The Pat Kenny Show

There an been increase in scam calls from UK-registered numbers in recent weeks. We find out what is being done to tackle them with Adrian Weckler Technology Editor with the Irish Independent. 

Irish consumer spending reached a new high last Christmas and is on course to break festive records again! But during a cost of living crisis, can we really afford a top dollar Christmas, and how can you keep spending low during the festive high? Newstalk's Sarah Madden reports: 

John O'Brennan, Professor of European Integration at Maynooth University, joined Pat on the show to discuss whether US and EU relations are breaking down. Also with Declan Power, security and defence writer, we ask is Ireland’s defence strong enough for when we take up the European presidency? 

Working remotely has become the norm for many with some even opting to work abroad of a different jurisdiction entirely. however, there are growing concerns over the employees in the Republic of Ireland working living in the North as issues surrounding auto enrollment income tax arise. So how has this become such a minefield for employers? Pat discussed this further with Joanne Hyde, Employment Partner at Lewis Silkin Ireland. 

Shamrock Rovers missed out on a place in the knockout stages last night against Breidablik. Drama continues for Liverpool as most of the squad are backing Arne Slot over the Mo Salah row as they play Brighton this weekend. The Champions Cup continues this weekend as Leinster take on Leicester tonight and in darts, teenager Luke Littler is hoping to defend his world championship title.  Cathal Mullaney, Broadcaster with Off Ball looks ahead to the weekend of sport.

Just under 500 people nationwide were in hospital yesterday with flu and other winter related illness. Around three quarters of them having not been immunised by the flu jab. In the UK the number in hospital with flu has jumped 55 percent in the space of a week.  It adds to concern that this year the flu could peak early in the run up to Christmas. And we could be instore for one of the worst seasons we have seen in recent years.All to discuss with Tomas Conefrey, Pharmacist, Care Plus, Pearse St Dublin and also Dr Brendan O Shea Kildare based GP and medical director at K Doc.

For better or worse, Ernest Hemingway has come to be synonymous with ideas of supreme masculinity, machismo and virility. But when Hemingway was knocked down during a friendly boxing match, it not only caused serious damage to his pride, but also irrevocably hurt his relationship with another famous writer, F Scott Fitzgerald. To tell us more, Cameron Hill from Off The Ball.

A quarter of primary care doctors in the UK admit to using generative AI like ChatGPT while at work. Whether it's for taking appointment notes or searching for possible diagnoses, AI is revolutionising the healthcare sector for better or for worse. Joining Pat to chat about all the ways the role AI is playing in medicine is Dr Charlotte Blease health researcher and author of ‘Dr. Bot, Why Doctors Fail Us and How AI Could Save Lives. 

Probate disputes are often complex and usually involve family members, wills, inheritance, and lots of tension. But how does a person go about probate disputes, how do you solve them and what are the most common kinds of conflict within families? All to talk about with John Costello, Solicitor,with Noble Law Solicitors in Dundrum.

Vaseem Khan is the mastermind behind the newest installation in the James Bond universe. His new novel ‘Quantum of Menace’ follows gadget mastermind Q, after he is ousted from MI6, Q is thrown into a dangerous conspiracy as he investigates the death of his scientist friend. Award winning crime writer Vaseem Khan joined Pat to chat all about his brand-new spinoff series.

Sadly, many conflicts are raging around the world, and some are more publicly discussed than others. One country where hopes for peace are fragile is Ethiopia, and in particular the Northern Tigray region. Trocáire is working on the ground to rebuild the lives of those impacted by the conflict. And our reporter, Josh Crosbie, travelled to the area that has been left devastated by a two-year war. 

Irish visitors to the US could be required to submit five years worth of social media history in order to enter the country, whether they need a visa or not. The notice from the Trump administration has sparked huge outrage in the international community, with many worried it will further reduce already declining tourist numbers in the US. To discuss this new proposal is Eoghan Corry, Editor of Travel Extra and Fianna Fail MEP Barry Andrews.

Jo Linehan Climate Journalist  brings us some great suggestions of some sustainable food and drinks to support this Christmas. 

Today marks 40 years since the first ever mobile phone call in Ireland which Pat made with former Minister for Communications Jim Mitchell in Dublin in 1985. It was during a time when Ireland had the lowest uptake in landline service to then becoming one of the leaders in mobile phone usage. But how has the mobile phone developed since then and what does the landscape look like now?  All to chat about with Derek Cassidy, Founder of the Irish Communications Research Group (ICRG) who is a network technologist and previously worked for BT Ireland and Nicola Cooke, Director Telecommunications Industry Ireland (TII).

This morning chaos continues for commuters as the Luas Green Line remains out of service following a power outage on the line yesterday. The Luas red line services are operating normally after a disruption on that line yesterday. Emma Tyrrell, Newstalk Reporter give us an update.

A new report from the IIEA and Deloitte has said that food supplies could begin to run out within three days in the event of an attack on Dublin Port.Cathal Berry, Former Member of the Defence Forces analyses this further with Pat.

