Highlights From The Hard Shoulder

On Thursday Evening Ireland will play Czechia in the crucial World Cup playoff game. Many Thousands of Irish are expected in the Czech capital, Prague, despite very few tickets for the game being available. Henry McKean headed to Dublin Airport, where he caught up with the Irish who are making the journey to support the boys in green.

Former President of Ireland and member of The Elders,Joined Ciara and Shane to discuss the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States and Israel. She spoke about how the international community can react to the crisis and how, in her view, the war is an illegal breach of international law, and the impact the energy crisis brought by the war is having, not just here but also in poor countries.

Petrol and diesel prices are set to fall at midnight tonight as a result of a package of measures introduced by government, but when it comes to grocery prices, can we expect them to rise in the next few weeks? Oliver Browne is a lecturer in accounting in Cork University Business School in UCC and joined Shane and Ciara to explan

Former Garda Superintendent Denis Whelan spoke to the Irish Independent about issues he observed in An Garda Síochána and said that “an environment has been created where gardaí are working with one arm tied behind their back”Whelan stressed that he has nothing personal against former commissioner Drew Harris but he said Harris’ seven-year term had a negative impact on policing in this country.  Joining Shane and Ciara discuss is General Secretary of the Garda Representative Association Ronan Slevin  

All across movies, books and television, we see the importance of and love in female friendships. These friendships are absolutely central in most women’s lives but they also change drastically over time. It’s very different making and maintaining friendships in school or college to as an adult once work and families start becoming busier.  Joining Shane and Ciara to discuss the wonderful, stressful and occasionally embarrassing things about female friendships is Features Writer with the Irish Independent, Saoirse Hanley and Lifestyle Editor at the Irish Examiner Esther McCarthy  

As the weather starts to improve, Dublin City's most popular social locations Drury Street, is already seeing a big increase in the number of people drinking publicly on the street throughout the week, but especially on the weekend. With Public Drinking an offence under local laws, more should be done to combat those engaging in this behaviour. Or does it encourage a vibrant atmosphere in the city ? Joining Shane and Ciara was Mannix Flynn Independent Councillor Dublin City Council  

A pilot and co-pilot have been killed after an Air Canada passenger plane carrying 76 people collided with a fire engine on a runway at LaGuardia Airport in New York.Harriet Alexander, Senior Features Writer for the Daily Mail based in New York joins Shane to discuss.Image: Reuters

The Construction Industry Federation has warned that the continuing rise in fuel prices could translate to increased construction costs in the coming months. It is yet another sector that is seeing price rises as a result of the war in Iran, with many raw materials in the industry produced from fuel intensive processes.Andrew Brownlee is the CEO of the Construction Industry Federation, and joins Ciara to discuss.

This weekend, the clocks will spring forward one hour leading to the bi-annual question: should we still be doing it? And why on earth do we do it in the first place? Sean Kelly, Fine Gael MEP for Ireland South joins Shane to discuss…

For this week’s Kids Clinic, Ciara and Shane are joined by Teresa Foley, Paediatric Occupational Therapist to discuss the important developmental milestones your child should have, beyond the basics of walking and talking.

Gardaí are looking to question a number of men and women in connection with a savage attack on a young mother, in Co Tipperary, last Saturday.For more on this, Ciara is joined by David Raleigh, Freelance Journalist…

U.S. President Donald Trump has backpedalled on his threat to strike Iranian energy infrastructure. In early morning U.S. time in an all-caps post the President said the U.S. has had very good and productive conversations with Iran over resolving the conflict. He had previously set a deadline of just before midnight Irish time for the country to reopen the Strait of Hormuz before he would begin strikes…Sean Bell, former Fighter Pilot, Military Analyst, and Co-Host of ‘The Red Matrix’ podcast joins Shane to discuss.Image: Reuters

How much would you be willing to pay for a 99 ice cream? With the weather improving, people have noticed one costing as much as €4.50!Josh Crosbie has been investigating the prices of these sweet treats, and joins to discuss.

A leaders meeting is taking place this evening so senior Government figures can sign off on measures to alleviate some of the rising energy and fuel costs as a result of the war in the Middle East.Measures on the table today reportedly include a tax rebate scheme for hauliers, a double fuel allowance payment and a reduction in excise duty to cut fuel prices at the pumps.Joining Shane to discuss these measures and the impact they could have on the economy is Political Correspondent at the Irish Examiner, Louise Burne and Economist Austin Hughes.

Posh parents are spoiling the Hot School Meals scheme for the plain people of Ireland…So wrote Fionnán Sheahan in today’s Irish Independent, but is this the case?Shane Loftus, Principal of Our Lady Immaculate School in Darndale joins Shane to discuss…

This week, Ciara and Shane were joined by the presenter of Weekend Breakfast on Today FM, Alison Curtis and Off the Ball’s Ger Gilroy to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists…

Last Sunday night was a spectacular night for Ireland at the Academy Awards in Los Angeles with two wins. One was for first-time winner Jessie Buckley, of course for her role in Hamnet, and then the man who completed the hat trick, now three time Oscar winner: Richard Baneham. Initially hailing from Tallaght and via Ballyfermot College to Hollywood, his work on the three Avatar movies has left him three wins from three nominations at the Academy Awards.He joins Shane from Los Angeles to discuss his success.

What is the best way to financially help your child in today's economy? Is it making sure they stay debt free while they pay college fees, putting money aside as they start out on their career paths or is it helping them later in life with money towards a down payment?Well, joining us to discuss this is financial adviser, Padraic Kissane.

Off The Ball’s John Duggan joined Ciara and Shane on The Hard Shoulder to review the week in sport and look ahead to the weekend’s action…

Dublin City Council is considering a tourist tax of up to €5 per night for visitors - would it be a good idea?Joining Ciara to discuss this is Eoghan Corry, Editor of Travel Extra.ie and Paris-based Journalist, Elaine Cobbe.