The Hard Shoulder

The Irish Council for Social Housing has launched its Housing Association Activity Report for 2024, which showed that over 4,000 new social homes were provided.All this is happening while the Housing Minister is still trying to find someone to head up the Housing Activation Office.Joining Kieran to discuss is the Minister for Housing himself, James Browne.

Boston was once an escape for many Irish immigrants looking for a new opportunity, but those coming to the city now will find a place with sky-high rents, rising childcare costs and groceries bills to match.What are some of the factors to these increasing costs, and what is the result of those feeling the pinch?Mike Urban, Realtor and Host of the Mike Urban Show joins Kieran to discuss.

Newstalk's Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly joins Kieran in Boston to discuss humanoid robots, and how by 2030, we might have them in our homes doing household chores, but the big players like Boston Dynamics and Tesla may have their plans impacted by tariffs.Image: Boston Dynamics

The senior leaders of the Catholic Church are meeting in conclave today to elect the next pope.All eyes will be on the chimney of the Sistine Chapel to see if the successor to Pope Francis will be elected...Kieran is joined in Boston by Fr James di Perri, of Our Lady's Parish, Waltham Massachusetts to discuss.

At the beginning of April, US President Donald Trump made the announcement of his much-threatened 25% tariffs on Canadian imports.Later in April, the rest of the world felt the brunt of Trump’s desire for tariffs, with the EU and Ireland being hit with a 20% tariff on imports to the US.Despite Trump’s dialing back for the sake of negotiations, is it time now to forge new relationships and for Ireland and Canada businesses to join forces in a more meaningful way?Joining Kieran in Toronto to discuss is Gemma Healy Murphy, Partner, Litigation & Dispute Resolution Lawyer at McMillan LLP in Toronto and Craig Sowman, Partner and Co-Head of Restructuring & Insolvency at Addleshaw Goddard Ireland.

Canada has been described as having one of the most liberal systems of assisted dying in the world, similar to that operating in the Netherlands and Belgium.It introduced 'Medical Aid in Dying’ in 2016, initially for terminally ill adults with a serious and incurable physical illness, which causes intolerable suffering.In 2021, the need to be terminally ill was removed, and in two years' time, the Canadian government plans to open Maid to adults solely with a mental illness and no physical ailment.Joining Kieran in Toronto to discuss this is Dr Chantal Perrot, board member at DWDC and a MAID Assessor and Provider as well as Dr Sonu Gaind, Chief of Psychiatry at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

Ever wonder who keeps the rich and famous safe when they touch down in Ireland? Kieran’s guest doesn’t just know, he runs the show!Terry McElvaney is the Group CEO of Sentinel Risk and joins to discuss.Image: Sentinel Risk

Shannon Airport saw a significant increase in passenger numbers, with an estimated 53,000 passengers passing through over the Bank Holiday weekend.Joining Kieran in Toronto for a discussion on the airport and broader Irish tourism is Ray O’Driscoll, Chief Operating Officer of The Shannon Airport Group.

After 100 days of Donald Trump’s second term as President of the United States, how different does it feel from his first run in 2017?Kieran went out to ask local Bostonians for their thoughts, and joins Jerry McDermott, owner of McDermott Realty Associates and former Sheriff of Norfolk County to discuss.

The Hard Shoulder is broadcasting in Boston from the Seaport Hotel this week! With thanks to Gateway to Europe.Joining Kieran to discuss some of the stories of the day that are affecting people stateside and back home is Business Reporter for the Boston Globe Jon Chesto and Jess Kelly, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent.