The Hard Shoulder

Ambulance services are back in the spotlight again following an incident earlier this week, in which a woman from county Clare was left waiting 4 hours on the roadside for an ambulance following a collision…To discuss the wider issue of ambulance wait times, Kieran is joined by David Hall, CEO of Lifeline Ambulance Services. Also joining is Graham Helps, whose son Alex was forced to wait over 45 minutes when he was knocked down by car in Celbridge, County Kildare in June 2022 - where he sadly later passed away from his injuries...

The release of the ‘Snow White’ remake has led to a seemingly commercial and definitely critical flop - with projections not looking positive when it comes to the film recouping its massive $370 million budget. How did the movie get to this stage, and what is the landscape of the movie business at the moment?Joining Kieran to discuss is Andy McCarroll, Host of the Extra Vision Podcast.

The Oxford English Dictionary has announced that multiple ‘Irishishms’ will be added to its next edition. This includes the spice bag, debs and blaa! What do you think of these additions, and what other Irish words should be included?Henry McKean has been asking the public, and joins Kieran to discuss.

The Dáil returned this afternoon after a day of chaos yesterday. Where did all of this come from, and will it eventually lead to Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy’s resignation?Kieran is joined by Daniel McConnell, Editor at the Business Post, Terry Prone, Chairman at the Communications Clinic and Niall Collins, Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration and  Fianna Fáil TD for Limerick to discuss.

From the roar of the crowd, smell of the pitch and getting decked out in your team’s colours – going to the football is an unmatched experience, but one aspect of the day out is going missing - and that’s the match programme.As match day programmes are beginning to disappear in UK and Irish clubs, does their absence take away from the experience?Joining Kieran to discuss is Aodhan O’Riordan, Labour MEP and Roddy Collins, former Footballer Manager.

Brace yourselves! We’re apparently in for a whole rake of price hikes coming our way over the next month. Health insurance, energy, mobile, television fees and more are all going up…Joining Kieran to discuss is Catriona Redmond, Consumer Columnist with the Irish Times...

There have been calls from Sinn Féin on the Government to release a review commissioned in 2019 on cardiac services, in hopes of improving services across the country.Sinn Féin’s Spokesperson David Cullinane believes that the report was sitting idle in the Department of Health for the last 9 months, and he joins Kieran to discuss this, and comment on the recent bit of Dáil chaos. Dr. Máire Finn, GP at Ennis Centric Health, also joins to discuss.

US President Donald Trump has pushed back at any allegation of security breaches or concerns after some of his top officials accidentally added a journalist to a group chat, on the messaging service Signal. On it, they discussed highly sensitive military information, including plans to make strikes on Yemen’s Houthi rebels.Nial Stanage, White House Columnist with American publication, The Hill, joins Kieran to discuss.

The Irish College of Psychiatrists have made calls today to radically reform CAMHS (Child and Adult Mental Health Services) governance to help address vital issues in the services.Dr. Patricia Byrne, Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, and Chair of the Faculty of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at the College of Psychiatrists joins Kieran to discuss. Naomi Connolly and Jenny Flaherty, who are among the thousands of parents who have been engaging with the system for years also join to discuss.

Broadcaster and Presenter on Ireland AM, Elaine Crowley joins Kieran to place her favourite book on the Hard Shoulder Bookshelf!

World Athletics has said that it will introduce mandatory testing for anyone entering female competitions to verify their biological sex.In doing so, they have insisted that it is necessary to protect women's sport.Is this a good move?Former Olympian Sharron Davies joins Kieran to discuss.

The long-awaited resolution of the speaking rights debate has seemingly come to a head following a passing vote on speaking rights, with 94 votes to 74. So, what happens now?Kieran is joined by Louise O’Reilly, Sinn Fein TD for Dublin Fingal West and Timmy Dooley, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine and Fianna Fáil TD for Clare to discuss.

Is going out with friends for a pint a thing of the past? Replaced by an interactive experience where you become someone else and get served by a robot barman? Henry McKean checked out the world of 'competitive socialising' and sent in this report…

Chaos erupted in the Dáil Chamber once again over speaking time. For the last 3 months, political work has seemingly stalled.This ongoing row has been in the news agenda for months and massively disrupted the government from doing their work.Finally, a vote Dáil speaking time passes - 94 votes to 74.Kieran is joined by Newstalk’s Political Correspondent, Seán Defoe, to recap what has been happening and discuss.

The environmental project, PURE (Protecting Uplands & Rural Environments), has recorded a 22% increase in illegal dumping in the Wicklow/Dublin Uplands when compared to 2023.Newstalk’s Henry McKean visited a secluded beauty spot on the Wicklow - Wexford Border, and sent in this report.

Ransom ‘79, a two-part documentary tracking veteran journalist Charlie Bird on his last investigation and quest for the truth following his diagnosis of Motor Neuron Disease in October 2022 is set to air later this month.Joining Kieran to discuss is John Kelleher, Producer of Ransom ‘79 and Journalist and Playwright Colin Murphy.

