anton Savage on the show.

Lynn Boylan, Sinn Fein Senator, and Tom Philips, Managing Director of Tom Phillips and Associates, adjunct associate professor of architecture and planning in UCD both joined Anton Savage on the show to discuss if we should have the right to housing here in Ireland.

The investigations into the Capitol Hill riots on January 6th have been continuing this week. Mick Mulvaney is former Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for the US, joined Kieran to discuss what this could mean for the former president Donald Trump.

In this week's Thursday Interview, Kieran spoke to comedian Martin Beanz Warde about his life and journey through comedy.

Today marks 85 years since the launch of the very first emergency number, 999. The number went live in 1937 and Newstalk’s Own, Simon Tierney joined Kieran to explain how it came about and how it has evolved since.

The decision to close Navan Hospital’s A&E department seems to be etching forward as the HSE today has strongly backed the proposal. Dr Gerry McEntee Clinical Director of Our Lady's Hospital in Navan & Gus Martin Part of Save Navan Hospital Campaign, joined Kieran to discuss what the impact will be if this does go ahead.

This year's budget could be brought forward a month. Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has suggested plans for 2023 could be unveiled in September rather than October. Neale Richmond, Fine Gael TD for Dublin Rathdown and member of the Oireachtas Finance committee, joined Kieran and Donnacha O’Laoghaire Sinn Fein’s Education spokesperson, to debate if a move forward would be enough to ease the cost of living crisis.

According to the GPA Some LGFA and Camogie Players are spending around €1500 euro per month to play at inter county level. The report highlights costs piling up due to fuel or travel expenses, nutrition and medical or recovery expenses. Cork Camogie Player, Ashling Thompson and Karen Hegarty Westmeath Footballer, joined Kieran to discuss what could be done to ease the financial burden.

In The Irish Times Today, Gordon D'Arcy's column said his fundamental need to be liked threatened to derail his career. Keelin O’Dwyer, a behavioural psychologist at Fettle- Irelands Online Therapy Platform, joined Kieran to discuss if, as humans, we put the need to be liked by others above what we really want and need.

A major survey of Irish people by The Good Information Project has found that as a nation, Irish people largely support staying in EU but many are unsure how it works, or what are the benefits to us as a country. Kieran was joined by Deirdre Clune, is a Fine Gael MEP for Southern Region, to discuss what the EU has done for Cork.

As part of the Hard Shoulders Cork broadcast, Kieran went out and about to explore the Cork Victorian Quarter.

Kieran was joined in Newstalk Cork studio by Rob Heffernan, Irish Race Walker and Presenter of Red Breakfast at Cork’s Red FM. He spoke to Kieran about doing the punditry for RTE for the National Athletics last weekend and how his excitement at his other upcoming athletic events.

The term 'service charge' will no longer be allowed in hospitality, unless the money goes directly to workers. The Payment of Wages Bill aims to stop owners from using tips to make up basic wages. Paul Gavan, Sinn Fein senator, and JP McMahon Top Chef, Author and restauranteur, joined Kieran to discuss what this will mean for employees in the industry.

Almost 64,000 homes and businesses across the country will have access to high-speed internet through the National Broadband Plan by the end of tomorrow. That’s according to National Broadband Ireland, as they went in front of the Oireachtas Communications Committee today. Seamus Boland is CEO of Irish Rural Link, Justin Trant and Peter Hendrick CEO of National Broadband Ireland, joined Kieran to share their reaction to the plan.

We always hear from Cork people that Cork is a great place to live in, but what about people who have moved to Cork from other parts of the country. Kieran was joined by Scott De Buitléir, Author and poet who is from Dublin and Nicola Cloghassy, South African born chef, to discuss what it was about Cork that made them want to settle in it.

The first of a number of Joint Oireachtas Committees on Autism was held today. TD's and Senators met with members of The National Council for Special Education to discuss the current situation and the future of Autism Education in Ireland. Miriam Kenny, Chairperson of Involve Autism, Rachel Martin from Families Unite for Supports and Services, joined Kieran and Senator Micheál Carrigy, Fine Gael Senator and Chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committer on Autism, to discuss what needs to be done to address the situation.

Today marks the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War. The conflict lasted almost a year and cost 2,000 lives. Ronan McGreevy is an Irish Times journalist and author of the book ‘Great Hatred: the Assassination of Field Marshal Sir Henry Wilson MP’, he joined Kieran to discuss what happened, and the impact that is still felt from that time.

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee joined Kieran to discuss a new strategy, approved today by Cabinet, aiming to ensure a “zero tolerance” to domestic and gender-based violence.

As we come to the end of the school year, a question that parents often ask themselves is should they get a present for their children's teacher. Mary McCarthy, Columnist with the Irish Independent, joined Kieran and Simon Lewis, Principal of Carlow Educate Together National School, to discuss if the tradition of gift giving at the end of term a thing of the past.

The government have today supported a request from Minister for Transport, Eamonn Ryan and Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton for the Irish Defence forces to be trained to be on stand-by to assist the DAA with security duties at the airport. Kevin Byrne, Retired Lieutenant Colonel and airport safety and security auditor, joined Kieran and Greame McQueen Media Relations Manager at the DAA, to discuss what this might mean for delays and what exactly their role would involve.

Uruemu Adejinmi,Fianna Fail Councillor in Longford, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill Fine Gael TD and Spokesperson on Equality,Teresa Buczkowska Integration Manager at the Immigrant Council of Ireland, joined Kieran to discuss what it means to be Irish.

HSE Chief Executive Paul Reid has announced that he will be stepping down from his position later this year. Roisin Shortall Social Democrats Co-Leader, Liam Doran former general secretary of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Association and Stephen McMahon Non-Executive director of the Irish Patients Association, joined Kieran to discuss what his exit means for the HSE.

An Armagh player was seen attempting eye gouging on Galway player, Damien Comer, as both teams entered the tunnel during the quarter final on Sunday. With this level of violence, Rory Hickey Former GAA Referee, joined Kieran to discuss if its time that the GAA reconsider introducing Video assisted technology for referees.

World leaders meeting in Germany say they are united in their support of Ukraine, as Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asked for more help. It's all as price caps are being proposed for Russian oil. Shona Murray is Europe Correspondent for Euronews, and Barry Kenny of Irish Rail who is currently in Moldova, joined Kieran to discuss the summit. ---- Barry Kenny also joins me from Moldova … tell us why you’ve over there …

HSE Chief Executive Paul Reid has announced that he will be stepping down from his position later this year. Kieran was joined by Priscilla Lynch Clinical Editor of the Medical Independent to look back at his time in the position and discuss what his exit means for Irelands heath service.