The Hard Shoulder

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 …

Staff from the children's charity Barnardos say that children are wearing hand-me-downs, oversized shoes and pyjamas in the daytime as parents around the country continue to battle the rising cost of living Esther Pugh, Barnardos Project Leader – Esther, joined Kieran and Ivana Bacik,Leader of the Labour Party, to discuss what can be done to combat the on going crisis.

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.

The typical adult plays two puzzles a day, with almost half of those mobile game players spending on average 25 minutes a day playing them.Stefanie Preissner is a broadcaster, and presenter of the ‘Basically’ podcast, and Mark Goodliffe, who is a serial crossword champion, and co-host of the ‘Crack The Cryptic’ Youtube channel, joined Kieran to discuss what it is about puzzles we love so much.

President Biden gave a live address to the nation expressing his concerns and sadness about the decision to overturn Roe V Wade. Lisa Bennatan, Journalist with Fox News Digital in the United States, and Eilish Mulroy, spokesperson for the Pro-Life Campaign joined Kieran Cuddihy to discuss the decision made by the US Supreme Court.

On Saturday 75 years ago the first edition of Anne Frank’s Diary was published, 2 years after the end of World War 2 To discuss its significance, Kieran was joined by Tony Kushner, Professor of history of Jewish/non-Jewish relations at the University of Southampton.

Kacper Bogalecki, International Officer with the Irish Second-Level Students Union, and Martin Majoram, TUI President joined Kieran to discuss if the Leaving Certificate should be brought forward to May.

Martin Wall, Washington Correspondent with The Irish Times, and Leslie Shoemaker, Counselling Psychologist and Lecturer in TU Dublin joined Kieran Cuddihy to discuss the decision by the US Supreme Court to overturn Roe V Wade.

The Tories lost two more by-elections last night, this has left everyone wondering what does it mean for Boris? Lord Robert Hayward, a British Conservative Party Politician joined Kieran Cuddihy on the show to discuss.

More controversy surrounding Dublin Airport as residents in Swords and Santry have said that airport goers are abandoning their cars in their areas and clogging up already congested roads. Our reporter Emma Tyrell spoke to residents of housing estates in Swords to hear about what they are dealing with. Joe Newman, Swords Councilor and Eoghan Corry Editor of Air & Travel Magazine joined Kieran on the show to discuss.

Most adults can’t identify the overwhelming majority of different birds and insects in their garden. So found a new study from the UK. Our Reporter Daragh Faughnan took to the streets of Dublin to see whether people could identify a picture of a sparrow. Éanna Ni Lamhna, Author, Broadcaster, and President of the Tree Council of Ireland and Primary School Teacher Katie both joined Kieran on the show.

The Tenant Sentiment Survey released today showed that 54% of those surveyed will still be renting in 2027 and 1 in 5 people are unable to access social housing. CEO of Threshold and former Head of Social Justice and Policy with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul John Mark McCafferty joined Kieran and Ciara Walsh, who is struggling to find a home to rent, to discuss the impacts of the ongoing housing crisis.

The central statistics office preliminary data from this year’s census showed that Ireland’s population has topped five million for the first time since 1851 and is now at the highest level it’s been since before the Famine. Kieran was joined by Jill O’Mahony Sociology Lecturer at South East Technological University, Yemi Adenuga Fine Gael Cllr in Navan originally from Nigeria and Adrian Kavanagh Lecturer in Maynooth Department of Geography, to discuss what we can learn and how we can use census data.

Economic growth is set to continue but challenges lie ahead with inflationary pressures, rising interest rates and tight labour markets, that’s according to the latest ESRI report. Alan Barrett, CEO of the Economic and Social Research Institute joined Kieran to discuss what could be a rocky economic road ahead.