The Explainer

Our own political correspondent Christina Finn and Professor Gary Murphy from Dublin City University's School of Law and Government join us this week to examine the programme for government.Yesterday, we finally received the news that Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party had made an agreement and drafted a list of what they planned to do together.That document is known as a programme for government, and is currently in its draft stage - it has to be voted on by each party's members. If they all agree on the contents, FG, FG and the Greens will all be going into government together.It's been over 100 days of waiting for this moment. But what does the draft programme for government promise? That's what we're looking at in this week's episode of The Explainer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vox reporter Matthew Yglesias joins us from Washington on this week's podcast to talk to presenter Sinéad O'Carroll about what the phrase 'defund the police means'. We've heard this phrase used in the US a lot during Black Lives Matter protests in the wake of the tragic killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. But why is this phrase being used, and what does it mean? In addition, what can it tell us about how policing currently works in the US? That's what we discuss on this week's podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode, Glenn Burkins joins us from North Carolina to talk about the impact of the protests in the US following the death of George Floyd.On 25 May, a man named George Floyd went to buy cigarettes in a corner store. After the transaction, he was accused of using a counterfeit €20 bill, and when he denied the accusation the police were called.Part of what happened next was captured on video by a bystander: the incident ended with a police officer spending almost nine minutes with his knee to the neck of a handcuffed Floyd. George Floyd died after the incident.The release of the video led to huge outcry, not just in the US but globally. The police officer, Derek Chauvin, was charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter on 29 May, which was upgraded to second-degree murder on 3 June. Three other officers are to be charged in relation to George Floyd's death.With protests against the death ongoing, the conversation has turned globally to how George Floyd's treatment was part of the long history of racism and discrimination against black Americans. On this week's The Explainer, Glenn Burkins, editor of the Q City Metro in North Carolina, joins us to give an American perspective about the events.He tells us about what the protests mean for African Americans, what they could mean for the Trump administration, and his feelings as an African American reporter and publisher. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's podcast, The42's Gavan Casey and TheJournal.ie reporter Garreth McNamee join us to look at why Daniel Kinahan is back in the news again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gavan Reilly, Virgin Media political correspondent and host of On The Record on Newstalk, and TheJournal.ie's political correspondent Christina Finn join us on this week's episode to discuss we still have no government more than 100 days since the general election.We discuss what the main sticking points have been through the talks between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, and whether we'll definitely see the Green Party joining them to government, as well as examine how a 'caretaker' government works, what role the Seanad plays in all this, and how things might play out for the next few weeks - or months. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Late last month, a national alert was issued in the UK for healthcare professionals, warning them about potential links between a life-threatening syndrome being seen in children, and Covid-19.Over a month earlier, doctors in Italy started to notice cases of the same syndrome. In the intervening time, cases were seen in France, Spain and Portugal. The World Health Organization put out an alert about the potential links between the syndrome and Covid-19.Cases of the syndrome in children escalated in New York, where there's thought to be some 100 cases. Three deaths in the state have been linked to the syndrome.But what is this syndrome - similar to Kawasaki Syndrome - and how could it be connected to Covid-19? That's what we're looking at in this week's episode of The Explainer. Our reporter Sean Murray gives presenter Sinéad O'Carroll the most up-to-date information on what we know about the syndrome, and what Irish medical experts have to say.Some further reading on this topic:• What to Know About Kawasaki Disease and Coronavirus (TIME) https://time.com/5832461/kawasaki-disease-covid-19/• The Pandemic Doesn't Have to Be This Confusing (The Atlantic) https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/04/pandemic-confusing-uncertainty/610819/• How coronavirus attacks the human body (The Washington Post) https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/05/10/coronavirus-attacks-body-symptoms/?arc404=true• ‘Finally, a virus got me.’ Scientist who fought Ebola and HIV reflects on facing death from COVID-19 (Science) https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/05/finally-virus-got-me-scientist-who-fought-ebola-and-hiv-reflects-facing-death-covid-19• Covid-19 impacting patients' kidneys with many ending up needing dialysis (TheJournal.ie) https://www.thejournal.ie/coronavirus-kidneys-5089817-May2020/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's five dates to mark on your calendar: 18 May, 8 June, 29 June, 20 July, 10 August.These are the tentative dates for each phase of the government's roadmap for the lifting of restrictions.The situation is going to be closely monitored. If the virus starts spreading widely again, some elements might be pushed back or suspended. If good progress is made in keeping it at bay, elements could be brought forward.Right now cafes and restaurants will reopen - with social distancing measures in place - from 29 June, but this is a problem for publicans and anyone who is looking forward to a drink in their local, as pubs are currently slated to open on 10 August.Our senior reporter Michelle Hennessy joins presenter Sinéad O'Carroll to examine this situation. We take a look at how the roadmap might work, how it's a 'living document' with changes being made on the fly, but also whether it is possible for pubs to open before August.We also talk through the proposals released by publicans on how it might happen, and how likely the government is to overrule the advice of the health experts in favour of an early return to normality. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Testing for Covid-19 is an essential part of fighting against the spread of the disease, and the Irish government has pledged to process 100,000 a week.But it isn't easy to get to that number - so are we there yet? Why is testing important? And what about the future? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The coronavirus crisis has seen important figures like Ireland's chief medical officer, Tony Holohan, become household names.At a time of crisis like now, the State has to assess carefully how it will communicate with its citizens. It needs to be clear and in charge, and listen to the people affected by what it's telling them.How is Ireland doing this, and how effective is it? That's what we're looking at in this week's episode of The Explainer. We talk you through how the HSE and Department of Health communicates the latest facts and figures to people - Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

People living in Ireland do not have to wear masks as part of the effort to curb the spread of Covid-19 - but people in New York and the Czech Republic do. So should we be wearing masks, or not? What does the science say? And are homemade cloth masks any use? On this week's episode of The Explainer, we take a look at the question of mask-wearing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.