The Hard Shoulder

As the Dáil is set to return in the coming weeks, former Health Editor with the Irish Times Paul Cullen and Chair of the IMOs Consultant Committee Matthew Sadlier join Kieran to discuss how the Government can best prepare the healthcare system for the coming months. 

There has sharp rise in cocaine use in Ireland in recent months. The latest Health Research Board figures from 2024 show one-in-three cases of drug treatments were for cocaine. But how is the drug getting into the country? Investigations Editor with the Sunday World and host of the podcast Crime World Nicola Tallant joins Kieran to discuss.

Author, journalist and host of A Few Scoops Aoife Moore joins Kieran to place her favourite book on The Hard Shoulder Bookshelf! 

Legendary broadcast journalist Jim Acosta will be speaking at the Kennedy Summer School in New Ross in County Wexford. The Hard Shoulder will also be broadcasting from the same location this Thursday. Jim joins Kieran to discuss his thoughts on US President Donald Trump, US/Ireland relations, his Irish roots and more.

Are men mistreating women when they mansplain, or is it just the way they talk? One celebrity thinks men are being misunderstood, so comedians Jim Elliot and Katherine Lynch join Kieran to discuss.

Some customers of the waste company Panda have expressed unease at their bins being monitored. The company has rolled out a monitoring campaign to over 50,000 customers to try and get people to put their rubbish in the correct bin. But is this an effective way to change people’s behaviour? And are customers right to be concerned about privacy? Dublin Editor with the Irish Times Olivia Kelly and Secretary of the Irish Waste Management Association Conor Walsh join Kieran to discuss.

Following on from a discussion about crèche waiting lists, Chair of the Federation of Early Childhood Providers Elaine Dunne, and Principal of The Glebe National School in Donegal Town Alison Pasquier join Kieran to discuss the benefits of Early Childhood Education.

An Irish man's experience with an AI chatbot conducting a job interview raises intriguing questions about the future of recruitment. The podcast explores how candidates must adapt their CVs to impress algorithms while debating the essential human touch in interviews. Discussions highlight the balance between AI's efficiency and the irreplaceable insights of human recruiters. The risks of AI are also examined, particularly the potential for overlooking diverse talent. It raises important conversations about fairness and inclusion in hiring practices.

Join journalist Jen Hogan, known for her insights in The Irish Times and as host of the Conversations with Parents podcast, as she shares effective tips on getting kids involved in household chores. She discusses how chores can instill responsibility and life skills while balancing expectations with rewards. Discover manageable tasks for children and the joy they can find in helping out, like caring for pets. Jen emphasizes the importance of appreciation and a family rota to ensure fairness in contributions.

Grants are being offered by Enterprise Ireland to companies affected by the US tariffs. It’s as the Government launched its plan to tackle new worldwide markets for investment into the future. CEO of IBEC Danny McCoy joins Kieran to discuss.