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe has said that tens of thousands of jobs in Ireland could be at risk if US trade tariffs are introduced in early April. But, what does this mean for us, and what is the reality of these job losses?Joining Kieran to discuss is Neil McDonnell, CEO of ISME and John Fitzgerald, Adjunct Professor in Economics at Trinity College Dublin.

For this week’s Kids Health Check, Kieran is joined by Aoife Lee, Parenting Coach at ParentSupport.ie, to discuss how you can help your child navigate the tricky world of friendships in school.

The Minister for Education has warned schools that she will not hesitate to use the legislative powers to compel them to open special classes to ensure there are enough school places for children with additional needs.To discuss this, Kieran is joined by two parents who have children with special needs.

Are developers the key to solving our housing crisis, or are we simply incentivizing the wrong people? As the government looks to lower developer investment and increase borrowing to speed up apartment building, questions remain about whether this will solve the deeper issues in housing delivery.Joining Kieran to unpack this is Karl Deeter, CEO of onlineapplication.com, and Rory Hearne, Social Democrats TD for Dublin North-West…The Minister for Education has warned schools that she will not hesitate to use the legislative powers to compel them to open special classes to ensure there are enough school places for children with additional needs.To discuss this, Kieran is joined by three parents who have children with special needs.

Whether it’s 75 hard, carnivore-only diets or intermittent fasting, there are a lot of health kicks that try to shave off those extra pounds and get fit.But, without so many diets and trends, what are we losing nutrition-wise when we follow these crazes?Gaye Godkin, Nutritionist, joins Kieran to discuss.

Israeli strikes have been continuing throughout the weekend in the aftermath of the collapsed ceasefire in the region, with Lebanon being hit more recently.Joining Kieran is Dr Mahmoud Abumarzouq, he is an Orthopedic Surgeon in Ireland who is originally from Rafah.Mahmoud joins Kieran to discuss his own personal losses from this conflict.

Passengers around the world had their travel plans disrupted following the fire at a substation near Heathrow Airport.Flights resumed late on Friday but it's estimated around 200,000 people were affected by the closure.Newstalk reporter met with passengers and staff at Dublin Airport.

This week, Kieran Cuddihy was joined by the presenter of Weekend Breakfast on Today FM, Alison Curtis Off the Ball’s Ger Gilroy to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists…

Ireland is set to clash tomorrow with the French in the first bout of the Women’s Six Nations challenge. It will be a tough challenge, but what will Ireland be hoping to achieve from this game going into the rest of the tournament?Former Irish Internationals, Alison Miller and Anna Caplice, join Kieran to discuss.

Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joins Kieran to talk about ‘scrappy cooking’, and how you can use those leftover bits to make a fantastic meal!

Netflix's new drama miniseries 'Adolescence' has been on everyone's lips recently, and has been receiving a lot of acclaim.Joining Kieran to discuss the show and the impact it has is Newstalk Breakfast Presenters Shane Coleman and Ciara Kelly…Image: Netflix

Off The Ball's Eoin Sheahan joined Kieran Cuddihy on The Hard Shoulder to review the week in sport and look ahead to the weekend action…Before that, Kieran was joined by Kate O’Connor, who won silver at the World Indoor Championships. She discusses the achievement from the stadium in Nanjing, China.

Shane O’ Farrell was 23 years old when he was killed in a hit and run incident while out cycling in Carrickmacross back in 2011. The driver of the car had previous convictions, and a court ruling meant that he should have been in prison at the time.For a long time Shane’s family have been campaigning for a public inquiry into the circumstances around what happened and today they met with the Minister for Justice, Jim O’ Callaghan about this...Shane’s parents, Lucia and Jim O’Farrell, join Kieran to discuss.

Counter-terror officers from the Metropolitan Police are leading the investigation into a major fire that has closed Heathrow Airport. While there is "currently no indication of foul play" they are staying open-minded. There have been a series of disruptions in the area, with local schools and roads being closed, homes in the area being evacuated along with a series of flight cancellations.Joining Kieran to discuss all aspects of this disruption is Captain Mark Tighe, President of IALPA, Reporter Claire Boad and Sinead Ryan, Presenter of the Home Show and Consumer Columnist with the Irish Independent.Image: London Fire Brigade

There are over 67,000 young careers in Ireland aged between 10-17, and the Labour Party will be putting forward a motion today aiming to come up with better solutions to help young careers.Kieran makes a trip to Leinster House to speak with two young carers, Lucy Connor and Conor Curran, giving testimony on their experiences.

Over 100 hundred bodies are donated each year to science, as people volunteer to forgo the traditional roots of burial and cremation, but how does one go about donating?Joining Kieran to discuss is Philomena McAteer, Chief Technical Officer of Anatomy at Trinity College Dublin.

Eddie Jordan, one of the most iconic men in Formula One, has sadly passed away at the age of 76…His passing has left a huge impact on the world of motorsport today, and joining Kieran to remember the man are two who knew him well: former Racing Driver David Kennedy, and Sports Journalist, David Quigley.

