In The News

Last month saw a spike in temperature in Irish waters, an “unheard of” marine heatwave which raised sea temperatures by four to five degrees.Hotter seas have already brought previously unknown species to our shores - and driven away the fish that our fishing industry relies on. And that can only get worse as the seas heat.Environmentalist and activist Saoirse McHugh explains why warming seas is a crisis that needs to be addressed urgently, and Kevin Flannery, marine biologist and founder of the Dingle Oceanworld aquarium, talks about the new species now coming into Irish waters and the severe challenges ahead for our coasts, our coastal communities and our fishing industry. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Late Late Toy Show is Ireland's most popular TV show every year by a distance. But an ill-fated attempt by RTÉ to exploit its valuable 'IP' has ended up the subject of discussion and dissection in multiple Oireachtas committees as a controversy over payments and governance continues to grip the broadcaster. We learned this week that Toy Show: The Musical lost €2.2 million in its first year. How did it go so badly wrong? And what does the story tell us about the organisation RTÉ has become and where it is going? Bernice Harrison asks Hugh Linehan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Irish teenagers Andrew O’Donnell and Max Wall died in separate incidents on the Greek Island of Ios last weekend. Both were students of St Michael's College in Ballsbridge, Dublin and had recently completed the Leaving Cert exams. Irish Times Reporter Jack Power, who is covering the story from Ios, explains how this tragedy unfolded. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The killing by a police officer of a teenager of Algerian and Moroccan descent plunged France into a week of chaos. Rioting, looting and destruction of property spread from the Parisian suburb of Nanterre across France and even to remote Reunion Island. The violence has subsided, leaving France with a huge task to reckon with the underlying tension and dissatisfaction that fuelled it. Lara Marlowe reports from Paris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Government hoped that the Consultative Forum on International Security Policy would prompt a national conversation on Ireland’s security and foreign policy.However, the nation was more than a little distracted by events in Montrose and the RTÉ secret pay deal scandal and the forum may have passed many people by. Not everyone; there were protests that brought attention to the forum in Dublin Castle and, even before it began, President Michael D Higgins caused controversy by his comments on the event.It was characterised in some sectors as a Government scheme to bounce Ireland into Nato, but according to Irish Times crime and security correspondent Conor Gallagher the forum was in fact a varied discussion on the international security landscape which included strong defences of Irish neutrality. He tells us the key takeaways. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon and John Casey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Wednesday RTÉ's first of two appearances before a Dáil committee did not quell the scandal enveloping the organisation. On Thursday they were back. What went down? Did the broadcaster's top brass finally manage to provide more answers than raise new questions? Bernice Harrison and Jennifer Bray listen back.Correction: in this episode, remarks made in the Public Accounts Committee by Colm Burke TD were incorrectly attributed to Colm Brophy TD. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why did mercurial warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin start an armed rebellion against Russia's military leadership - and then give up after only 24 hours? And where do the bizarre events leave Russian president Vladimir Putin? Dan McLaughlin reports from Kyiv. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Political reporter Jack Horgan-Jones discusses how this hidden payments debacle unfolded, the damage it has already done and what happens next. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cocaine has overtaken heroin and other opioids to become the most common problem drug in Ireland, according to the Health Research Board (HRB). Consumption of the drug crosses all age demographics, with people presenting for treatment from as young as 15. In this episode, we hear from Conor Harris, who began taking cocaine at 17 and within two years was seeking treatment for his addiction. Psychiatrist and addiction specialist Prof Colin O’Gara also explains why cocaine use has exploded in recent years and the health impacts for users. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode includes discussion of sexual exploitation and abuse. A recent study by UCD’s School of Social Policy has revealed that vulnerable girls in State care are being groomed and coerced into sex acts with multiple men, in exchange for goods such as clothes and jewellery, or at the instruction of older men they viewed as their boyfriends. For Irish Times reporter Jack Power, the harrowing findings reflect what he has been hearing from sources working in the area for the past three years. He tells Bernice Harrison what details the study has uncovered. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.