The Hard Shoulder

Are children starting school lacking basic skills? There are concerns that kids' exposure to phones and the internet from an early age is having a negative impact in ways that were once taken for granted.To discuss this,Ciara is joined by Principal of St Patrick’s National School in Greystones, Co Wicklow, Rachel Harper, and Principal of Bunscoil na Cathrach in Co Tipperary, and Vice President of the Irish National Teachers Organisation, Brendan Horan.

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 Ciara to discuss how you can improve your signature!

Enoch Burke has been released from Mountjoy Prison following an order from a High Court judge earlier.Burke had been in jail since late November for breaches of a court order directing him not to trespass at Wilson's Hospital School in Co Westmeath, where he worked as a teacher.For more on this, Newstalk’s Courts Correspondent Frank Greaney joins Ciara.

Yesterday yet another increase of alcohol prices was announced with the price of Guinness increasing. As these hikes continue, many people may opt to have a drink at home rather than in the pub, but is this negatively impacting children that are also in the house?Joining Ciara to discuss is Siobhain O’Neill White from Mams.ie. and Brendan Kelly, Psychiatry Professor at Trinity College Dublin.

For this week’s Tech Takeover, Jess Kelly, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent joins Ciara Doherty to discuss how you can deactivate or delete your X account if you are so inclined.

US President Donald Trump has said that anything less than Greenland "in the hands" of the United States is "unacceptable", reiterating his demand for control of the Danish territory.His comments come as Greenlandic and Danish Foreign Ministers are to meet US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington today.Joining Ciara to discuss the latest updates and give their reactions is David Smith, Washington Bureau Chief for The Guardian, Barry Andrews, Fianna Fáil MEP and rapporteur for the Parliament's position on EU-Greenland relations and Tilli Martinussen Greenlandic Politician and former MP.

The UK Government’s appeal on the dismissal of Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh’s alleged terror offence has not reached a judgement after hearings today.Joining Ciara with the latest updates is Newstalk Reporter Ellen Butler, who has been outside of the Royal Courts of Justice.

The Oireachtas Committee on Media held a hearing this afternoon on the regulation of online platforms and online safety. There was a particular focus on the recent controversy surrounding the Grok AI feature on X.Joining Ciara to discuss this is Alan Kelly, Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport and Labour TD for Tipperary North and Aidan O'Brien, Researcher at DCU School of Communications, who attended the Oireachtas meeting today.

As the Beckham family feud rumors rumble on, the latest in the saga is a legal letter sent by eldest son Brooklyn Beckham to his parents David and Victoria, suggesting no signs of improvement despite hopes of mending relations…For more on this, Ciara is joined by Entertainment Journalist, Olivia Fahy.

The hot school meals programme provided to schools is not sustainable, and there are concerns over procurement, nutrition and waste, an Oireachtas committee heard this afternoon.It is now available to all 3,700 primary schools feeding up 682,000 children.But Educate Together say that the current model is not sustainable…Newstalk’s Henry McKean has been investigating, and joins Ciara to discuss.