Highlights From The Hard Shoulder

Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien has said that the Government is planning to introduce a vacant property tax in Budget 2023 which could impact on an estimated 137,000 properties. A vacant designation would be based on data collated by the local property tax. Fergus O’Dowd Fine Gael TD for Louth joined Kieran to discuss what impact a tax would have and why so many houses lay vacant while the country battles through the housing crisis.   Listen and subscribe to The Hard Shoulder on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.    

A Fianna Fáil Senator has said he has been forced to sleep in his car because it is “impossible” to get a hotel room in Dublin. Roscommon Senator Eugene Murphy told Kieran he has slept in his car twice in the recent months and said he knows of a number of other Oireachtas politicians who have dealt with the same problem.   Listen and subscribe to The Hard Shoulder on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.  

Dublin Airport has faced criticism in recent weeks because of the long delays passengers are facing when travelling through the airport. Kieran spoke to listener Jenna Golden, who went through Dublin Airport this weekend about the delays she faced and Businessman Declan Ganley about how considering Shannon airport could help alleviate delays.     Listen and subscribe to The Hard Shoulder on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

That was Matt Whelan and Phil Doran, two thatchers giving their view on the Thatched Cottage crisis. There are only 1,000 thatched cottages left in the country. Some owners can’t get cover or are being quoted up to €8,500 and can’t afford it so switch to a metal roof. There is now only one insurance company offering cover meaning some Irish owners could lose everything in a fire or storm. How important are thatched cottages for our history, heritage and tourism and what would it mean if they all disappeared? Henry McKean has been out and about for us visiting thatched cottage owners and he joins us now.

Menopause is something that all women will go through, and yet we know so little about it. Comedian Anne Gildea has based a whole new show around it and she joined Kieran to explain the best way to think about menopause is to think of it as 'reverse puberty'.   Listen and subscribe to The Hard Shoulder on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

Arming all frontline guards with tasers is one of the issues being discusses at the Garda Representative Association Conference over the next few days. Tasers are currently available only to specialist units such as the emergency response unit, armed support units and the special detective unit. Dr Pat Leahy, Former Assistant Commissioner joined Kieran to discuss if all frontline Guards should be armed with tasers.   Listen and subscribe to The Hard Shoulder on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.  

Martina Lawless, Associate research professor at the ESRI joined Kieran to discuss the Northern Ireland Protocol and what a trade war would look like. Listen and subscribe to The Hard Shoulder on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

Kieran was joined on the show by Anne Marie Boyhan, Holistic Sleep Expert, founder of the Sleep Care Company and Author of the 'Sleep Journal' to discuss how sleep apps can cure insomnia. Listen and subscribe to The Hard Shoulder on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

Lord David Puttnam TV Director joined Kieran to discuss why TV and Film should be a career for you to aim for. Listen and subscribe to The Hard Shoulder on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

A bicycle repair initiative that helps people recovering from addiction officially opened a new facility in Dublin today." Frontline Bikes is to receive more than half a million in funding to expand its services." Our reporter Josh Crosbie was at the new centre in Bluebell in Dublin today and spoke with those involved... Listen and subscribe to The Hard Shoulder on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

Kieran was joined by Rhonda Doyle, Director of Operations at Schneider Electric Ireland to discuss career breaks for women. Listen and subscribe to The Hard Shoulder on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

Brian Gleeson who is currently performing in the Gate in Nick Payne’s multi-award-winning play ‘Constellations’ which runs until June 2nd joined Kieran on the show. Listen and subscribe to The Hard Shoulder on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

Alexander Stubb, Former Finish Prime Minister joined Kieran on the show to discuss Finland's decision to apply for NATO membership marking a major shift in European geopolitics. Listen and subscribe to The Hard Shoulder on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

Brian Nolan Assistant General Secretary of the Connect Trade Union joined Kieran to discuss the construction jobs gap worsened by ‘reluctance to get out of bed for 7am’. Listen and subscribe to The Hard Shoulder on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

The hit reality TV  show Love Island has dropped I Saw It First and Missguided after facing public backlash for promoting fast fashion whilst on air over the summer. The ITV show has penned a deal with Ebay to kit out this year’s contestants in preloved clothing. Geraldine Carton is Co-Founder of The Useless Project and Justin Cox Executive Producer of Dying to Clothe, A major feature length documentary on the human and environmental cost of the fashion industry joined Kieran to discuss the impacts of fast fashion.   Listen and subscribe to The Hard Shoulder on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.  

Protest at the Dáil

Summer holiday season is well and truly upon us, and with that comes the huge demand for car rentals. Motoring journalist Geraldine Herbert joined Kieran to discuss why prices have skyrocketed, with some costumers been quoted up to 10,000 euro for a car for  3 weeks in July. Listen and subscribe to The Hard Shoulder on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.    

The Green Party has suspended and removed the party whip from TDs Neasa Hourigan and Patrick Costello. The parliamentary party agreed the sanctions after the pair voted against the Government in the Dáil last night. Denis Naughton Independent TD and Eoin O’Malley Social scientist and columnist with the Sunday Independent joined Kieran to discuss if the whip system is too rigid.     Listen and subscribe to The Hard Shoulder on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

A Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss opened this weekend. It’s attempting to help Ireland’s climate and biodiversity emergency that was declared three years ago. Dr. Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabháin, Chair of the Citizens the assembly joined Kieran to explain how they will look into the threats of biodiversity loss and how to reverse it.   Listen and subscribe to The Hard Shoulder on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

Anxiety or fear of experiencing discrimination are the biggest barriers preventing people from ethnic minorities and the LGBTI community getting involved in sport. That’s according to new research from Sport Ireland, which is today launching its new diversity and inclusion policy.  Minister of State for Sport, Jack Chambers joined Kieran to discuss what needs to be done to diversify sport.   Listen and subscribe to The Hard Shoulder on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.