The Hard Shoulder

Earlier today, the ‘Grace’ Report was published.This is the final report of the first phase of the Farrelly Commission, which examines the 'Grace' case allegations and why she was placed in the home and not removed until 2009.Speaking at the publication of the report today Norma Foley, Minister for Children, Disability and Equality said that “It goes without saying that what Grace experienced was both intolerable and utterly unacceptable…"Minister Foley and Elaine Loughlin, Political Reporter with the Irish Examiner join Kieran to discuss.

Home is where the heart is, but what if your home was the heart of the cultural revival? Well, that’s what Diarmuid Lyng, Owner of Wild Irish Retreats and former Wexford Hurler is offering with his new fundraiser to buy a space in Kilkenny.Diarmuid Lyng joins Kieran to tell more.

Kieran has left Newstalk headquarters and is in Buswells as the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Paediatric Advocacy Group and Scoliosis Advocacy Network are holding a press conference calling on action in continued failures on paediatric care.Una Keightley, Co-Lead Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Paediatric Advocacy Group, and Claire Cahill Co-Founder of Scoliosis Advocacy Network join to discuss.Image: @mulvanypeopleb1 on Twitter

Research from the ESRI today has shown that workers in the Republic of Ireland pay over twice as much as those in the North, with the quality of life still better in the Republic.Whether that’s surprising for you or not, we did want to ask the bigger question today: can we afford Irish unity? Or would the financial responsibility of the North be too much?Joining Kieran to discuss is TalkTV Presenter Peter Cardwell and Rose Conway Walsh, Sinn Fein Spokesperson Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and TD for Mayo.

Should there be a register for convicted domestic abusers? Jason Poole believes so, as his sister Jennie Poole was killed by an ex-partner in 2021…He has since been campaigning for it since, and launched a petition two weeks ago, urging the Minister for Justice to implement it.Jason joins Kieran to discuss.

For this week’s Kids Health Check, Kieran is joined by Aoife Lee, Parenting Coach at ParentSupport.ie to discuss how you can support your teenagers while they are doing their Junior and Leaving Cert exams.

There was a big reveal today for Cork’s long-awaited Luas line: an 18km light rail, stretching from Ballincollig to Mahon Point, is officially on the table. With public consultation now open, some are calling it a transformational step for the city, but many in Cork are meeting it with scepticism, pointing to years of promises that went nowhere.Joining Kieran to discuss is KC from RedFM and TodayFM and Pauline O’Reilly, former Green Party Senator.Image: Luas Cork

The day has finally come for Rory McIlroy after he achieved the career grand slam with a win at the Masters.Who better to talk to now than another Irish golfing legend: Padraig Harrington!He joins Kieran to discuss the historic moment. Also joining to discuss is Nathan Murphy from Off the Ball.Image: Reuters

Kieran’s guest is an up and coming businessman, and just managed to bag Lord Alan Sugar’s phone number as he aims to grow his many businesses!Jordan Dargan came third in this year’s series of The Apprentice, which is now into its 19th year, and at only 22 years old was the youngest contestant on the show…He joins to discuss.

According to research from PTSB, the increasing pressure on those trying to access the housing market has led to many younger professionals opting to go towards social housing options, in hopes of gaining a home of their own.To discuss this research, Kieran is joined by Rory Hearne, Social Democrat TD and Aran McDonnacha, a young professional who applied for the social housing list.