In The News

How dangerous is vaping? Outside every school and college there are clouds of watermelon or strawberry scented steam, while brightly-coloured toy-like used vapes litter parks and playgroundsNext month the Government will introduce legislation to ban the sale of vaping products to those under 18.ABC journalist Tom Lowrey explains how Australia already had some of the most restrictive vaping rules in the world when it tightened them even further in May banning all recreational vaping – now vapes are only available on prescription. RCSI professor Donal O’Shea explains how damaging to health this apparently benign looking and smelling product is and why this first legislative step is good but why the Government needs to go much, much further to protect the health particularly of teenagers and young adults.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon and John Casey with additional research by Katie Mellett. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Phillip Schofield was TV royalty in Britain, an ITV star who presented the station’s flagship breakfast show, This Morning – as well as several other prime time, family-friendly programmes. His 40-year career imploded in recent weeks amid media headlines about an affair with a younger colleague. In this episode, London Editor Mark Paul talks us through the details of Schofield's spectacular fall from grace and the broadcaster's new investigation into the scandal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The results of Census 2022 are here. As usual it’s a mine of information, with figures detailing the state we’re in, from our religious affiliations to how many people smoke, how we get to work and the average age. Ronan McGreevy talks us through the headline figures , with vox pops from Catherine Mellett. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lara Marlowe spoke to Bernard Phelan, the Irish man who recently left Iran after being released from over six months in prison. He told her about life in a Tehran jail - with bad food, freezing cold temperatures and a dark atmosphere as beatings and executions took place. He also told her about the dramatic day of his release. Lara shares the story with Bernice Harrison. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lisa Lawlor was just 17 months old when her parents Maureen and Francis died in the fire at Stardust Ballroom in the early hours of Valentines Day 1981. Orphaned by the tragedy, she has been known throughout her life as the ‘Stardust baby’. In this episode, Lisa talks to Bernice Harrison about the anguish of losing her family and her 42-year search for answers. We also hear from Social Affairs Correspondent Kitty Holland, who has been attending the inquests in Dublin each day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do teenagers today have it tougher than previous generations? In terms of how well they can develop emotionally and socially, the answer is yes, says Dr Colman Noctor, a psychotherapist who works with adolescents. He tells Irish Times journalist Jen Hogan about how the pandemic years have robbed young people of crucial opportunities for social development, driving them instead into the online world - where many pitfalls await.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann are currently searching a reservoir in Portugal, 50km away from the holiday resort where the toddler went missing in 2007. It is believed the area was visited by chief suspect Christian Brückner around the same time that Madeleine disappeared. But who is Christian Brückner, what is his criminal history and how exactly has he become linked to the McCann case? Berlin correspondent for The Irish Times, Derek Scally, brings us the details.This episode was originally published in October 2022. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Data Protection Commission (DPC) has hit Facebook owner Meta Ireland with a fine of €1.2 billion – the largest such fine to date under GDPR rules - for its unlawful transferring of user data from the EU to the US. But the DPC didn't want to levy a fine at all - its hand was forced by European counterparts. How did it come to this? To find out Bernice Harrison talks to technology reporter Ciara O'Brien. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was recently announced that Trinity College Dublin will 'dename' its Berkeley Library, because of the links to slavery of its current namesake, the 18th century philosopher George Berkeley.The news has sparked renewed debate about when it is right to change the historic name of a building or institution, with Irish Times columnist Fintan O'Toole arguing, for example, that the dozen or so GAA clubs named after 19th century Irish nationalist John Mitchel rename themselves, also due to Mitchel's support for slavery and his trenchant racism.But once we start renaming things, how far should we go? When is it necessary and when is it simply impractical? And why was John Mitchel such a racist, anyway?Fintan O'Toole talks to Bernice Harrison. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the small townland of Inch, Co Clare, locals have blockaded the entrance to the former Magowna House Hotel, where 34 asylum seekers were sent on Monday. Protestors say they weren't consulted and the location just isn’t suitable. However, critics of the blockade say the alternative for the 34 men is homelessness. In this episode, we hear from Irish Times journalist Rosita Boland, who paid a visit to the small community this week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.