Highlights From The Hard Shoulder

Barry White, Newstalk’s Chief Reporter joins Kieran Cuddihy to talk through the most important parts of Budget 2025 announced today.

"Government must ban HHC!"That's the call from The College of Psychiatrists of Ireland who say presentations of Hexahydrocannabinol addiction have exploded In this report, Newstalk's Sarah Madden looks into the ‘semi-synthetic cannabinoid’, it's availability and potential side effects.

After spending 5 years on the board of the HSE, Fergus Finlay believes for the HSE to work, it needs to be broken into functions rather than regions.Fergus Finlay, Columnist for the Irish Examiner joins Kieran to discuss.

Can you believe it’s been 40 years since the legendary Jessica Fletcher first graced our screens on Murder, She Wrote? That’s right, four decades of solving crimes in the cosy town of Cabot Cove, where no mystery was too tough for the iconic sleuth! And, while Jessica's charm and wit hooked millions back then, we’re seeing a modern-day resurgence of this fascination with crime and murder mysteries.Joining Kieran to discuss this phenomenon is Brendan Kelly, Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin.

For this week’s Kids Health Check, Kieran is joined by Psychotherapist and author Iseult White to discuss health and death anxiety, commonly found in new parents.

The government has come into criticism from some quarters following its decision to drop plans to introduce hate speech laws.One voice of concern came from Alanna Quinn Idris, who lost an eye in an unprovoked assault nearly three years ago.She joins Kieran to discuss.

With Budget day tomorrow, Kieran is joined by Newstalk’s Political Correspondent, Seán Defoe to look back on the biggest budget surprises from the past...

Comedian, playwright and author known for his work on Blackadder and Saturday Live, Ben Elton, joins the show!He joins Kieran to discuss his upcoming show ‘Authentic Stupidity’, and how comedy has changed over the years.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) have been plastered all over the news recently for an overspend for the Dáil bikeshed, and now their 1.4 million security hut. To add onto the pile, reports are emerging about a more than doubling in price for modular homes for Ukrainian refugees. Joining Kieran to talk through this controversy is Karl Deeter, Director of Irish Mortgage Brokers (https://www.mortgagebrokers.ie)

Every week Kieran Cuddihy will be joined by writer and broadcaster, Keith Walsh and the presenter of Weekend Breakfast on Today FM, Alison Curtis to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists…

Very special guest, author Jacqueline Wilson, known for the Tracy Beaker series, joins Kieran to discuss her upcoming book - which this time isn’t aimed at young readers.

Aisling Larkin, Mindful Eating Coach and TV Chef joined Kieran to look at the different uses for the humble apple!

All week on the show, the unsung issue of loneliness across our society has been discussed. But, is there a role the government can play as soon as next week’s Budget?Sean Moynihan is CEO of Alone and a member of the Loneliness Taskforce, and joins Kieran to discuss.

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

Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the level of immigration to Ireland has been too high in recent years. He made these comments on a visit to the US last week when speaking to the University of Notre Dame’s college newspaper The Observer.He joined Andrea on Lunchtime Live earlier and doubled down on his comments. Kieran is joined by David Quinn, Sunday Independent Columnist and People Before Profit TD, Brid Smith to discuss.

Actress Dame Maggie Smith, best known for the Harry Potter films and Downton Abbey has died aged 89. Newstalk’s Henry McKean got reaction from her fans young and old, and Kieran is joined by actor Stephen Rea and television Producer Bill Hughes to discuss the legacy she leaves behind.

Newstalk’s Simon Tierney has been writing about the bike shed, but not for the reasons you would think. He believes that the outrage against the cost of the bike shed shows we do not tolerate spending on sustainable transport.He joins Kieran, as well as Brendan Ogle, Social Commentator, Trade Unionist and Activist to discuss.

For a news update from the United States, Kieran Cuddihy is joined by Jeff Kuhner.The Kuhner Report on WRKO AM680 Radio in Boston is hosted by Jeffrey T. Kuhner, "Liberalism's Worst Nightmare," he is a conservative nationalist, who champions God, country and family.They discuss the rumour that Joe Biden could step down as President before the election takes place in November. Would this help or hurt Kamala Harris?Image: Reuters

There has been a rise in new Covid cases due to the new strain: XEC.Is this something to be concerned with? And how infectious is this strain?Jack Lambert, Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases at UCD School of Medicine, joins Kieran to discuss.

New legislation is being briefed to cabinet today regarding the banning of XL bullies.The proposed ban which will come into effect next Tuesday will ban the sale, breeding and importation of the breed and then on February 1st, 2025, it will be illegal to own a XL bully unless the owner has a Certificate of Exemption.Joining Kieran to discuss the rationale of the ban further is the person heading the ban, Heather Humphreys, Minister for Social Protection and Rural & Community Development as well as Marie Hannon, founder of Dogs in Distress.