Highlights From The Hard Shoulder

Sky News has unveiled plans for a complete overhaul of its programming and newsroom.Sky News 2030 aims to create a model of premium paid content, which they will say will safeguard its future.But, does this move say something about the future of linear television, and the future of news consumption?Dr Eileen Culloty is Assistant Professor at the DCU School of Communications and Deputy Director of the Fujo Media Institute. She joins Kieran to discuss.

For this week's Tech Takeover, Newstalk's Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly joins Kieran to talk all things video doorbells, and what you should keep in mind in terms of your and others' privacy.

About 133,000 homes, farms and businesses are still without electricity and 7,500 premises remain without water following Storm Éowyn last week.One of the areas most affected has been Galway, and someone who has been in the midst of it is entrepreneur, Declan Ganley.Declan joins Kieran, as well as Oisin Coghlan Chief Executive at Friends of the Earth Ireland, to debate about what’s been happening.

The highly anticipated documentary ‘Boyzone: No Matter What’ will be available on Sky this Sunday, February 2nd.Boyzone’s Shane Lynch joins Kieran to discuss!Image: Sky

You may have seen today that the Office of Public Works (OPW) paid €490k to build a wall in Dublin… To be exact: a 70 meter wall in front of the Workplace Relations Commission’s office.Peadar Toibín, Leader of Aontú and TD for Meath East joins Kieran to discuss.

A Twitter user shared their receipt from the Temple Bar Pub, showing that five pints cost them 49 euro! Has Temple Bar gotten too expensive? And will this put tourists off coming to Dublin?Joining Kieran to discuss is Travel Journalist Joan Scales and Ger Hough, owner of Hough's Pub in Bangher County Offaly.

The Taoiseach and Government Ministers are visiting the communities most severely impacted by Storm Éowyn.180,000 remain without power around the country, and it might not be restored for some until next Friday…Micheál Martin has been visiting emergency hubs in the likes of Roscommon, as has the Minister for Housing James Browne. He joins Kieran to discuss.

Presenter and Broadcaster Anna Daly joined Kieran Cuddihy this week to place her favourite book on the Hard Shoulder Bookshelf!

Google has confirmed that it would add the label of ‘Gulf of America’ to its maps following the political action made by US President Donald Trump.But, how common is it for a location to have two contesting names, and what other examples are there?Pádraig Carmody, Professor of Geography at Trinity College joins Kieran to discuss.

According to figures from Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, less than half of men believe that people make up accusations, with 25 percent believing that consent is not as big an issue it is made out to be.Is there an issue with how men see consent and sex and what can be done to help educate men in this endeavor?Eve McDowell Communications and Engagement Officer with Active Consent and David Hall, CEO of Sonas Domestic Violence Charity join Kieran to discuss.

The names of the 29 victims, including a woman pregnant with twins, were read aloud and a minute's silence held as a public inquiry into the 1998 Omagh bombing got under way.Chairperson Alan Turnball said those who listen "will be shocked at a level of grief imposed on ordinary decent members of society doing nothing other than living their daily lives".Campaigner Eamonn McCann joins Kieran to discuss.

It is being reported today that extra Senior Ministers are being sent to the US this St Patrick's Day in an attempt to prevent any dramatic policy decision from Donald Trump. Is this the right move, or is it time to scrap the Government trip to the states?Joining Kieran to discuss is Dublin MEP, Regina Doherty and People Before Profit TD, Richard Boyd Barrett.

Anyone can be scammed, and the proof lies with Kieran’s guest.Consumer Expert Brendan Burgess was done out of a significant amount of money. He joins Kieran to discuss what happened.Adrian Weckler, Technology Editor for the Irish and Sunday Independent also joins to give his advice so you don’t get scammed yourself.

With the passenger cap being temporarily lifted for 2025, Fionn Davenport, Travel Journalist and Lonely Planet author joins Kieran to tell us how airlines are adapting to the changes…

For this week’s Kids Health Check, Kieran is joined by Iseult White, Psychotherapist and author, to discuss how you can best deal with separation anxiety with your children.

Amongst protests and walkouts, President Michael D. Higgins read at a ceremony yesterday marking Holocaust Memorial Day.It comes as the Chief Rabbi Yoni Wieder had asked the President not to attend the ceremony due to comments he made in the past. So, should he have listened to this request?To discuss, Kieran is joined by Lior Tibet, Jewish-Israeli woman based in Dublin, and one of the protesters at the event.

100,000 people are to be without power until February, and over 109,000 are still without water after the damage caused by Storm Éowyn.What are the latest updates on when things should return to normal, and what has the Government response been like?Kieran is joined by Head Of Water Operations with Uisce Eirinn, Margaret Arterage, Siobhán Wynne, ESB Networks Regional Manager, Michael Horan from Insurance Ireland and MEP for Midlands North West, Ciaran Mullooly.

With the new Cabinet being announced recently, you may have noticed the gender imbalance in particular, with three women at the Cabinet table: Helen McEntee, Jennier Carroll MacNeill and Norma Foley.Is this something to be concerned about?Frances Fitzgerald, former Fine Gael Tánaiste and MEP, joins Kieran to discuss.

This week Kieran Cuddihy was joined by Chef Edward Hayden and Journalist Eimear Ní Bhraonáin to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists…

Off The Ball's Eoin Sheahan joined Kieran Cuddihy on The Hard Shoulder to review the week in sport and look ahead to the weekend action…Image: Vincent Thian / AP