Highlights from The Hard Shoulder

According to a new report from the Irish Medical Journal, the prescription rate of ADHD medication to over-16s in Ireland has increased by 211% over the past 10 years. So, why are we seeing this rise?Joining Shane to discuss is GP and owner of ADHDdoc, Dr Sarah Carty...

Life can be full of confusing things, but no need to worry! Every Wednesday, Simon Tierney will be showing you ‘How to do Stuff' - bringing his best tips for those things you might not think about.This week, Simon joins Ciara and Shane to discuss how you can avoid pushy parenting!

Executives from the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) appeared before an Oireachtas committee this afternoon, amid the ongoing fallout over the Republic of Ireland's controversial Nations League games against Israel.Joining Ciara to discuss this Joanna Byrne, Sinn Féin TD for Louth and member of the Committee on Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport.

For this week's Tech Takeover, Jess Kelly, Newstalk's Technology Correspondent, joins Shane to discuss Lidl's launch of their own mobile network ‘Lidl Connect' - and why it actually could be good value for your money…

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 week's action…

Almost two-in-five men under the age of 25 believe rape victims are partly responsible if they were taking drugs or drinking alcohol, according to new research from the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC). One in five also believe there are “a lot” of false rape allegations made in Ireland.For more on this, Ciara is by Eoghan Cleary, education expert in sexual exploitation research policy group and on the board of the Dublin Rape Crisis Center and Professor Gillian Murphy, UCC PhD Supervisor of a study looking at forms of harassment and victim blaming, celebrity victim survivors of deepfake sexual abuse.The DRCC can be contacted online or via its 24-hour helpline 1800 778888

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that one of the pilots of a flydubai plane bound for Tel Aviv had planned to crash it and kill its mostly Israeli passengers…Joining Shane with the latest updates on this is Dominic Waghorn, International Affairs Editor with Sky News.

“Anytime I google something, I tend to add ‘Reddit' to the end of my query. Why? Because it's guaranteed to find me an answer. There is nothing in all-human experience that the fine people of forum website Reddit have not encountered before.”So writes Journalist at The Irish Independent, Saoirse Hanley, who joins Ciara to discuss.

Earlier today, Irish men's Football Manager Heimir Hallgrimson confirmed that Sunday's fixture with Israel will go ahead saying:"The FAI has said we are playing both games and we will fulfill that. That was our intention when we came into this camp.”I am joined now by Former Minister for Justice, Equality & Defence, Alan Shatter.Alan, you were in Hungary for the game last Sunday, what was your assessment of what happened?

More than 100,000 public sector workers have begun a work-to-rule strike. Nurses, civil servants and special needs assistants are among those taking part in the action over delays in agreeing a new public sector pay deal.For more on this, Ciara is joined by Niall Shanahan, Media Relations Director for Fórsa.

The locations of seven proposed new early learning and childcare projects were announced today by Minister Norma Foley.Across the seven proposed locations there is potential to provide around 600 places to support the Department of Children, Disability and Equality's policy of improving access to high-quality, affordable early learning and childcare.Joining Shane to discuss is Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley…

The Ultimate Guide: New accommodation stockEvery week for The Ultimate Guide on The Hard Shoulder, Fionn Davenport takes a closer look at some of the fantastic destinations to visit around the world.This week, Fionn joined Ciara and Shane to give his ultimate guide to new accommodation stock in Ireland!

Newstalk reporter Henry McKean reports from Drumcree as the standoff continues,

Just 14 out of 57 driving test centres countrywide are reaching the 10-week national average waiting time target, down from 24 at the start of the month, that's according to latest available figures compiled by the road safety campaign group Parc from the RSA website. Jim Cleary, success 4 U driving in Limerick and Ger Hyland, Driver, Operator and President of the Irish Road Haulage Association

Larry Donnelly, Law lecturer at University of Galway and Columnist at The Journal joins Ciara to place his favourite book on the Hard Shoulder Bookshelf!

