In The News

Despite claims fugitive mob boss, Matteo Messino Denaro, was in Amsterdam, Liverpool and Brazil, the 60 year-old had been hiding in plain sight in Sicily. He was arrested last week after 30 years on the run. Italian criminologist, Dr Anna Sergi, says he was caught after being tracked down through plain old-fashioned detective work. Dr Sergi explains to host, Aideen Finnegan, why the Sicilian mafia boss' arrest is so significant, and what it was like to grow up in a region of Italy marred by terrifying mob violence.With any subscription you'll get unlimited access to the very best in unique quality journalism from The Irish Times. Subscribe today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Elsa" had decades of experience waiting in restaurants before joining the staff at celebrity chef Richard Corrigan's new Dublin restaurant last year. Within a few weeks she had joined over a dozen other staff who left. Many of them spoke to The Irish Times's restaurant critic Corinna Hardgrave about why they did so: Harsh words, a bad atmosphere and rates of pay that were not what was promised. Many were also critical of the restaurant's system for distributing tips. And while the tip distribution policy in The Park Cafe is publicly available (as required by law), could it be that many customers have lost track of how tips are shared in a complicated system among restaurant staff - including senior managers? Elsa and Corinna talk to Bernice Harrison. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ireland’s far-right is mobilising. Heated protests outside buildings used to house asylum seekers in Ballymun, East Wall and around the country show how anti-immigration sentiment is being stirred up by groups who are organised, heavily reliant on social media and increasingly adept at exploiting fears, often with baseless stories.Irish Times crime correspondent Conor Gallagher has been tracking the rise of the far right in Ireland in recent years and has reported on how misinformation is fuelling these increasingly heated gatherings of locals and far-right groups.He outlines how these protests are organised, who is behind them, the misinformation spread on social media and the fears being stoked up in communities where asylum seekers are being housed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

About 90 per cent of primary schools in Ireland are Catholic in ethos. The figure is increasingly out of line with the religious makeup of the population.  Last week, an Athlone primary school switched from Catholic to multi-denominational, the first such change of school ethos in a state-led pilot programme. But in other areas, like Dublin's Raheny, local opposition to such changes in school ethos has been strong. So when it comes to religion in schools, what is it that people really want? Irish Times education editor Carl O’Brien gives the background. David Graham of lobby group Education Equality and Seamus Mulconry of the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association give their sides of a debate that is still divisive.This episode is presented by Bernice Harrison. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just when you thought there was nothing new to learn about Britain's Prince Harry's explosive memoir, it manages to generate even more headlines upon its release this week. 'Spare' is now the fastest ever selling non-fiction book in the English language. Even the Irish public is divided on whether the prince is a tragic, deluded character or an earnest rebel with a genuine public interest story to expose. Media columnist, Laura Slattery, and columnist, Finn McRedmond in London, join Aideen Finnegan to discuss the book, its revelations and the global reaction to it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite fears patients may die as a result of delays in our overcrowded Emergency Departments, we are yet again dealing with another trolley crisis this January. The problems beleaguering our health service are well documented, so what changes would meaningfully address them? Former Consultant in Emergency Medicine, Dr Chris Luke, has a number of proposals and wants "Zelensky-like" leadership to bring them about. Starting with hospital CEOs and medical directors on the frontline, SWAT teams to back up staff and a Citizens' Assembly to have a national conversation about what we are willing to fund. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does China’s exit from its Zero Covid policy mean for Ireland and the rest of the world? The country has fully reopened, ending the requirement for inbound travellers to quarantine. The abrupt exit has resulted in covid ripping through its main cities and struck a defiant tone with the European Union, which has recommended testing for passengers arriving from China. But the reopening will likely be a boost to the world economy and a welcome relief for its citizens and foreigners who felt unable to leave for the past three years. In this episode, presented by Bernice Harrison, we get the latest from our China Correspondent Denis Staunton.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode of In The News we are joined by our new co-host, Bernice Harrison, and departing presenter, Conor Pope. If you opted out of scrolling through news stories over Christmas and New Year, here's a round-up of what you may have missed: hospital overcrowding, the deaths of Pelé, Pope Benedict and Vivienne Westwood, misogynist Andrew Tate's arrest, Republican George Santos' car crash TV interview and Rolling Stone's divisive snub of Celine Dion. Presented by Aideen Finnegan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Looking to feel happier and healthier in life, but don’t know where to start? Clinical Psychologist Dr Trudy Meehan joins Conor Pope to talk about the practical tools we can all start using to bring meaningful change into our lives. Positive Health: 100+ Research-based Positive Psychology and Lifestyle Medicine Tools to Enhance Your Wellbeing is available now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In his new book Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America, speech writer Cody Keenan gives readers an intimate portrayal of life inside the White House during some of the most critical moments in American history. In this episode, he talks to Sorcha Pollak about those ten years spent working alongside one of the most important and recognised people on earth, the long days and nights spent crafting the former US president’s statements and the pressure, self-doubt and ultimate sense of accomplishment of holding “the best and the worst job in the West Wing”. This episode was originally published in November 2022. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.