Highlights From The Hard Shoulder

Deputy cabinet secretary in the PM's office, Koichiro Matsumoto spoke of the anguish felt by the Prime Minister in the aftermath of Shinzo Abe's Death. Brian Gaynor, Irish journalist based in Japan joined Emmet Oliver on the show.

Sinn Fein have confirmed they’re going to lodge a motion of no confidence in the government this week. Mary Lou McDonald is the party leader and she joined Emmet Oliver on the show.

George Monbiot environmental campaigner and Guardian columnist, joined Emmet to discuss his new book ‘Regenesis -Feeding the World Without Devouring The Planet’.

Boris Johnson has resigned as Conservative leader, after a series of cabinet ministers told him he had lost the support of the party. Emmet was joined by Bobby McDonagh Was Irish ambassador to the UK when Boris was London Mayor, Tim Walker Former colleagues at the telegraph & Author of Bloody Difficult Women and Cindy Yu Broadcast editor of The Spectator, to discuss how a change of PM could affect Ireland.

After Donegal TD Joe McHugh’s resignation of the Fine Gael Party Whip last night, the government officially has 79 votes, with the opposition on 80.This has resulted in motions of no confidence being mooted for next week from Sections of the Opposition. Neale Richmond, who is Fine Gael TD for Dublin Rathdown, and Paul Murphy, People Before Profit TD for Dublin South West, joined Emmet to discuss if its time for this government to come to an end.

Today is World Chocolate Day and Emmet was joined by founders of The Proper Chocolate Company in Glasnevin, Kellie and Patrick Marjolet, to mark the day.

Boris Johnson has resigned and in a week’s time the UK will have a new Prime Minister. Emmet was joined by Antoinette Sandbach Former Tory MP and former member of the 1922 Committee, Tom Baldwin Former Governmental Special Advisor and Lucy Fisher Chief Political Commentator Times Radio, to discuss what is next for Boris and also the British government.

Many believe that spreading out exercise is better then only exercising on weekends but, according to new research that might not be so. Siobhan Byrne, Director and owner of Body Byrne Training joined Emmet to put the case forward for those who save their work outs for the weekends.

The resignations of Sajid Javid and Rishi Sunak in the UK yesterday have cast major doubt on the future of Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Ann Widdecombe Former Conservative MP, joined Emmet to discuss what the future could look like if Boris resigns.

Jack Lambert Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases at UCD School of Medicine and Oonagh Carr, a long Covid patient, joined Emmet to discuss long covid and the challenges it can present to those who suffer with it.

Max Dickins was choosing a best man for his wedding he realised he had nobody to ask. He then learned he wasn’t the only one struggling with male friendships. He joined Emmet to discuss male friendship and the process of writing “Billy No-Mates: How I Realised Men Have a Friendship Problem."

After a number of cabinet resignations, LBC presenter James O'Brien joined Kieran to discuss what the future holds for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

A Joint Oireachtas Committee on International Surrogacy has today recommended that both parents of children born via international surrogacy should be recognised for the first time under Irish Law. Jennifer Whitmore, Social Democrats TD and chair of the Oireachtas committee on International Surrogacy, joined Emmet and Ranae von Meding, mum of two girls born through reciprocal IVF with her wife, to discuss the on going issues facing families with children born through surrogacy.

According to a new survey for the Irish League of Credit Unions, back-to-school expenses are leaving parents in debt on top of the rising cost of living. One of those costs include, the price of school uniforms. Siobhán O’Neill-White, from parenting website Mams.ie joined Emmet and Eric Nelligan Secondary School Teacher in St Munchins College, to discuss if it is time to standardised uniforms across the board for children.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak and health secretary Sajid Javid have resigned from Boris Johnson's government. Emmet was joined by Presenter Shelagh Fogarty, to discuss if this could mean the end for UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The metrolink has got the go-ahead. It’ll link north of Swords, stopping at the Airport and then go all the way to Charlemont Street in the South of Dublin. Eamon Ryan, the green party leader and minister for Transport, joined Emmet to discuss how this will benefit Dublin and the rest of the country.

Minister for transport Eamon Ryan has given the go-ahead for planning permission for Dublin’s MetroLink. It’s thought it will be up and running in the early 2030’s. Paolo Carbone, Head of Public Transport Capital Programmes Transport Infrastructure Ireland, joined Emmet to discuss why it seems Ireland is so slow when it comes to getting large projects up and running.

Limerick is 7th, Cork comes 5th and Dublin tops the list for having the highest congestion levels across cities in Ireland and the UK. Sadhbh O’Neill, a lecturer in climate policy and politics at DCU's School of Law and Government, and Keith Gavin From the Irish Parking Association, joined Emmett to discuss if its time to bring in a congestion charge.

In 4 counties in Ireland, Dublin, Meath, Sligo and Wexford waiting lists for childcare run up to 2024. In just 7 counties of 26, childcare providers will have space by the end of this year. Mary Seery Kearney, Fine Gael Seanad spokesperson on Children, Mary Moloney, from Crann Support Group and Elaine Dunne, Federation of Early Childhood Providers, joined Emmett to discuss the on going issues facing the childhood sector.

A new report has found that most complaints made to the taxi regulator relate to passengers paying too much for fares, while many complained about smells and cleanliness. Research conducted by the National Transport Authority found a total of 439 issues were reported to the oversight body so far this year. Taxi drivers gave their reaction to reporter JJ Clarke.