Highlights From The Hard Shoulder

There were ecstatic scenes as Team Ireland beat Switzerland 3-0 to win bronze in Floorball at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin.Henry McKean was court side, and sent in this report!

Off The Ball's Mick McCarthy joined Kieran Cuddihy on The Hard Shoulder to review the week in sport and look ahead to the weekend action…

Supermac’s owner Pat McDonagh is voicing strong opposition to plans for a near 17% increase in personal injury awards. He argues that the rise will only add more strain on struggling businesses, and drive up insurance costs. With Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan now considering the proposal, McDonagh warns it could lead to more court cases and higher legal fees, benefiting the legal profession but costing businesses and consumers…Joining Kieran to discuss this is Stuart Gilhooley, Solicitor and Senior Counsel and Brian Hanley, CEO of Alliance for Insurance Reform.

Seachtain na Gaeilge is coming to a close, and joining Kieran to discuss the importance of the week is one of its Ambassadors for 2025, Comedian Julie Jay!

Is it time to overhaul the secondary schools admission process, and streamline how it works?Joining Kieran to discuss is Gary O’Sullivan, Chair of the Secondary School Crisis Action Group and Eric Leonard, Chair of the Stillorgan Secondary School Crisis Action Group…

This year, ‘Maniac 2000’ by Mark McCabe turns 25!Joining Kieran to look back on the track’s impact is Today FM’s Shelley Grey, 98FM’s Cathal O’Sullivan and Go Loud’s Ed Smith.

The availability of fast fashion and increased use of social media has led to a rise in online boutiques. Consumers are raising concerns over the quality of goods and the misleading information promoted by some influencers.Newstalk reporter, Josh Crosbie has been examining the practice of white labelling.

Hexahydro Cannabinol, or HHC, is a new drug which experts have been raising the flag over its dangers to young people, as it’s often sold in vapes or jellies.Why hasn’t this been tackled sooner, and do we need to discuss how we approach drug use in the country?Joining guest host Anton Savage to discuss is Dr Bobby Smyth, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and Addiction Specialist.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he would be open to agreeing to the 30-day ceasefire agreement tabled by the US, but only under his own terms.What are these terms, and will Putin honour the ceasefire if this is agreed?Volodymyr Solohub, Freelance Journalist in Ukraine and Dr Shane O’Rourke, Senior Lecturer in Modern Russian History in the University of York join guest host Anton Savage to discuss.Image: Reuters

Marks & Spencer's have announced their new ‘1 ingredient’ Cornflakes, and that ingredient is… corn!Do we always just expect to see additives, salt and e numbers in a lot of our food these days?Sarah Keogh, is Registered Dietician at Eatwell.ie, and joins Anton Savage to discuss.

What happens when trade talks turn into threats? President Trump has warned of a 200% tariff on EU alcohol imports, escalating tensions over a dispute with the bloc…What does this mean for businesses, consumers, and the global economy - and what has history taught us about the negative impacts of tariffs?Joining guest host Anton Savage to unpack this is Regina Doherty, Fine Gael MEP for Dublin, and Emma Howard, Economist at TU Dublin.Image: Reuters

There is a great importance to first aid training, and it’s crucial for everyone to be prepared in an emergency. From schools to everyday life, knowing what to do can make all the difference…Joining Anton Savage to discuss is Niamh Gaffney, Registered PHECC EMT and Founder of Emergency First Aid Training.

The Phantom of the Opera on London’s West End has been given 15 trigger warnings.Viewers have been warned to expect loud sounds, gun shots, flashing lights, haze, fire, pyrotechnics and depictions of violence and death.Has it all gone too far?Joining Anton Savage to discuss is Columnist with The Irish Daily Mail and The Sunday Times, Brenda Power.

AI has become ever-present in our lives, but even more so in the realms of academia. How has it affected universities in terms of their grading and their assessments?Dr Stephen Lucek, Assistant Professor in Linguistics in UCD, joins guest host Anton Savage to discuss.

There have been calls for a binned option and a digital DRS Scheme. This would see you scan a QR Code on your bin and the item being recycled and will return the deposit to a virtual bank balance.Is this a worthwhile idea to revisit, or is it too much hassle for recyclers?David Hall CEO of iCare Housing and CEO of Lifeline Services and Sinead Ryan Consumer Columnist with the Irish Independent and the Presenter of The Home Show on Newstalk join guest host Anton Savage to discuss.

Ireland has won big at this year’s Special Olympics World Winter Games, including our first gold medal! Henry McKean is reporting from Turin and joins Kieran to share what he’s seen.

Life can be full of confusing things, but no need to worry! Every Wednesday, Simon Tierney will be showing you ‘How to do Stuff’ - bringing his best tips for those things you might not think about.This week, Simon joins Kieran to give a lesson on being patriotic!

Micheál Martin has come out of his meeting with Donald Trump relatively unscathed, but could he have done more?Joining Kieran to give their thoughts is Senior Lecturer in Journalism at TUD, Harry Browne and former People Before Profit TD, Bríd Smith...

Pets are not just for Christmas, but this saying still rings through as there have been reports of a phenomenon called ‘new pet blues’ – where owners experience overwhelming anxiety or regret after getting a new pet…Pete Wedderburn, AKA Pete the Vet joins Kieran to discuss.

For this week’s Tech Takeover, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly joined Kieran to discuss artificial intelligence. For the next few weeks, she will be giving an 'AI 101', delving into the uses of the technology and how it can make your life that bit easier. Today, she gives an overview on what is available now!