A €150,000 boost is heading to three west Waterford GAA clubs, courtesy of Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan. The couple, who bought Strancally Castle in August, have chosen Shamrocks GAA in Knockanore, Tallow GAA and Lismore GAA as the recipients of their first Irish philanthropic donation since moving into the area. Emer Barry, Lismore GAA Secretary spoke to Shane on the show.

Yesterday, tragic news came out of Banagher County Offaly as it was confirmed that two people died in a workplace incident Father and daughter Mihai Chinez and Denisa Chinez died after an incident at Banagher Precast Concrete. Local Independent Councillor John Leahy has said it is an “unimaginably difficult time” for the community and spoke to Shane on The Hard Shoulder.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Simon Harris, Stormont First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald are to hold talks at Government Buildings this evening to discuss the ongoing situation at the Garvaghy Road in Co Armagh. Allison Morris, Belfast Telegraph Crime Correspondent brought us the latest. One man who will publish a book this week, titled ‘‘Before the Vote: Planning for a United Ireland' is Professor John Doyle, Vice President for Research in Dublin City University, previously Director of DCU Institute for International Conflict Resolution and Reconstruction & Author of ‘Before the Vote: Planning for a United Ireland' joined Ciara on the show to discuss his new book.

Newstalk Reporter, Sarah Madden reports on what is it like to be gay and catholic.

The climate change advisory council have urged government to stop treating 'extreme events as one-off emergencies'. Mary Bourke, Professor in Geography Trinity College Dublin joined Ciara on the show to discuss.

Today is UN International Day of Awareness of Food Waste. The Environmental Protection Agency's has found food waste costs the average Irish household about €60 per month or €700 per year. Is there more we could be doing to make better use of the food we buy and what is the best way to go about this? CEO of Voice of Irish Concern for the Environment (VOICE) Tad Kirakowski joined us on The Hard Shoulder to discuss.

Fianna Fáil TD Malcolm Byrne today brought a bill before the Dáil today aimed at restricting AI Chatbots which simulate friendships or relationships for under 16s. Fianna Fáil TD Malcolm Byrne joined Ciara on the show to discuss.

Ciara is joined by Alisa Kovalenko, a former captive and survivor of conflict-related sexual violence during her captivity in 2014 in the Donbas region of Ukraine, who also fought on the front lines in the conflict.Alisa is in Dublin in collaboration with the Irish Consortium on Gender Based Violence - an Irish-based alliance of international humanitarian and human rights organisations, working alongside Irish Aid and the Irish Defence Forces.She joins to discuss what happened to her in 2014...

A recent discussion circulating online has sparked a divide in opinions on whether bringing your iced coffee to a job interview is simply unprofessional, or is it simply an indication of changing workplace norms?For more on this, Shane is joined by Caroline Reidy, head of NFP HR Solutions.

For this week's Kids Clinic, Ciara was joined by Laura Downing AKA the ‘Fabulous Pharmacist' & podcaster to discuss one of those conversations that can make parents feel a little awkward: talking to their children about sex.

The Minister for Housing James Browne has directed officials to examine online bidding portals.The worry is that these bidding portals mimic gambling products, and in doing so, drive up house prices.So, are these bidding sites leading to the gamification of the housing market?Colin O'Gara is Professor of Psychiatry at UCD, and he joins Ciara to discuss.

From the friends who loves to bring up their child's grades and achievements only to show they have exceeded your child's, to the family member who insists on reminding you their summer holiday was bigger and better than yours, you may feel the friction and even a bit of resentment in your relationship if you feel you are constantly being one-upped, but how should you appropriately address that it bothers you?Joining Ciara with some advice is Frances Kelleher, Relationship Expert and Life Coach.

Football Association of Ireland President Paul Cooke has defended the handling of the build-up to Ireland's Nations League clash with Israel in Hungary yesterday, following a 3-0 win for Heimir Hallgrímsson's side.Joining Shane to discuss this is David Sneyd, Football Journalist at the 42.ie who was in Debrecen, Hungary, for the game...

