The Hard Shoulder

Yesterday on the show Kieran spoke with Eric Nelligan, who is a teacher, Assistant Principal and Aontú Spokesperson on Education and Richard Hogan, Family Psychologist and author of ‘Home Is Where The Start Is’, who debated whether phone bans would work.It’s after the Ombudsman for Children’s Office said blanket bans on phones are not in the best interest of children.Today, Kieran is joined to discuss by Fionn McWeeney, who was a member of the Youth Advisory Group in the Ombudsman for Children Office, who helped in an advisory role with the Smart Phone Ban report.

Life can be full of confusing things, but no need to worry! Every Wednesday, Simon Tierney will be showing you ‘How to do Stuff’ - bringing his best tips for those things you might not think about.This week, Simon joins Kieran (on International TV Dinner Day) to discuss how you can make the perfect TV dinner!

It’s been noted that the Irish football team is unable to hire a Sports Psychologist.Boss Heimar Hallgrimsson has previously spoken of how heavy the Irish jersey can weigh, and maybe a bit of that was seen yesterday, as they fell to Armenia in their World Cup qualifier.So, does the team need help with their mentality, and would a sports psychologist help?Sports Psychologist Aoife Quinn joins Kieran to discuss.

40 years after Ireland's first heart transplant took place at the Matter Hospital in Dublin, Kieran is joined by Professor Freddie Wood, the surgeon who was central to the development of the heart transplant programme in Ireland.

For this week’s Tech Takeover, Jess Kelly, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent joins Kieran to discuss how traditional banks are taking on Revolut’s instant money transfer features with their own ‘Zippay’ system. When will this get implemented, and how much of an impact will it have?

Over the past few months, concerns have been raised over staffing issues at Oberstown Children Detention Campus.It was also revealed that, at times, that there are not enough beds for referrals from the Children’s Court.To find out what goes on inside Ireland’s detention centre for children, Newstalk Reporter Josh Crosbie goes inside Oberstown and hears from the staff, as well as interviews a teenager who spent time there last year.Listeners may find some of the content distressing.

Poland shot down Russian drones over its airspace early today.It marks the first time Poland has directly engaged Russian assets since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.Joining Kieran to discuss is Christopher Berenda, Reporter with RMF FM and Cormac Smith, former Special Adviser to Ukraine’s Foreign Adviser.Image: Reuters

As the winter season comes in, so do the spiders and the silverfish. How can you get them out? Does peppermint oil or conkers on your windowsill work as a deterrent, or is it simply an old wife's tale?Collie Ennis, Biodiversity Officer at Trinity College Dublin joins Kieran to discuss.

Despite the school year being underway, there are a number of kids still without a school place, and are now being left behind by their peers.Kieran is joined by the parents of two of those kids, Mairead Carty and Sinead O’Reilly, to discuss.

The Ombudsman for Children's Office has said that a blanket ban approach on phones is not in the best interest of children, and it does not effectively protect them from potential online harm.Joining Kieran to discuss is Eric Nelligan, Teacher, Assistant Principal & Aontú Spokesperson on Education and Richard Hogan, Family Psychologist and author of ‘Home is Where the Start Is’.