The Hard Shoulder

Every week for The Ultimate Guide on The Hard Shoulder, Fionn Davenport takes a closer look at some of the fantastic destinations to visit around the world.This week, Fionn joined Ciara and Shane to give the ultimate guide to cruise holidays!

The Government is being urged to provide free sanitary products across all secondary schools in an aim to combat period poverty…Joining Ciara to discuss this is Labour’s Spokesperson on Health, Marie Sherlock.

The Government has defended its decision to increase school bus charges from next September.This increase will see transport fees double for primary school children and increase by a third for post primary, bringing them both up to a cost of €100 per child.We are also seeing the reintroduction of exam fees for Junior and Leaving Cert students...Joining Shane to discuss is Darren O’Rourke, Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Education and Youth, and TD for Meath East.

Columnist and Broadcaster Brenda Power joins Ciara and Shane to place her favourite book on The Hard Shoulder Bookshelf!

Martina and Ammi Burke have been arrested on foot of a court order at Castlerea Prison this afternoon. An immediate order to arrest them was made 4 weeks ago after they had been found in contempt of court.Joining Ciara with the latest updates is Conor Lally, Security and Crime Editor of The Irish Times.

Yesterday the Israeli parliament passed new legislation making the death penalty legal for Palestinians convicted by Israeli military and criminal courts of deadly terror attacks. The new law was spearheaded by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir who celebrated the passage of the law with champagne.Felix Tamsut is a Journalist with Deutsche Welle who is in Israel at the moment and joins Shane to take a look at the law, and what the reaction in Israel has been to its passing…Image: Reuters

Earlier today, the COVID-19 Evaluation Roundtable convened, where global health experts assessed Ireland’s management and experience of the pandemic to learn for the future.The evaluation is headed by Professor Anne Scott, with former World Health Organization deputy director Dr Mike Ryan in attendance, as well as experts from Sweden and the UK.One of those in attendance was Professor Mark Woolhouse, who is Infectious Disease Epidemiologist at the University of Edinburgh, who advised the UK and Scottish governments during the pandemic, and joins Ciara to discuss.

We don’t need to ban e-scooters. We need to start planning for them.So writes Sadhbh O’Neill, Climate and Environmental Researcher, who joins Shane to discuss.

A national analysis of GP shortages shows concerning patterns of workforce pressures on the Dublin commuter belt, and on the western seaboard, according to the Irish College of GPs. It is an issue that many of you may have come across in your own localities…Joining Ciara to discuss what GPs would like to see done to combat this increased pressure is Ciarán Ó Fearraigh, Donegal-based GP and member of the ICGP.

Farmers are warning that there will be a shortage of eggs if the price they sell them for does not increase. The IFA has said that demand has outstripped supply, and that farmers should be paid more for eggs.Newstalk’s Josh Crosbie has been investigating, and joins Shane to discuss.