The Hard Shoulder

New research from RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences and the Medical Bureau of Road Safety based in University College Dublin has revealed a dramatic increase in the detection of cocaine and cannabis among Irish drivers suspected of driving under the influence, pointing to changing patterns of drug use on Irish roads…The study found an astonishing 21% year-on-year increase between the years 2012-2018.Joining Ciara to discuss this further is Dr Richard Maguire from The Medical Bureau of Road Safety and Meghann Scully, Host of ‘28 Ways to Save the World’.

Following the deaths of Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner in an apparent homicide, we look back at the work of the filmmaker, and his extraordinary directorial runs with movies such as Stand by Me, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally and more…Joining Ciara to discuss the latest updates is Harriet Alexander, Features Writer, Daily Mail in the US and to look back, Deirdre Molumby, Reviewer and Senior Content Executive with entertainment.ie.

For this week’s Kids Health Check, Ciara Doherty is joined by Ollwyn Moran, Neuro Development Therapist & Founder of Cogni Kids to discuss maintaining routines with your kids over the hectic festive season.

Could the review into the Fianna Fáil’s handling of their Presidential nominations come out this week?There are those within Fianna Fáil who are saying it must come out this week, before Christmas.Joining Ciara Doherty to discuss is Fionnan Sheahan, Ireland Editor with the Irish Independent and Michael Regan, Fianna Fáil Councillor in Galway.

Australia is still reeling from the country's worst mass shooting in almost three decades. A father and son opened fire on a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach, killing 15 people including a child.The alleged attackers fired into crowds at the beach for the start of Hanukkah on Sunday evening.The father was killed at the scene, taking the number of dead to 16, while his 24-year-old son is in a critical condition in hospital, but police say he is expected to survive.But, what happens now?Ria Czerniak-LeBov is the granddaughter of a Holocaust escapee, living here in Ireland, and joins Ciara to discuss.Image: Reuters

It's that time of year where you begin to question how much your loved ones really know you with the gifts that you receive… The whole ordeal of buying, wrapping and giving the gift.But, how much of it do we remember? How many of the presents you gave and received last year do you actually remember? And, how much of it did you just throw out or ‘re-gift’?Joining Ciara to discuss the whole psychology of gift giving is Climate and Environmental Researcher Sadhbh O’Neill and Architect Lecturer and Artist Róisín Murphy.

In October, the average speed of traffic in Dublin City Centre was 13.4km/h during the morning peak.This is slower than the densely populated London, with the English capital clocking an average speed of 14km/h.This begs the question, as traffic rises every morning, is it time to make a change?Would the introduction of congestion charges, similar to what is in place in London, discourage drivers from driving through busy areas in the city?Joining Ciara to discuss this further is Jason Cullen of Dublin Commuter Coalition and Keith Gavan, Chairman of the Irish Parking Association.

Nearly half of trainee GPs this year are from universities abroad amid Ireland's family doctor shortage.GP training places have increased in recent years in the hope that they will act as a pipeline to produce more who will work in this country delivering care to patients.It's no secret that Ireland has been suffering from GP shortages for some time now, but will more training spaces actually fix this?To discuss this further, Ciara Doherty is joined by Dr Madeleine Ní Dhálaigh, Vice Chair of the GP Committee of the IMO and GP in Castlerea.

This week, Ciara Doherty was joined by John Purcell, Head of KCLR, Alan O’Reilly from Carlow Weather and Anne Healy, owner of Biddy’s Goodluck Horseshoes live from Malzard’s Bar and Pub in Stoneyford, Kilkenny to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists…

Ciara is joined in Kilkenny by father and son All-Ireland winning duo, Richie Power Sr and Richie Power Jr to discuss their own successes, and the state of the GAA in rural communities.