Highlights From The Hard Shoulder

HSE Chief Executive Paul Reid has announced that he will be stepping down from his position later this year. Kieran was joined by Priscilla Lynch Clinical Editor of the Medical Independent to look back at his time in the position and discuss what his exit means for Irelands heath service.

Staff from the children's charity Barnardos say that children are wearing hand-me-downs, oversized shoes and pyjamas in the daytime as parents around the country continue to battle the rising cost of living Esther Pugh, Barnardos Project Leader – Esther, joined Kieran and Ivana Bacik,Leader of the Labour Party, to discuss what can be done to combat the on going crisis.

President Biden gave a live address to the nation expressing his concerns and sadness about the decision to overturn Roe V Wade. Lisa Bennatan, Journalist with Fox News Digital in the United States, and Eilish Mulroy, spokesperson for the Pro-Life Campaign joined Kieran Cuddihy to discuss the decision made by the US Supreme Court.

On Saturday 75 years ago the first edition of Anne Frank’s Diary was published, 2 years after the end of World War 2 To discuss its significance, Kieran was joined by Tony Kushner, Professor of history of Jewish/non-Jewish relations at the University of Southampton.

Kacper Bogalecki, International Officer with the Irish Second-Level Students Union, and Martin Majoram, TUI President joined Kieran to discuss if the Leaving Certificate should be brought forward to May.

Martin Wall, Washington Correspondent with The Irish Times, and Leslie Shoemaker, Counselling Psychologist and Lecturer in TU Dublin joined Kieran Cuddihy to discuss the decision by the US Supreme Court to overturn Roe V Wade.

The Tories lost two more by-elections last night, this has left everyone wondering what does it mean for Boris? Lord Robert Hayward, a British Conservative Party Politician joined Kieran Cuddihy on the show to discuss.

More controversy surrounding Dublin Airport as residents in Swords and Santry have said that airport goers are abandoning their cars in their areas and clogging up already congested roads. Our reporter Emma Tyrell spoke to residents of housing estates in Swords to hear about what they are dealing with. Joe Newman, Swords Councilor and Eoghan Corry Editor of Air & Travel Magazine joined Kieran on the show to discuss.

Most adults can’t identify the overwhelming majority of different birds and insects in their garden. So found a new study from the UK. Our Reporter Daragh Faughnan took to the streets of Dublin to see whether people could identify a picture of a sparrow. Éanna Ni Lamhna, Author, Broadcaster, and President of the Tree Council of Ireland and Primary School Teacher Katie both joined Kieran on the show.

The Tenant Sentiment Survey released today showed that 54% of those surveyed will still be renting in 2027 and 1 in 5 people are unable to access social housing. CEO of Threshold and former Head of Social Justice and Policy with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul John Mark McCafferty joined Kieran and Ciara Walsh, who is struggling to find a home to rent, to discuss the impacts of the ongoing housing crisis.

The central statistics office preliminary data from this year’s census showed that Ireland’s population has topped five million for the first time since 1851 and is now at the highest level it’s been since before the Famine. Kieran was joined by Jill O’Mahony Sociology Lecturer at South East Technological University, Yemi Adenuga Fine Gael Cllr in Navan originally from Nigeria and Adrian Kavanagh Lecturer in Maynooth Department of Geography, to discuss what we can learn and how we can use census data.

Economic growth is set to continue but challenges lie ahead with inflationary pressures, rising interest rates and tight labour markets, that’s according to the latest ESRI report. Alan Barrett, CEO of the Economic and Social Research Institute joined Kieran to discuss what could be a rocky economic road ahead.

TD are debating a bill this evening which proposes a referendum on reducing the voting age to 16. Thomas Pringle, the independent TD who initiated the bill, says he would like to see the referendum held alongside the local and European elections in 2024. Caillum Hedderman, Student and Vote at 16 Advocate and Noel Howard, Spokesperson for Social Care Ireland joined Kieran to debate if its time to lower the voting age.

Kieran was joined by Journalist Jamie Bartlett author of 'The Missing Cryptoqueen’ the wildly successful podcast, that has been turned into a book.

Investigative journalist Kevin Magee, joined Kieran to discuss his new documentary investigating why Dr. Ludwig Mühlhausen, a Nazi spy, was living in Donegal in 1937. "Nazi sa Ghaeltacht" will be aired tonight on TG4 at 9:30pm tonight.

Michelle Lynch was in touch with the show to discuss the issues she is having with the school place that has been offered to her son. Michelle's son is 12 years old and autistic, he is finishing primary school on Tuesday and has no place in his own town to start secondary school. She explained to Kieran how the place that has been offered is to far to travel and the only other option is to homeschool her son.

From One Direction to a sold out, global solo tour, Harry Styles is taking the music and fashion scene by storm. Pat Carty, Writer for Hot Press Magazine and Broadcaster, joined Kieran to look back at his rise to stardom.

The tourism minister Catherine Martin has spoken in the Dail over the high costs currently being experienced in the sector. Daragh Cassidy From Bonkers.ie and Pat Dawson CEO of the Travel Agents Association joined Kieran to discuss what can be done to cut costs within the sector.

Foras na Gaeilge has launched a nationwide campaign to encourage the use of Irish in communities outside of Gaeltacht areas. Blathnaid Treacy Television & Radio presenter, joined Diarmuid Lyng, Owner of Wild Irish Retreats, Hazel De Nortúin, Founder of Cafe Glic in Ballyfermot and Kieran to discuss what can be done to boost Irish speaking across the country.

Last year, there were record numbers of students applying for apprenticeships with 8,607 people taking the vocational route. With this years Leaving Cert results due in the upcoming months, Kieran was joined by Jessica Kelly, Apprentice butcher at the Village Butchers in Ranelagh, Dylan Bradshaw, Owner and Creative Director of Dylan Bradshaw and Eoin Caverly, Aer Lingus Aircraft Maintenance & Engineering Apprentice, to discuss the many career opportunities that can come from trade routes.