The Group Chat

The Group Chat is back for season 2 as Zara, Gavan and Richard discuss the stories making the headlines!This week, they look at how the cost of living is affecting the lives of listeners, the energy emergency that faces Ireland, the fallout from Robert Troy's controversy and are you pro-spider?The podcast can also be found airing Thursdays on Virgin Media Two from 11pm. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the climate crisis begins to affect Europe in more and more extreme ways, governments around the world still aren't doing nearly enough to address a situation which involves the survival of the human species. In Ireland, emissions have gone up, even during the pandemic and the government are still trying to decide where best to tackle the issue whilst Joe Biden in the USA refuses to declare a climate emergency. Sex education in Irish schools - or the distinct lack of for many generations - is discussed too and ways to move forward with a new curriculum that properly includes an area students are in desperate need of education in, and there's very exciting news about Electric Picnic!Richard Chambers and Zara King are in studio whilst Gavan Reilly joins from Tokyo for the season finale but fear not, The Group Chat will be returning bigger and better on September 1. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The race for new leadership of the Conservative party in Britain is hotting up as Tory politicians make their plays to replace Boris Johnson as Prime Minister. Richard Chambers, Gavan Reilly and Zara King discuss this week's news including the end of Dáil term and a motion of confidence for the Irish government. The Green Party and personal responsibility in the climate crisis is discussed whilst Nasa's Webb telescope is also on the menu. And, of course, the weekly Love Island round-up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Boris Johnson is coming under increasing pressure as the resignations pile up in the Conservative party and friends and colleagues show up at 10 Downing Street. Michael Gove is the latest to depart the Tories as Gavan Reilly and Richard Chambers and Zara King discuss the fall of the British government and how the Chris Pincher controversy accelerated it all. In a busy news week, the Metrolink from Dublin airport to the capital city is back on the menu for Ireland but the proposed budget could already provide a stick to beat the progress with. The Irish government coalition now has a minority as the Mica fallout continues and new social trend Gentleminions is on the menu. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gardaí have said they will review the cold case of Sophie Toscan du Plantier. The murder in West Cork in 1996 still remains unsolved. Ian Bailey has been convicted in French courts but authorities in Ireland will revisit the case which has been told in True Crime series from podcasts to Netflix over recent years. Ralph Riegel joins Zara, Richard and Gavan to discuss.Dublin Airport are set to enlist the help of the Irish army as security checks continue to cause havoc with those travelling abroad and visiting the country. In other news, Paul Reid is set to depart the HSE and Donald Trump and his January 6 testimony has put him the former US president in legal peril. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zara joins from Stockholm this week and brings some sobering cost of living comparisons between Sweden and Dublin. Richard and Gavan are in studio and the price of everything from hotels, pints and sliced pans are on the menu. If 2022 is the year of sportswashing, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are making major moves in the sporting world. A look at what they're doing and why. Finally, Zara is hit with some Love Island spoilers after missing the last three nights. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's Group Chat, Gavan, Zara and Richard look at the President's comments on housing with Ciarán Mulqueen of Crazy House Prices. They discuss Eamon Ryan's interview about contacting your social welfare office about support for fuel prices. Plus, the Northern Ireland protocol and the latest on Love Island. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Cara Augustenborg joins Zara, Richard and Gavan to talk about Ireland's climate action plan and how the country is falling short of its targets despite the current government's progressive stance on the matter. Also on the show, a 170% increase in the number of people being treated for cocaine use over the last nine years has been reported as the country tries to deal with this issue. And Boris Johnson survives the Conservative vote of confidence. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On The Group Chat this week, Zara, Gavan and Richard discuss the chaotic queues at Dublin Airport which have dominated the headlines, the difficulty of getting a taxi in Dublin and whether or not Love Island is on their watchlists. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On The Group Chat this week, Zara, Gavan and Richard take a look at 'Partygate' as Sue Gray publishes her report on breaches of coronavirus rules in 10 Downing Street and Westminster. Cillian de Gascun answers your questions around the Monkeypox virus. And following the latest mass shooting event in Texas, what is the American government doing to prevent it happening again in the future? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.