Highlights From The Hard Shoulder

Sarina Bellissimo, host of The Bellissimo Files Podcast joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to take a look at some of the film and TV coming to our screens over the next year...

There are 838 patients on hospital trolleys across the country today, the second highest figure on record. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly's asked the HSE to source all available capacity from private hospitals - including beds and diagnostics. Kieran was joined by Liam Doran, former head of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation and former member of the Slaintecare Implementation Council  to discuss the current crisis...

Newstalk's own, Simon Tierney joined Kieran again for the series 'The Shopping Trolley Hotline'. The series will give listeners pause when they’re filling their trolleys, to consider their options. This week Simon and Kieran took a look a the different baked beans options on the shelves...

According to Consultant in Emergency Medicine at Beaumont Hospital, Peadar Gilligan, five thousand more beds are needed in the acute hospital system. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar says 700 people are on trolleys according to the HSE. The INMO say yesterday there were more than 900 patients were waiting for a bed. This has dropped to around 800. Meanwhile the INMO have called for mandatory mask wearing in congregated areas. Henry McKean has been meeting with patients and doctors outside Beaumont Hospital in Dublin and he joined Kieran in studio to discuss...

As of January 1st, Canada enacted a wide-ranging ban on the purchase of residential property by non-Canadians for two years. It’s all with a view to tackling surging house prices in the country, but what does this policy hope to achieve? And how exactly does it work? Kieran was joined by May Warren, Housing Reporter with The Toronto Star to discuss…

Today marks one year since the introduction of Minimum Unit Pricing in Ireland. Was it the right decision and how has it been working? Kieran was joined by CEO of Drink Aware Sheena Horgan and Columnist for the Irish Times, Ian O’Doherty to discuss the effect of minimum unit pricing…

With the New Year comes a new batch of technology trends for people to get their heads around. Jess Kelly, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to chat through some of the pieces of making waves in the tech world... Image: PA

Research from the Road Safety Authority has raised concerns that increased fines may not be an effective way of curbing reckless driving, with the suggestion that drivers are of the belief that they were unlikely to be caught, due to a perception of “not enough [gardaí] policing the road.” Kieran was joined by Michael Healy Rae, Independent TD for Kerry and Shane Ross, Former Minister for Transport to discuss..

Kieran was joined on The Hard Shoulder by Clare McKenna, presenter of Alive and Kicking on Newstalk, to discuss the some the alternative ways to make New Years Resolutions...

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has recorded the highest number of patients waiting without a hospital bed since 2006. Maurice Quinlivan, Sinn Fein TD for Limerick  joined Kieran on the show to discuss...

John Lee, Executive Editor of the Daily Mail Group joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to look towards the 2023 political year and what can be expected...

Rolling Stones’ contentious new list of 200 Greatest Singers of All Time has been released with some notable omissions. Kieran was joined by Pat Carty of Hot Press to discuss some of the rankings and those who missed out...

50 years ago in January 1973, Ireland formally joined the European Union. Kieran was joined by EU Special Representative for Human Rights and former Labour Party Leader and Tánaiste, Eamon Gilmore to reflect and analyse on Ireland's EU membership, the legacy of the European Union and Ireland's place in it...

Jill O'Mahony, Sociology Lecturer at South East Technological University joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss the findings from the review of the year by the Central Statistics Office...

People have been urged to consider alternatives before going to A&E as the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation counts the highest number of patients waiting without a hospital bed since 2006. Kieran was joined by Frances Watkins, journalist with the Limerick Leader whose sister was on a trolley last year and Geraldine Leonard, whose father spent time on a trolley last year too…

An Bord Pleanála have given the green light on the country’s first ever drug injection facility on Merchants Quay. Will this clear up drug usage on the streets of Dublin’s City Centre? And will we see it implemented across the country? Kieran was joined by Labour Party TD for Dublin Bay North, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin and Independent Councillor for Dublin City Council Mannix Flynn to discuss…

Ukraine President Volodomyr Zelensky has had what seemed to be a very successful visit to the White House over the last 24 hours. A massive aid package has been pledged to the country in order to help continue the fight against Russia. Jim Townsend was the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO during the Obama administration, and he joined Kieran on the show to discuss…

Hundreds of mourners made the trip to County Donegal this afternoon, where Private Seán Rooney was laid to rest. The young soldier who was killed in Lebanon last week was buried with full military honours in Newtowncunningham this afternoon. Aoife Kearns, Newstalk reporter was at the funeral mass and joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder from Donegal...

Dr Colm Henry, Chief Clinical Officer with the HSE joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder to discuss the pressure on hospitals and the recent spike in Covid 19 cases...

In an image obsessed society, how you present yourself to the world holds a lot of currency. How you look is important but how you smell is equally crucial. We’re all keen to oust the odour but more and more people are turning to more natural alternatives in a bid to protect the environment and safeguard their health. Former Wexford Hurler and owner of Wild Irish Retreat, Diarmuid 'Gizzy' Lyng has binned the antiperspirant and he joined Kieran on the show to discuss… Image: Twitter - Diarmuid Lyng (@diarmuidlyng)