Newstalk • 15th August 2025

Who will replace Mairead McGuinness in the race for the presidency?

After Mairead McGuinness' withdrawal from consideration for the Irish presidency, attention turns to who could replace her in the running.
Paul Hosford, acting Political Editor for the Irish Examiner joined Shane Coleman on Newstalk Breakfast to discuss the position of the presidential race as it currently stands. 
“What happens next is that the executive council of Fine Gael will meet over the coming days to reset their nomination process," he said.
“The process only ended about a month ago, an...

Newstalk • 15th August 2025

Oasis: The importance of being Irish to the Gallaghers

One of the most anticipated weekends of the year is upon us as Ireland witnesses the return of the Gallagher brothers and Oasis to the island.
The last time the band were together in Ireland was in Slane in 2009, just weeks before they split. 
According to reports today, the Gallagher brothers will take €61 million away from this weekend alone. Newstalk's Alex Rowley spoke to The Pat Kenny Show about the building excitement amongst fans and Ireland's preparations to welcome Oasis. 
Dave Berry, h...

Newstalk • 15th August 2025

From sleepwalking to riots: Living on O'Connell Street

Artist Leo DiVito is one of the last remaining residents on O’Connell Street. 
He joined Moncrieff to to talk about his time growing up in the central Dublin location.
“One memory would be walking back from school and it was just so lovely.
“I have really warm feelings about it.
Leo lives above one of the shops on O’Connell Street, and his grandparents and parents grew up there too. 
“There was a good community going on, and everybody seemed to know everybody.
“You could park outside your premis...

Newstalk • 14th August 2025

'It's revolting - I hate it': Should dining areas be pet-free?

‘Pet-friendly cafes? No, thanks – the only animals I want to see in a restaurant are on a plate’ - so says Newstalk's Sinead Ryan. 
Sinead, presenter of The Home Show and columnist with the Irish Independent, joined Shane Coleman and Ciara Kelly on Newstalk Breakfast to discuss the idea of animals being allowed in restaurants.
“I think there is a place for pets—it is walking in the park or at home. It's definitely not where food of any kind is being served or prepared.“It's not that I don’t like...

Newstalk • 14th August 2025

Scoliosis scandal: 'Our boy had to rest on the floor of the car on 700km trip'

Àfter the death of Harvey Morrison Sherratt, focus is once again on the families in Ireland attempting to access scoliosis surgery - with calls growing for Tánaiste Simon Harris to resign.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has called for the Tánaiste to meet with the family of the late Harvey, who died last month after delays in accessing urgent scoliosis surgery.
The Hard Shoulder spoke to two families directly affected by the delays in scoliosis treatment to better understand what they are f...

Newstalk • 14th August 2025

Mary Robinson: 'Gaza famine induced by Israel - trade should stop'

Mary Robinson says Israel has to be sanctioned amid an 'unfolding genocide', following a visit to Egypt and the border with the Gaza Strip.
Former president Robinson spoke to Newstalk Breakfast about what she saw on the trip, as aid trucks attempted entry into an area where famine is rife due to Israel preventing the entry of food an medicine.
“It was certainly very emotional at the border itself because it was so silent."Trucks went in very early in the morning and we saw two trucks for the twe...

Newstalk • 14th August 2025

Policing: Crowe report reveals major faults in Road Policing Division

The independent Crowe report into the Gardaí Roads Policing Unit found elements of the service 'unproductive.'
Investigators looked into six divisions and uncovered issues like managers being unwilling to proactively manage their staff, supervisors assigned to road policing but not licensed to drive a road policing vehicle and members only doing checks close to their station.
Conor Gallagher, Crime and Security Correspondent with The Irish Times joined The Pat Kenny Show to help understand the r...

Newstalk • 14th August 2025

Scoliosis: Family says CHI 'utterly incompetent' amid scandal

One family has called Children's Health Ireland 'utterly incompetent' in their approach to scoliosis and other spinal issues, as anger grows after the death of young Harvey Morrison-Sherratt.
9-year-old Harvey died at the end of July, having suffered from scoliosis and spina bifida. His parents are due to meet Tánaiste Simon Harris, who said in 2017 that no child would wait more than four months for scoliosis surgery while Minister for Health.
As Harvey faced delay after delay, so Lunchtime Live...