The story of the Christmas tree begins with the ancient use of evergreens in midwinter. Long before Christmas existed, people in ancient Egypt, China and among the Hebrews used evergreen plants as symbols of enduring life during the darkest months of the year. Across pre-Christian Europe, evergreens decorated homes and barns, part of long-standing seasonal customs linked to tree worship. When Christianity spread, these older traditions did not vanish but merged into new religious practices, giving a familiar structure to winter feastsDiarmuid Gavin brings us the interesting story of the Christmas tree.

When you think of Christmas movies, you’ll get the classics. It’s a Wonderful Life, Elf, Love Actually but towering above them all, year after year, is a film about an eight-year-old boy, an overlooked plane ticket, and two unlucky burglars. Home Alone isn’t just a holiday favourite  it’s the most-watched Christmas movie of all time,Lisa Cannon talks us through this all time Christmas classic movie.

 A sperm donor who unknowingly carried a rare cancer-causing gene has fathered almost 200 children across Europe. The EBU conducted an investigation into the donor and found his sperm was used in 67 clinics in 14 different countries. It was also sold to Ireland but it hasn’t been used to conceive any babies. The children carrying his DNA now have a 90% chance of developing cancer. We get reaction to this with Dr John Kennedy, Medical Director at Thérapie Fertility.

Paramount has launched a hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros at 108 point 4 billion dollars. This challenges Netflix, who reached a 72 billion dollar takeover in an effort to create a media powerhouse that would challenge the dominance of the streaming giant. But what does this actually mean and who is likely to win?  All to discuss with Lorcan Nynhan Head Of Training at the The Communications Clinic.

The Herzog park renaming controversy caught international attention and resulted in widespread accusations that Ireland was antisemitic. However, it is not the Irish people that are antisemitic, argues Dr Dominic Green, but what he calls official Ireland, i.e. our representatives and those in power. Dr Dominic Green, Historian and Columnist with the Wall Street Journal explained why to Pat.

Is Irelands defence strong enough for when we take on the European presidency next year? After a number of suspected Russian drones were spotted near the flight path of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, Ireland's ability to protect global politicians has come into question.Pat was joined on the show by Naomi O'Leary, Europe correspondent for the Irish Times to discuss further.

Elderly and vulnerable patients will be forced into paying new monthly fees for pill boxes in the new year. Instead of the Government giving pharmacies funding to cover the cost of blister packaging, pharmacies will be forced to put the cost on the patients Guest: Sheena Mitchell Pharmacist and host of the Wondercare podcast  

Yesterday, Australia became the first country to ban social media for under 16’s. Here in Ireland, we are on route to introducing an age verification system through a digital wallet took that will restrict access to social media for under 16’s. Pat discusses this further with Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport Patrick O Donovan.

How living with dogs may influence our microbiome and our mental health and how we might share the same behaviours. Also we hear about the new approaches to deal with forever chemicals. All to discuss with Dr Ruth Freeman Director of Research for Society For Research Ireland.All with thanks to Repak.

Critics call it "carspreading". In the UK and across Europe, cars are steadily becoming longer, wider and heavier. Consumers clearly like them – a lot. Big cars are seen as practical, safe and stylish, and sales are growing. So, why are some cities determined to clamp down on them and are they right to do so? 

Australia is set to become the first country to implement a minimum age for social media use. With platforms like Instagram, TikTok and YouTube forced to block more than a million accounts, marking the beginning of an expected global wave of regulation.Newstalk's Technology Correspondent brings us the details.All with thanks to Renault.

A planned taskforce dedicated to the revival of Cork’s city centre was included in the programme for government In October, Tánaiste Simon Harris repeated his desire that a taskforce for cork be urgently introduced, adding that when he was Taoiseach, he had established a Dublin city centre taskforce which had resulted in clear benefits for the capital. Last week Mr. Harris explained that there would be no task force for cork city in 2025. How badly is a Cork task force needed? Pat asked Catríona Twomey, Volunteer coordinator Penny Dinners and also Colm Burke, Fine Gael Spokesman for Cork.

Trending on Tik Tok and Instagram the wabi sabi trend for authenticity and imperfection. The bird theory bids for connection and the dating till your hating.Stephanie Regan, Clinical Psychotherapist and Co-Host of The Tough Love podcast tells us about the new online relationship trends.

No matter what new rental law the Government introduces, private landlords continue to sell up in droves. The latest figures from Sherry Fitzgerald show that for every three landlords who sell, only one new landlord is entering the market. Private landlord Michael Houghton recently wrote about a mentality shift he had where he lost the quiet guilt he held on to for being a private landlord. Michael chatted to Pat this morning.

The entire country is now under a Status Orange weather warning as Storm Bram makes landfall. We get the latest on the storm with Cathal Nolan, Founder, Ireland’s Weather Channel, Ralph Riegel, Southern Correspondent, Irish Independent and Graeme McQueen, Media Relations Manager, DAA.

The 49 day Prime Minister is back! Liz Truss has launched her new YouTube Show, The Liz Truss Show, where she promises to expose those who brought an end to her premiership in 2022. Enda Brady reviews 

The Christmas period is often the busiest time for retailers, both on the high street and online. One online store that is on a mission to boost its sales is ASOS. in the hopes of bringing back customers, they have introduced an ai stylist to their app. But how does it work?  To tell us was Laura Jordan, Image and Brand Consultant, Owner Of Style Savvy.

