In The News

From the moment on Tuesday morning when a retired British civil servant went public about how Boris Johnson was covering up his involvement in yet another scandal, the prime minister's fate was sealed. But why was it this of all scandals that finally took him down? What comes next for UK politics - and how will it affect Ireland? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All of Europe is in the grip of inflation, and Ireland is no different. But here we already had some of the highest prices in Europe across a range of products and services including energy, food, broadband and mortgages. What's behind our high prices - and could our own consumer culture have anything to do with it? Conor Pope talks to Dargh Cassidy of bonkers.ie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eight years after Scotland said no to independence in its 2014 referendum, Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon now wants to put the issue back at the top of the agenda. In a speech to the Scottish parliament last week, the first minister set out the route map for holding a vote on the issue on October 19 next year. The question put to Scots would be the same as in the 2014 referendum – Should Scotland be an independent country? But holding a second referendum is shrouded in legal problems and there’s no certainty it will even happen, as London Editor Denis Staunton explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the US, in places where women get abortions, but also in courtrooms and within political campaign headquarters, the decision of the Supreme Court to overturn the Roe v Wade right to abortion has transformed American life and set many fresh battles over reproductive rights in train. One week on from the ruling, we talk to US journalist Kara Voght about what impact it is already having. Kara Voght is politics reporter with Rolling Stone magazine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The current energy crisis shows little sign of easing, and the worst may be to come. Some have warned that, with Russian gas supplies in doubt, Europe could face energy rationing this coming winter. Jack Horgan-Jones looked into the issue and he tells Conor Pope how likely it is to happen here in Ireland and what plans there are to deal with it if it does. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just three months on from the last pandemic wave which swept across the country, Ireland is once again experiencing a surge in Covid cases. But was it expected this time round and how long will it last? Conor Pope speaks to virologist Dr Gerald Barry to find out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nearly 300 years ago an earthquake off the coast of Portugal caused a tsunami which hit Ireland’s coast. Records show that the Lisbon tsunami, as it was known, damaged Galway’s Spanish Arch, caused a large body of water to pour into Kinsale harbour and made an island out of Aughinish in northern Clare.Last Saturday, locals in West Cork momentarily feared that history could be repeating itself, when unusual tidal activity saw water levels in some harbours drop dramatically. So, what happened on Ireland’s southwest coast last weekend? We hear from eyewitness, charter boat operator David Edwards.Sorcha Pollak also talks to oceanographer at Maynooth University, Dr Gerard McCarthy, about what caused the freak tides at Courtmacsherry and Union Hall last weekend, the likelihood of a big tsunami hitting Ireland and how prepared we would be for one. Links: Deep Maps Cork article on the Lisbon Tsunami: http://www.deepmapscork.ie/past-to-present/climate/1755-lisbon-earthquake-tsunami-west-cork-coast/Dr McCarthy's Twitter thread explaining the unusual tidal activity in Cork: https://twitter.com/ger_the_sea/status/1538660304699150337Watch David Edwards' footage from Courtmacsherry: https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2022/06/20/freak-west-cork-tides-not-caused-by-marine-earthquake-experts-say/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many hospitals around the country could soon be functioning without hundreds of junior doctors. Earlier this month, they voted in favour of strike action, in a ballot called by the Irish Medical Organisation. They’re fighting for better working conditions, improved pay and an end to unsafe and illegal hours. Sorcha Pollak speaks to Dr Jamie McGettigan from Limerick Hospital Group and Health Editor Paul Cullen to find out more.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With many Irish people now feeling the bite from the soaring cost of living, a new report has found a record number of households are experiencing energy poverty. The study by the ESRI makes for stark reading. It found 29 per cent of households are spending more than a tenth of their income to power their home, with people in rural areas, those on lower incomes and older people disproportionately affected. So why is this happening now and what needs to be done to address it? Sorcha Pollak talks to ESRI economist Barra Roantree and Tricia Keilthy, Head of Social Justice and Policy at the Society of St Vincent de Paul. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Earlier this week, George Gonzaga Bento walked out of Dublin’s Central Criminal Court, a free man. The 36-year-old from Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, had spent the last 16 months in custody, accused of murdering teenager Josh Dunne in January 2021. 16-year-old Josh died from stab wounds inflicted by Bento, during a fight over a stolen bike in Dublin’s East Wall. After a six-week trial, the jury found Bento not guilty on all counts, accepting his plea of self-defence. Court reporters Alison O’Riordan and Eoin Reynolds reflect on the events of January 2021, the six-week trial that followed and how George Bento convinced the jury to let him walk free.Hosted by Sorcha Pollak and produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.