Newstalk • 13th August 2025

Concussion in rugby: Revealing new figures show worrying trend in young

A former international rugby player believes that “players don’t think twice about going on the pitch” as new statistics around concussion in young people have been published. 
A study by UCC’s School of Medicine and Cork University Hospital revealed that over one-third of players at schools level said they would play on with a headache from a minor concussion. 
Alix Popham, former Wales international, is the founder of the Head for Change charity and joined Shane Coleman on Newstalk Breakfast....

Newstalk • 13th August 2025

Students 'set to miss out on qualified teachers this September'

Students are set to miss out on learning opportunities this coming September due to a lack of qualified teachers, according to the Teachers’ Union of Ireland [TUI].
With back-to-school time fast approaching, the TUI believes that students will miss out on subject options this year because of an ongoing recruitment and retention crisis. 
Anthony Quinn, TUI President, joined Ciara Kelly on Newstalk Breakfast. 
“We have been putting forward very meaningful and substantive things that the Department...

Newstalk • 13th August 2025

Irish charity says Ukrainians 'afraid of being the forgotten war'

As talks regarding the Russia-Ukraine war are set to get underway, one Irish charity has said Ukrainian victims of war are 'afraid of being forgotten.'
With the war ongoing, and ensuing humanitarian crises in Ukraine, Irish based charity One 4 Humanity aids victims of armed conflict, with particular focus on disabled children in the country.
Ex-Munster rugby player Shane Leahy is co-founder of the charity. He joined The Pat Kenny Show on Wednesday, having just returned from the city of Kherson....

Newstalk • 13th August 2025

Is it 'too little too late’ for Bono and U2 to give their opinion on Gaza?

U2 and Bono are facing an online backlash after the band posted statements supporting Gaza last Sunday, with some critics believing the move is 'performative.' 
Some believe it is ‘too little too late’ for U2, a band generally seen as vocal on humanitarian crises. 
Louise Bruton is an arts journalist and joined Lunchtime Live with Andrea Gilligan and says she believes the criticism is justified.
“[When] Bono and the rest of the band’s support has come out in the form of a social media post, when...

Newstalk • 12th August 2025

Michael Gaine: Tourists reportedly taking selfies at farm

There have been sightings of people taking pictures and selfies at the site of the farm of Michael Gaine, who was murdered earlier this year. 
The farm has been getting considerable touristic attention, with Gardaí in the area having to put out cones along the site to prevent cars from setting down and taking pictures. 
Independent Kerry TD and Junior Minister Michael Healy-Rae joined Andrea Gilligan on Lunchtime Live to express his outrage at the situation. 
“You have people thinking that there...

Newstalk • 12th August 2025

As Mayo town bans clamping, should Ireland follow suit?

As a motion to ban vehicle clamping in Co. Mayo has gained backing from a municipal council, Newstalk Breakfast discussed whether Ireland should follow suit.
The clamping byelaw was proposed and passed by Castlebar municipal council at the beginning of August, with Cllr Michael Kilcoyne saying "[it's] generating more money than some of the shops in the town."
Keith Gavin, director with the Irish Parking Association joined Shane Coleman on Newstalk Breakfast to explain why he feels clamping is no...

Newstalk • 12th August 2025

Student accommodation crisis hits as housing shortage bites

Every year, student accommodation becomes an issue as many new to courses find somewhere to live for the new academic term. 
On top of high rents and limited supply, Gardaí have now issued a warning about increasing incidences of rental scams in that student market. 
Newstalk’s Jessica Woodlock has been investigating and spoke to The Pat Kenny Show about her findings. “I’ve been reaching out to student unions that have told me their inboxes are literally full with people still looking for accomm...

Newstalk • 12th August 2025

Oasis: How to avoid ticket scams ahead of Croke Park gigs this weekend

Oasis devotees have been warned to be wary of ticket scams ahead of the band’s gigs at Croke Park.
Fraudsters are believed to be cloning accounts using stolen images and charging full price to trick desperate fans of the band. 
Mary D'Arcy is the Financial Crime Lead at FraudSmart and joined Shane Coleman on Newstalk Breakfast to discuss this issue. 
"Because it's peak concert season, we have seen an increase in [fraudsters] trying to ramp up the efforts, taking full advantage of those concertg...

