The Explainer

It's the political paradox of Budget 2026: a multi-billion euro package that seems to have left almost everyone underwhelmed. The government has announced major spending on housing, infrastructure, and social welfare, but from farmers to homeless charities, many are calling it a 'missed opportunity' that fails to tackle Ireland's big issues. We're joined by Dr Emma Howard, economist at TU Dublin, to explain what the headline figures really mean, who the winners and losers are, and whether this Budget is putting Ireland on a risky path. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The government’s Core Funding scheme was designed to keep childcare affordable by giving providers government funding in exchange for them agreeing to freeze their fees, meaning they wouldn’t increase costs for parents. However, childcare providers are abandoning the scheme in droves. A new investigation by The Journal Investigates has found that more than 50 providers around the country pulled out in recent years, including 25 that exited the scheme this year alone. We’re joined today by Conor O’Carroll, the reporter behind this report. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The murder of Charlie Kirk sent shockwaves through an already deeply divided America, and the fallout has become emblematic of the country's dangerously high tensions. As the US heads towards midterm elections, could this killing become a rallying cry to galvanise the Republican base? What does this moment reveal about the deep, at times seemingly irreconcilable, fractures in American society? We're joined by Larry Donnelly, a law lecturer at the University of Galway and a political commentator with The Journal, to explain what happens now and how Kirk's death could reshape American politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Israel's involvement in the Eurovision Song Contest has been the subject of protests for years, with calls for a boycott gaining significant momentum since 2023. Activists have called for Israel to be excluded completely, and now, state broadcasters are listening. RTÉ said that if Israel continues to be part of the competition, Ireland will not send an entry in 2026. Other countries are threatening to do the same. Could Eurovision go ahead without them? We're joined by our own Daragh Brophy, News Editor of The Journal, to explain the controversy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The presidential election is just weeks away, but before candidates face the public, they must first find a way to get themselves on the ballot paper. How does the process of currying favour with local councils or members of the Oireachtas actually work, how have previous candidates navigated it, and what should the public be aware of on the day itself? We're joined by Dr Theresa Reidy, a political scientist in the Department of Government at UCC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re joined by Elaine Burke, tech journalist and host of the For Tech’s Sake podcast to ask: are these new controls a meaningful step towards safety, or just a sticking plaster on a much deeper problem?We’re all grappling with how to use new AI tools, or whether to attempt to stay away from them completely. For some people, they've become a source of support. But what happens when a chatbot becomes a trusted confidant for a teenager in crisis?Following a lawsuit in the United States from the parents of a teenager who died by suicide, OpenAI is rolling out parental controls for ChatGPT. The move comes as data suggests mental health queries are a common type of prompt from Irish users, with local experts and regulators issuing stark warnings about the dangers of using AI for therapy.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The hugely successful reality competition series The Traitors is about to land in Ireland, following much loved versions in the UK, US, Australia and beyond. It’s the latest in a long line of television programmes to go from concept to global franchise - think Big Brother, Love Island, MasterChef. This trend seems to be taking up more and more airtime on our screens.But how does a show actually make that leap? What’s the business behind international formats? And what does the rise of these "global-but-local" shows tell us about how we watch TV today? We’re joined by Sunday Times columnist and arts journalist Aoife Barry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pope Leo XIV took charge of the Catholic Church in May this year and already opinions are sharply divided between conservative and progressive Catholics. He has been painted by some as a cautious and unifying figure taking a more 'middle of the road' approach compared to his predecessor Francis, but other reviews are not so glowing: former president Mary McAleese pulled no punches and labelled his start as 'bog-standard patriarchal'. Our reporter Diarmuid Pepper joins us to examine what the first American pope has actually done, what his priorities are, and what his approach signals for the future of the Church. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For many, the flexibility of working from home was one of the few silver linings of the pandemic. But now, that flexibility seems to be disappearing. In recent weeks, a growing number of companies have started calling their staff back to the office, sparking a major debate about the future of work. Employers say it's about boosting collaboration, innovation, and company culture, but employees are pushing back, with surveys showing many would change jobs to maintain flexibility. Professor Alma McCarthy, the executive dean at the College of Business, Public Policy and Law at University of Galway, joins us to answer: is the golden age of remote work over, or is the genie well and truly out of the bottle with no going back? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A coordinated international approach to events in Gaza appeared to emerge last week, with countries like the UK, France and Canada announcing their plans for formal recognition of the State of Palestine. They were following the earlier lead of Ireland, Spain and Norway. The catalyst for the move is clear — the unfolding genocide, deepening humanitarian crisis and harrowing scenes of starvation in Gaza have intensified both public outrage and political pressure, pushing governments to act. The question now is, what real difference, if any, will this make for Palestinians on the ground? In this episode, we explore what lies behind the shift, its implications for global diplomacy, and any possible outcomes. Our own reporter, David Mac Redmond, joins us to discuss. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.