The Hard Shoulder

South Dublin County Council has recently passed a motion calling for a moratorium on new data centres being built in the area unless they operate wholly on renewable energy resources.However, People Before Profit Cllr Jess Spear doesn’t believe this motion goes far enough… She joins Kieran to discuss.

Dublin’s four local authorities will meet this month to commence their drive for national legislation to enable councils to implement a tourist tax.Representatives are coming together to lobby the government to give councils the power to introduce a “transient visitor levy” on overnight stays in hotels, short-term rentals on platforms like Airbnbs, and other accommodation.The proposed tax, led by the Transient Visitor Levy Working Group, would be applied at a local level, meaning individual councils would have the power to impose the tax as they see fit, or choose not to impose it at all.So, should we have it? And, how does it work in other countries?Joining Kieran to discuss is Labour Councillor for Galway County Council, Helen Ogbu, Reuters Chief Correspondent for Italy, Crispian Balmer and Journalist with “The Local” in Germany, Paul Krantz.

John Fardy, Presenter of Screentime on Newstalk, Sarina Bellissimo, Broadcaster and Presenter of the Bellissimo Files Podcast and David O’Callaghan from the Here and Back Again podcast joined Kieran Cuddihy on The Hard Shoulder to review the latest TV and movie releases…

In today’s day and age, we are constantly being fed news. In fact, most of us can’t seem to escape the news!With news alerts flooding our phones, many people struggle to switch off from what is happening across the globe.This of course can be very fatiguing, but what can we do to stop this?Joining Kieran to discuss this is Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin, Brendan Kelly and Elaine Burke, from the For Tech's Sake podcast.

Christine Duff of The Traitors Ireland fame joins Kieran for this week's Thursday Interview!

Neil and Donna Sands, the Irish couple behind the landmark Tattle Life case, are seeking to appear before the Oireachtas to discuss online abuse after appearing in Westminster on Monday.The pair will also request that Google be called to appear before the media committee to explain its continued monetisation of the platform.Neil and Donna Sands join Kieran to discuss.Image: goss.ie

He’s already secured some support, but what are his odds of reaching the Áras?Joining Kieran to discuss his Presidential hopes is Entrepreneur and Businessman, Gareth Sheridan.

To date, 57 people have drowned in Irish waters this year…Emergency services are also reporting a higher number of rescue operations than 2024.Newstalk Reporter Josh Crosbie has been meeting with those who work at sea, and volunteer in recovery missions. He sends in this report.

US television host Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show was pulled from the air last night, hours after the US government threatened to cancel broadcasting licences because of comments the host made about the killing of far-right activist Charlie Kirk…The stunning move by network ABC to remove one of America’s most influential late-night shows was blasted by critics as government censorship, but celebrated by Donald Trump.Joining Kieran to discuss is Senior Lecturer at the School of Media in Technical University Dublin, Harry Browne, and also Professor and Political analyst, of the Clinton institute, UCD, Scott Lucas Image: Reuters

Should smartphones and gaming devices be confiscated from repeat offenders of anti-social behaviour? Well, that is what the Dáil is being asked today!Independent Dublin TD Paul Gogarty is behind the motion, which also suggests imposing curfews and fining parents…Joining Kieran to discuss this is Youth Worker from Justask.ie Declan Keenan and former Garda Sergeant, Christy Galligan.