Newstalk • 12th August 2025

Indian community in Ireland 'afraid to get groceries' after attacks

A number of allegedly racially motivated attacks against the Indian community has led to the Ireland-India Council postponing India Day.
The event was due to take place in Farmleigh House in Phoenix Park on the 17th August. In the words of the organisers - '[celebrate] Irish-Indian culture, music, dance, and friendship,' but the decision has been made to mark the event later than advertised.
Andrea Gilligan spoke to members of the Indian and Pakistani communities on Lunchtime Live who have been...

Newstalk • 11th August 2025

Litter: Enormous drop in fines in Dublin show city is 'failing entirely'

New figures show a sharp decline in fines for littering by Dublin City Council, with one councillor saying that measures to clean up the city are "failing entirely."
Information obtained by Newstalk, under the Freedom of Information Act, shows that just 68 littering fines have been issued until the end of July 2025. In 2023, the number issued was 1,080. If the current trend holds, that would represent an 89% drop in fines over that period. 
The figures include a 77% drop in central Dublin, despi...

Newstalk • 11th August 2025

Gareth Sheridan discusses bid to become youngest-ever President

Gareth Sheridan has launched his bid for the presidency, saying he does not want to "sit back idle when I see a situation that I could have an impact on."
35-year-old Sheridan has announced his candidacy ahead of the election later this year. He is the founder and former CEO of Nutriband and he will be the youngest candidate to ever run for presidency in this country. 
He joined Ciara Kelly on Newstalk Breakfast to emphasise why he would be a good candidate for the role. 
“This is something that...

Newstalk • 11th August 2025

Unemployment figures: Are young people afraid to work?

As a new report suggests over 12% of young people in Ireland are unemployed, one hotelier believes there is a 'snobbery' around applying for certain types of jobs. 
According to a Grant Thornton report, the unemployment rate has hit its highest peak in the past three years. One aspect of this report highlighted that 12.2% of young people are currently unemployed. 
Louis Copeland is the owner of Louis Copeland and Sons and is in the retail sector. He told The Pat Kenny Show that young people’s at...

Newstalk • 11th August 2025

Gazan woman cannot take college place in Dublin due to war

A Palestinian woman offered a college place in TU Dublin is urgently appealing to the Irish government for their assistance to leave Gaza to study in Ireland.
Haya - who would only give her first name - is a 22-year-old whose student visa cannot be issued as a result of there being no evacuation order in place for her release. 
Haya, from Gaza city, contacted Lunchtime Live to share her story and issue an urgent appeal with her Data Science and Artificial Intelligence course due to commence on 8...

Newstalk • 6th August 2025

Would more Irish men have a vasectomy if it was free? | Newstalk Daily

Vasectomies should be free, alongside all other forms of contraception, according to TD Marie Sherlock of Labour.
Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has acknowledged that the provision for the service is patchy across Ireland and says that the National Sexual Health Strategy is creating the conditions for both men and women to take control of their fertility. 
Dr John McCormick, specialist at Vasectomy Ireland, joined Newstalk Daily with Ciara Doherty and says that “[most] men that ge...

Newstalk • 6th August 2025

Israel's mooted Gaza takeover 'out of line with public sentiment'

As the Israeli cabinet is to meet to consider a plan for a full military takeover of Gaza, one journalist believes Israeli citizens want a deal that will end the war quickly and that the proposal may represent a ploy to get Hamas to negotiate.
The Israeli cabinet is due to meet on Thursday to consider the proposal as families of those being held by Hamas have said that the move would risk "disaster" for their loved ones.
Gregg Carlstrom, The Economist’s Middle East correspondent, joined Ciara on...

Newstalk • 6th August 2025

Gardaí to fall short of recruiting targets with resignations expected in 2026

With An Garda Síochána unlikely to hit its recruitment targets, the President of the Garda Representatives Association (GRA) has said the organisation faces a raft of resignations from 2026.
The Policing Authority - an independent statutory body - has warned that the Gardaí are unlikely to hit recruitment targets of 5,000 more officers under its current recruitment policy. This is despite the targets being set out in the recent Programme for Government. 
The warning was given to the Minister for...