This Week

Siobhan O'Grady, the Washington Post's Ukraine bureau chief in Kyiv

Earlier this year, 52 Palestinian scholarship students arrived here to begin their studies at Irish universities, after they were evacuated from Gaza. Among them was Ghada Ashour, who documented her struggle to pursue her studies, while living in a displacement camp. She has now started her Master’s at DCU.

Our reporter Fiachra O’Cionnaith has been trawling through the newly declassified documents.

French actress, singer and animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot had died aged 91.

Today US President Donald Trump will meet President Volodymr Zelenskyi in Florida to discuss a newly refined 20-point plan covering security guarantees, territory in the Donbas, and the future of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Niall Stanage from the Hill in Washington explains what he expects from today's meeting.

To look ahead at the politics of the coming year, we’re joined by Gerard Howlin, a former Fianna Fáil government advisor and now political commentator and Irish Times columnist.

In the US, there is widespread reaction to the release of documents in the Jeffrey Epstein case. The previously sealed documents were made public for the first time on Friday by the US Department of Justice under the Epstein Transparency Act. We speak to Eric Hamm, political analyst with CTV in Washington.

Last week saw over 3,200 recorded cases of flu with some hospitals introducing visitor restrictions to restrict the spread. We hear from Dr. Sean Underwood, consultant in emergency medicine at Cork University Hospital.

There will be a record number of children in homelessness this Christmas in Ireland. For the kids living in a Focus Ireland-run centre in Finglas, Santa arrived a little early to give these homeless children the gift of a book. Eithne Dodd reports.

In Australia, one week on from the attacks in which 15 people were killed, a national day of reflection was held. Phil Mercer, Sydney-based journalist, gives us the latest.

This week, two Opposition TDs lost their High Court challenge to the attendance of junior ministers at Cabinet meetings. James McDermott, barrister and lecturer at UCD's Sutherland School of Law, goes through the case for us.

Around 2,000 people have gathered at Newgrange to celebrate the Winter Solstice. The ancient passage tomb is aligned for the rising sun on the shortest day of the year to shine into the inner chamber. Colman O'Sullivan reports.

With more than 5,000 children in the care of the state, there is a huge reliance on foster care. A shortage of foster carers remains a continuous problem however. We are joined by the Chief Executive of the Irish Foster Care Association, Corrinne Hasson.

Taoiseach Michael Martin has been visiting Irish peacekeeping troops this weekend in Lebanon. Justin McCarthy reports from Camp Shamrock in Southern Lebanon where he has been speaking to Ltt Col Mark Lennon.

US President Donald Trump's special envoy is due to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders in Berlin in the latest efforts to end Russia's war with Ukraine. Christopher Miller, Chief Ukraine Correspondent with the Financial Times, speaks to This Week.

The social media platform X has responded after the EU Commission fined it under the new Digital Services Act. Liz Carolan, publisher of The Briefing newsletter, explains.

Although Ireland’s population is growing, rural areas have been experiencing consistent population loss. But with more than one-third of the country’s population living in an area defined as ‘rural’ some communities are taking action to keep their towns and villages thriving. Eithne Dodd reports.

With almost 3,000 cases of flu reported last week, and nearly 600 people in hospital with the virus this weekend, Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll-McNeill advises people to get vaccinated.

With Christmas fast approaching, we still await the findings of Fianna Fáil's investigation into its failed Presidential Campaign where Jim Gavin dropped out.

At least 12 people have been killed and 29 injured in a terrorist attack targeting a Jewish celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australian police have said. We get the latest from Phil Mercer of the BBC.

RTÉ announced that Ireland would not participate in next year's Eurovision Song Contest over Israel's participation. We hear from former winner Johnny Logan; Julian Vignoles, former head of the Irish delegation; and Dean Vuletic, Eurovision historian.

A new White House policy document on National Security said Europe is facing “civilisational erasure” as a result of migration and EU integration. Doyle McManus, contributing writer and former Washington columnist for the Los Angeles Times, gives his analysis.

A murder investigation is under way after a four-year-old boy and a 60-year-old woman were killed in a house fire in Edenderry, Co Offaly yesterday evening. Sinéad Hussey, Midlands Correspondent, reports.

This week, Palestinian human rights lawyer and former legal advisor to the Palestinian Authority Diana Battu was in Dublin to meet members of the Oireachtas for discussions on the Occupied Terrorities Bill. We hear her analysis on the current state of the OTB.

This year's flu season has arrived a few weeks early, with a new highly virulent varient (H3N2 subclade K) in circulation. Bernard Gloster, Chief Executive of the HSE, speaks to This Week.

Our reporter Eithne Dodd has been looking at how the traditional Christmas panto has endured for so long.

The US capital is still coming to terms with the attack on two National Guard members this week, with one of them, Sarah Beckstrom, fatally hit. This Week speaks to former Federal Prosecutor Joseph Moreno.

Tracy Clifford speaks to This Week about the Spanish phenomenon Rosalia, with her new album Lux receiving rave reviews and featuring songs in thirteen languages.

Some listeners may find the report upsetting. A national pregnancy loss group is calling for better public awareness of stillbirths. Eithne Dodd reports.

Michael Noonan, Sustainability Demonstration Research Coordinator at UCD Energy Institute, explains an energy cost calculator developed by the UCD Energy Institute.

With the agency awarded an additional €2.5 billion in the budget, we first hear from John Coleman, CEO of the LDA, and then the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Jack Chambers.

As crunch talks get underway in Geneva, on President Trump's 28-point peace plan for Ukraine, we get the latest on the talks with Siobhan O'Grady, Ukraine Bureau Chief for the Washington Post, and speak with Foreign Affairs Minister, Helen McEntee.

Policing podcasts - what regulation might be coming down the audio tracks with Aidan O'Brien

Barry Gallagher has been finding out what this new model could mean for Ireland’s taxi service.

Looking at the enduring legacy of Irish fashion designer, the late Paul Costelloe with fashion journalist and editor Victoria Brunton

We get reaction from Brazil and Ireland to the outcome of the UN's climate summit. George Lee, Environment Correspondent and Karol Balfe, Chief Executive of Action Aid Ireland.

From fervant ally of Donald Trump, to mortal enemy, what next for US congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. Niall Stanage, is the White House columnist with The Hill

Five young people have died and three others have been injured in a road crash in Dundalk in Co Louth. The three men and two women who died were all under the age of 25. Samantha Libreri, Eastern Correspondent, reports. We then hear from Sinn Féin councillor Michael Gallagher.