The Hard Shoulder

Former Prince Andrew has been ordered to appear before US Congress over ongoing investigations into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. It comes just days after King Charles stripped his brother of his “Prince” title following renewed scrutiny of his links to Epstein.Joining Ciara Doherty with more on this is Mark Paul, London Correspondent for the Irish Times.

Sarina Bellissimo, Broadcaster and Presenter of the Bellissimo Files Podcast and David O’Callaghan from the Here and Back Again podcast joined Ciara Doherty on The Hard Shoulder to review the latest TV and movie releases…

'Scanxiety' or scan anxiety is something many cancer survivors will understand, but how do you deal with the worry in the days leading up to a scan?Joining Ciara Doherty to discuss is Professor Seamus O’Reilly, Consultant Medical Oncologist at Cork University Hospital and Brendan Kelly, Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin.

Artist Paul Hughes joins Ciara Doherty for this week’s Thursday Interview!

Taoiseach Micheál Martin today begins a two-day official visit to Belém, Brazil to attend the COP30 Leader’s Summit.Newstalk Reporter Jessica Woodlock is there, and joins Ciara Doherty to give the latest updates.

Almost a quarter of Uisce Éireann staff earned a salary over one hundred thousand euro last year.Officials from Uisce Eireann appeared before the Public Accounts Committee earlier today outlining how over four hundred staff earned one hundred thousand euro or more last year…Uisce Eireann also outlined that it will be beyond 2030 before the Greater Dublin Drainage Project will be up and running, which was identified as necessary over a decade ago.Newstalk’s Chief Reporter Barry Whyte was monitoring this meeting, and joins Ciara Doherty to give the latest updates. Also joining to discuss is James Geoghegan, Fine Gael TD for Dublin Bay South, and member of the PAC committee.

There are renewed calls for a dedicated transport police to be set up. Newstalk Reporter Josh Crosbie spent an evening out with Dublin Bus - one year since they have established the Safer Journeys team, and joins Ciara Doherty to discuss.

The US Government shutdown has entered its 37th day - it is the longest period of time the American government has been closed…It all started on October 1st, because of the inability of Congress to agree to a new funding deal for Government workers and essential services.Joining Ciara Doherty to discuss is Anthony Zurcher, North American Correspondent with BBC News.

“Every diocese in Ireland would collapse if priests retired at 75”. That’s according to Father Roy Donovan, Spokesperson for the Association of Catholic Priests, but is Catholicism purely functional now?Joining Ciara Doherty to discuss is Portlaoise Parish Priest, Fr David Vard.

A new policy and a plan to strengthen the teaching, learning and use of Irish language in schools is due to be launched today by Minister for Education and Youth Helen McEntee, but what exactly should be done to encourage young people to love the Irish language and keep it alive?Joining me now is Irish Independent Columnist, Mary McCarty and Seán Ó Mhaoilchiaráin, Cuala Ceathair Presenter.