Patient advocacy groups have criticised the proposed commission of investigation into the care received by children with scoliosis and spina bifida, describing it as “extraordinarily narrow”.This comes after the Government agreed last year to hold a statutory inquiry into spina bifida and scoliosis services following a number of controversies at the children's hospital group, including unauthorised implantation of springs in children with scoliosis, alleged waiting-list irregularities and unnecessary hip surgeries.Joining Ciara to discuss this is Amanda Coughlan, co-lead of the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Paediatric Advocacy Group.

Has Northern Ireland gone back 30 years? With the contentious Garvaghy Road once again in the news for all the wrong reasons - yesterday and today thousands of protesters have blocked the street in an attempt to stop the Orange Order parade down it…Henry McKean is there, and joins Shane to report on what's happening.

Newstalk reporter Henry McKean reports from Grafton Street as U2 perform a surprise gig after Mount Temple concert.

Alisa Kovalenko a former captive and survivor of conflict-related sexual violence during her captivity in 2014 in the Donbas region of Ukraine, who also fought on the front lines in the conflict joined Ciara on the show. Alisa is in Dublin in collaboration with the Irish Consortium on Gender Based Violence - an Irish-based alliance of international humanitarian and human rights organisations, working alongside Irish Aid and the Irish Defence Forces.

The Parades Commission of Northern Ireland has allowed the Orange Order parade at Drumcree to proceed in a limited capacity for the first time in 28 years. DUP MP Carla Lockhart and Eoin Tennyson, Deputy Leader of the Alliance party joined Shane on the show to discuss.

A rally is taking place tonight ahead of Ireland's UEFA Nations League fixtures against Israel, with organisers calling on Irish players not to play the matches. The event is being organised by SIPTU and Trade Union Friends of Palestine.Mick Lynch, trade unionist and former General Secretary of the UK's National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, who will be speaking at tonight's rally joined Shane on the show.

I find it depressing when I hear teenage acne stories from Ireland today about how long it takes to see a consultant dermatologist and how extortionate is if you go for private care. So writes, Mary McCarthy, columnist with the Irish Independent who joined us on the show to discuss.

The Orange Order's Drumcree parade is to be permitted to proceed along the Garvaghy Road for the first time in almost 30 years. The Parades Commission placed a number of restrictions on the procession, including an 8am start time and limiting the number of participants to 35 people. Alison Morris, Crime Correspondent with the Belfast Telegraph and Claire Hanna, Leader of the SDLP & MP for Belfast South and Mid-Down joined Ciara on the show to discuss.

From October 1st, Eir will begin to turn off the 3G network it operates around the country. Donegal is first on the list, with the rest of the country following, and it plans to have the entire process completed within weeks. Irish Times Technology Correspondent Ciara O'Brien joined Shane Coleman on the show to discuss.

A new survey from Halfords has found that 82% of learner drivers have experienced road rage directed at them in the last year. The survey also found that almost half of all drivers surveyed have experienced dangerous tailgating. Brenda Bolger, a driving instructor with Bolger's Driving School joined us on the show to discuss.

Sarina Bellissimo, Broadcaster and Presenter of the Bellissimo Files Podcast and Andy McCarroll, host of the ‘Xtravision' podcast joined Ciara and Shane to review the latest TV and movie releases…

Do you remember when the internet felt like a shared playground? Back when strangers around the world connected over the colour of a dress? An age before toxic algorithms…Well, joining Ciara is Entrepreneur and Journalist Mark Little, who in his new book ‘The Last Good Day on the Internet' explores a time when the web was a place of community, curiosity and potential. Until it wasn't...

Help with the cost of energy and home heating is the top priority for voters in next month's budget. Pat Leahy, Political Editor of The Irish Times joins Shane to discuss the Irish Times poll revealing what voters want to see in Budget 2027.

All day today, as part of Newstalk's ‘One Day, Many Voices' series, we've been hearing from people across our communities and talking about identity, accessibility, belonging and inclusion.And when it comes to inclusion, sport can play a huge role.Navan O'Mahony's is home to the only adult Peil for All team in Meath, giving adults with intellectual and physical disabilities the opportunity to play football, be part of a team and, importantly, be part of their local GAA community.Joining Ciara to discuss is Kate O'Neill, the club's Adult Team Coordinator.