This week, talks are due to be held with the Government over taxi drivers go-slow protests and Uber’s fixed fare system after they paused their six-days of protests. But should they just accept the fact that fixed fare and dynamic pricing is the norm across other countries and get on with it? All to discuss with Economist David W. Higgins.

Arthur Cummings, a consultant eye surgeon at Wellington Eye Clinic joins me now to talk about all things Oculomics The science of using the eye as a window to reveal information about the body.  Arthur also answered listeners eye related questions.

Airports really ramp up for Christmas, with hundreds of thousands of passengers on the way in and out. Cork and Knock are having their busiest ever years. December 23 is ‘Take-off Tuesday’ according to On the Beach. It says this will be the busiest day for holidaymakers jetting off to escape the season.With tips on where to go this holiday season Pat was joined by Travel with Pol Ó Conghaile Irish Independent Travel Editor.All with thanks to Ryanair.

We hear about the US’ new national security strategy that’s worrying allies and being welcomed by Russia. Speaking to Pat about this was David Dunne, Professor of International Politics, University of Birmingham.

Geraldine Herbert, Motoring Editor with the Sunday Independent explains the best and most sensible way to finance a car, explains why the driving test waiting time is still up as high as 22 weeks in some areas. Also we hear how hauliers may protest. 

Women are twice as likely as men to get stuck in and organise Christmas. A survey found 76 per cent of women took responsibility for prepping most of the Christmas workload. Doing it by themselves and also buying most of the presents. By Christmas Day they feel wrecked. Henry McKean met Christmas shoppers and sent this report.

Amidst the drone and missile strikes in Ukraine, music and the arts are still managing to survive and helping many, including kids, during the trauma of war. Chloe Craft, a reporter with HotPress is just back from Ukraine where she visited the Ukrainian Suzuki Association. 

McLaren driver Lando Norris has won the World Drivers Championship after a close fight across the season, the first to win it for the team since Lewis Hamilton in 2008...Joining Pat to look back on the biggest stories of the season, and what to get excited for in 2026 is Newstalk's Rory Galvin.

We were speaking to our own reporter Kyle Butler a little earlier on the show of the tragic events that took place in Offaly over the weekend.  After a petrol bomb aimed at a house in Castleview park, Edenderry tragically claimed the innocent lives of two, four-year-old Tadhg Farrelly and his 60-year-old great aunt Mary Holt. We get reaction from John Clendennen, Fine Gael TD for Offaly 

It was a dramatic weekend of Liverpool as Mo Salah hit out at Arne Slot for benching him at the weekend. The 33-year-old claimed he was ‘thrown under the bus’ by the club, as he was benched for Liverpool away game to Leeds United. In rugby, the Champions cup returned with a bang as Bath dominated against Munster. Also in F1 McLaren's Lando Norris won the Formula One championship in Abu Dhabi.  All to chat with Cathal Mullaney with Off The Ball and Newstalk's own Rory Galvin.

Local residents of Brittas in Dublin are seeking orders to remove a set of modular homes that were allegedly built in the area without any planning permission. The developer is claiming the project is exempt from needing any sort of planning permission. To discuss this further was Mary Carolan Legal Affairs Correspondent of the Irish Times and Orla Hegerty Architect and Assistant Professor at UCD School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy.  

Gardaí have opened a double murder investigation after a young boy and his great-aunt were killed in a suspected petrol bomb attack on a house in Co Offaly. Pat was joined on the show by Newstalk reporter Kyle Butler who was in Edenderry yesterday morning.

A look back on the stories of the week on our Friday Forum. Joining Pat this morning on the panel was Fine Gael TD for Louth Paula Butterly,  Labour TD for Dublin Fingal East and spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Defence Ducan Smith and Christina Finn, political editor with Thejournal.ie.  

The Government is launching a new research programme to determine the risk of Russian sabotage on our undersea cables. With a rise in Russian ships visiting our seas, the project hopes to map out all or Ireland’s subsea cables, offshore windfarms and energy pipelines to assess how vulnerable we would be to an attackJoining Pat to discuss the research programme is Conor Gallagher, Crime and Security Correspondent of The Irish Times.  

Friday Food Creamed Celeriac soup with toasted walnuts and garlic croutons, Classic Prawn cocktail and Roasted king scallops, black pudding, apple salad.  Some tasty Christmas starter recipes with Gareth Mullins.

A Nobel prize winning economist has said there is no true European single market. Phillipe Aghion says Europe is falling behind the US in terms of innovation because the market is over-regulated and punishes failure at every turn. If the EU is to keep up with Washington and Beijing, the barriers to entry need to be lowered. Economics lecturer from Technical University Dublin, Emma Howard joined Pat in studio to discuss whether a “true single market” is possible in Europe. 

Is Panto the highest artform? Up and down the country Pantos are showing. Henry McKean visited the Helix Panto in Dublin and this year they are putting on the Snow Queen. Henry sent us this report. 'Oh no he didn't, Oh yes he did.'