The Hard Shoulder

Impassioned speeches took place in the Dáil today, as the spotlight moved to the treatment of whistleblowers.It’s as a Private Members Motion was brought forward on strengthening protections for whistleblowers.Independent Ireland TD Ken O’Flynn brought the motion, and joins Ciara Doherty to discuss, as does Noel McGree, a whistleblower who highlighted alleged corruption in the prison service…

Author John Grisham has said there is a steep decline in the US in reading for pleasure. Is this also the case in Ireland, and what has contributed to this? Is it simply our busy lives, or is there just too much vying for our attention?Joining Ciara Doherty to discuss is children’s author, Lorraine Levis.

The UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced the latest Budget today, and it has not come without massive publicity. To chat through what has happened across the pond, Ciara Doherty is joined by Broadcaster, Political Commentator, and author, Iain Dale.Michael Magner, President of the Irish Hotels Federation, also joins to discuss whether or not Ireland should follow suit with its own country-wide tax on tourism.

Applications for a new "affordable" housing development opened in County Kildare today. However, some of the homes cost more than what is allowed under the local authority's Home Loan Scheme.Newstalk's Josh Crosbie has been investigating, and joins Ciara to discuss.Image: Daft

A debate before the EU Parliament will discuss whether social media companies should be liable for fake ads on their sites, in an effort to cut down on scams.Joining Ciara Doherty to discuss is Fine Gael MEP, Regina Doherty.

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 Doherty to give the ultimate guide on the Australian city of Melbourne!

Enda Murphy is a clinical psychotherapist and director of SeeMee.ie, specializing in loneliness and addiction, while Leo Gibson is a content creator sharing personal experiences of youth loneliness. They dive into why online connections fall short, particularly for young men, and share effective offline social strategies like a phone-free golf routine that fosters genuine interaction. Additionally, they discuss the detrimental effects of digital addiction on real-world relationships and emphasize the need for accessible spaces to combat increasing loneliness among Ireland's youth.

Fergus Finlay, former CEO of Barnardos and a prominent columnist at The Irish Examiner, shares his literary loves and reflections on reading. He opens up about the struggle of downsizing his extensive book collection and emphasizes the irreplaceable magic of physical books over e-readers. Fergus reveals how Flann O'Brien's "At Swim-Two-Birds" mirrors his youthful escapades in Dublin, while he passionately recounts reading "Final Days of Nixon" in one thrilling night. He also endorses Terry Pohn's impactful new work on disability activism.

Andrew McGinley, a devoted father and advocate for child safety, discusses the tragic case surrounding the deaths of his children, Conor, Darragh, and Carla. He supports Deirdre Morley's judicial review of the coroner's limited inquest scope. Andrew highlights his concerns about the medical evidence presented and stresses the need for systemic reviews of child deaths. He passionately shares his motivation to campaign for reform, emphasizing the emotional toll of his loss and the importance of improving mental health and safety processes for children.

Conor Pope, Consumer Affairs Correspondent for the Irish Times, dives into the upcoming government rules allowing customers to cancel contracts without penalties if prices increase. He highlights how companies often pre-announce price hikes, locking consumers in, and explains the common contract clauses that fuel frustration. Conor also discusses the potential for firms to raise base prices as a workaround, the impact on utilities and insurance, and the broader implications for consumer rights. It's a crucial conversation for anyone dealing with rising costs.