The Hard Shoulder

Tánaiste Simon Harris has confirmed that Robert Pether who has been held in jail in Iraq for over four years has been released on bail. The Australian national - who had been living in Elphin in Co Roscommon - was arrested in April 2021 and later jailed on fraud charges. His wife Desree joined Kieran to discuss her husbands release.

We’ve been hearing from many people across the station today, voicing their outrage and frustration at the state of care in some nursing homes in Ireland.  This comes in the wake of last night’s RTE Investigations programme, which exposed disturbing conditions in two nursing homes operated by Emeis Ireland. Kieran spoke to some those who have experienced the service in Ireland and what they had to say...

Thirty-five people, including 21 men, nine women and five children were denied asylum and have been deported from Ireland to Nigeria overnight on a chartered flight at a cost of €325,000. Jim O’Callaghan is Minister for Justice and Fianna Fail TD Dublin Bay South joined Kieran to discuss further

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 discuss how not to stifle a laugh in awkward moments!

The Government is preparing major changes to planning laws, including proposals to allow attic conversions, garden cabins, and home extensions for elderly relatives without planning permission.It’s a move aimed at relieving pressure on the housing system and speeding up development. But questions remain about the effectiveness of these plans and whether they will move the needle at all.Tom Philips, Managing Director of Tom Phillips and Associates and Adjunct Associate Professor of Town Planning at UCD and later James Browne, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and Fianna Fáil TD for Wexford join Kieran to discuss.

France will be making a big change in July, which requires people to upload a form of identification online to be able to access pornographic sites, which has prompted sites to preemptively shut down in protest.Newstalk's Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly joins Kieran to discuss this, and how it might be introduced here through the Online Safety Code initiative.

30 or so cars have made their way to the N7 for a protest that is being held around CityWest. Its aim is to stop the Government from buying the CityWest hotel in an expansion plan for asylum seeker accommodation.Newstalk Reporter Barry Whyte is there, and joins Kieran to discuss. Also joining is Linda de Courcy, Independent Ireland Councillor for Clondalkin LEA.

Today, Penneys launched the findings of its latest Pulse of the Nation Index, conducted by Amárach Research, which revealed that 40% of the general public believe that disabled people are treated unfairly in Ireland.Paralympian and disability advocate, Ellen Keane, says that disabled people should no longer be an afterthought in fashion conversation.She joins Kieran to discuss.

Dundalk Film Maker, Fiona Thompson was on board the MV Rachel Corrie aid ship en route to Gaza back in 2010, when the crew of 11 people was detained.She managed to hold onto footage recorded in secret while on board.She joins Kieran to discuss the experience…

As the phrase goes, don’t sweat the small stuff, but a new study says micro stresses like traffic or losing your keys can trigger the same exhaustion as a single major life event!To discuss further, Kieran is joined by Newstalk’s Henry McKean.