The Hard Shoulder

Sinn Féin’s two MEPs have voted against a €90 billion European Union loan to Ukraine when the before the European Parliament today.  The party has said it supports the provision of humanitarian aid but says the proposed loan is ‘primarily for military expenditure’.  Joining Shean to discuss was Regina Doherty,   Irish Fine Gael MEP and Micheal Mc Namara,   Independent MEP for Ireland South

The “beep test”, a standard aerobic fitness measure used for prospective firefighters and Gardaí for the last 40 years, has been all over the news in the past few days.This is after Cork Fire Brigade was ordered to pay €8,000 in compensation to a part-time firefighter aged in her 40s, after a tribunal found the test discriminates against women and advantages younger candidates But how good a measure of your true fitness, is it?Shane travelled to Dublin City Centre, where I met with Personal Trainer John Belton to take the test and find out. To further discuss the ‘Beep Test’ Shane was joined by Former Garda inspector in north central Dublin, Former Deputy-Secretary of the AGSI and current Risk, Security & Event Manager of Ashtree Risk Group, Tony Gallagher

Following yesterdays shooting in at a school in Tumbler Ridge Canada, as the small community tries to come to terms with this Shane was joined by Trent Ernst, Local Tumbler Ridge journalist to reflect on the tragic events.

A protest against the Residential Tenancies Bill will take place today at 5.30pm outside the Dáil.  The bill would allow small landlords to reset rents to market rates between tenancies and will introduce six-year tenancies, amongst other changes.  People Before Profit called the protest, as TD Richard Boyd Barrett accused the Government of “dancing to the tune” of corporate landlords “profiteering” from the “housing crisis misery”.Shane was joined by Helen who is a staff member and regional organizer at the Community Action Tenants Union and tenant and by Michael Houghton, Columnist with the Irish Independent, host of the Irish Fire podcast and private landlord to debate the incoming measures

The trial of an American man who killed his father at the five-star Ballyfin Demesne hotel in Portlaoise 12th November 2024, during a psychotic episode told gardaí that he told his father he would always love him as he took his last breath.He has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.Joining Shane was Frank Graney, Newstalk’s courts correspondent.  

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, as part of his 12 best cities in the world, Fionn joined Shane to give the ultimate guide to Madrid in Spain !

The Dublin Airport cap is set to be lifted by the government. But are government plans foregoing climate policy to achieve economic growth ? Shane was joined by the President of the ICMSA, Denis Drennan, who questioned whether this move is a counter to the ambitions set out in the Climate Action Plan

Within the last week, have you done one or more of the following? Cleaned your house. Cooked in a non-stick pan. Worn make-up. Drunk tap water. Bought a takeaway coffee. Charged your phone.Chances are you’ve done most, if not all of them, without a second thought.And what you probably don’t realise is that every single one has put you in contact with a strain of dangerous ‘forever chemicals’.Joining Shane to  discuss was Microbiologist and Food Scientist, Anna Burn

Social Democrat TD for Dublin Central joined Shane to place his favourite book on The Hard Shoulder Bookshelf!

A survey in the UK edition of The Times suggests that one in four workers would run out of money in a month if they lost their job Essentially suggesting our rainy-day savings are dangerously low, putting many at risk if they suddenly became unemployed.  To discuss all things savings, Shane was joined by Paul Merriman, CEO of Fairstone and Founder of Askpaul.