The Coeliac Society of Ireland says that better Government oversight of the Hot School Meals scheme is required to ensure that the nutritional needs of children affected by the disease are met…The Coeliac Society are currently taking it upon themselves to liaise with the catering companies supplying meals to ensure that there are safe options available for children with Coeliac disease.Joining Kieran for more on this is Gill Brennan, Strategy and Advocacy Lead with the Coeliac Society of Ireland, as well as parent and former Paediatric Dietician, Alison Mainprize.

Life can be full of confusing things, but no need to worry! Every Wednesday, Simon Tierney will be showing you ‘How to do Stuff’ - bringing his best tips for those things you might not think about.This week, Simon joins Kieran to give a lesson on being patriotic!

A Policing Authority report has found that The Garda needs to update its policy and procedures on dealing with public order incidents…Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan briefed Cabinet on this review following the Dublin riots in November 2023, and changes made since this time within the Garda Siochána.The Minister joins Kieran to discuss…

You have heard of fixed, variable and tracker mortgage rates, but have you heard about the ‘Flex’ mortgage? Well, it’s popular in Europe, and it’s coming to Ireland.Joining Kieran to explain is CEO of Fair Stone & Founder of Ask Paul, Paul Merriman.

In a continuation of her 'AI 101' series, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly joins Kieran for this week’s Tech Takeover to talk about all things prompts! When you’re interacting with an AI model, writing the correct question can make all the difference between an unreliable answer, and an incredibly useful resource.Image: OpenAI

Does Covid cast a long shadow over attendance in school 5 years on? This time in 2020, Ireland went into lockdown - with creches, primary and secondary schools shutting for long periods of time.What was the effect and impact on kids who were just starting out in school?Henry McKean spoke with kids from South City CNS Dublin 8 to get their memories, and joins Kieran to discuss.

Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeil spoke on Newstalk Breakfast earlier about the drop in the number of people on trolleys over the St. Patrick’s weekend compared to the previous Bank Holiday, hailing the new rostering system.How are Consultants reacting to her comments?Kieran is joined by Professor Mattew Sadlier, Chairman of the Consultant Committee of the Irish Medical Organisation to discuss.

The weather is getting warmer and the days are getting longer, so you’ll start to think about getting the garden ready for summer...Joining Kieran to give his top tips is RTÉ Super Garden Judge and Woodie's DIY and Garden Expert, Brian Burke!

A restaurant steak could set you back €50; the price of beef is set to go up as farmers warn that the costs of production cannot be absorbed anymore…Will we need to come to reality that things might get more expensive, and what are the hidden costs behind a meal in a restaurant?Joining Kieran to discuss is Caitriona Remond, Cost of Living Expert with the Irish Examiner and Wade Murphy, Owner and Chef of Adare 1826.

Tensions in the Middle East were raised again yesterday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced yesterday that hostage talks would take place “under fire”, leading to doubts that another ceasefire might be reached.Joining Kieran to discuss this conflict and her role within it is Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur to Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Brian Stack, a Senior Prison Officer in Portlaoise, was brutally shot by the IRA in 1983, leaving him paralysed and brain-damaged. He died 18 months later, and to this day, no one has been convicted of his murder. Now, his son Austin Stack, who was just 14 when his father passed away, has written a new book, ‘Justice For My Father’, detailing his ongoing quest for justice and his fight to uncover the truth behind the crime.Austin joins Kieran to discuss.

The Apprentice often has innovative ideas when it comes to businesses, but one has cropped up, and that is Doggie Discos!A few eyebrows have been raised: is this an example of younger people prioritizing pets over starting families?David Quinn, Head of the Iona Institute joins Kieran to discuss.

Following the release of Stanley Kubrick's' ‘A Clockwork Orange' in 1971, it was subsequently banned in Ireland; a ban which was only lifted in the year 2000.Movie Critic Brian Lloyd joins Kieran to talk about the other movies which have been banned in Ireland.

Amazon has today launched its new dedicated website for Ireland: Amazon.ie, which promises faster delivery times and even selling products from Irish businesses such as Barrys.What does the launch mean for consumers and for competing businesses?Joining Kieran to discuss is Adrian Weckler, Technology Editor with The Irish Independent and Ruth Roberts of Cogs The Brain Shop.Image: Amazon

You will have probably seen in the news that controversial MMA fighter Conor McGregor was invited to The White House by President Trump on St. Patrick’s Day. His presence and his remarks do not represent the people of Ireland, according to the Taoiseach and Tánaiste.Why was he there, and what comes next?To discuss, Kieran is joined by Susan Garraty, Washington-based Journalist and former MSNBC Writer and Producer.

Gardaí are investigating an incident in which two women confronted an Israeli man at a bar in Dún Laoghaire - during which one of the women spat at him.The man who was spat on, Tamir Ohayon, joins Kieran to discuss.

It has been 8 years since former Minister of Health, now Tánaiste Simon Harris made the promise that no child in Ireland with scoliosis would be left on a waiting list.Joining Kieran to discuss why that hasn't become a reality, and the new bill aiming to address it is Tom Clonan, Independent Senator and Claire Cahill, Co-Founder of Scoliosis Advocacy Network.