RTÉ - Drivetime

There have been extreme heat warnings across parts of Europe today, and over the weekend ahead, with temperatures potentially pushing above 40 degrees in areas of the continent. Michelle Dillon is a meteorologist with Met Eireann.

Dermot McGirr is a Partner at the law firm Mason, Hayes and Curran, and he's been looking into these new laws for months.

Former Irish Taoiseach is just back from Hungary where he was addressing a conference.

The Mental Health Commission has published its annual report which looks at how the service as a whole, and individual services, have performed in the past year. For more on this, Professor Jim Lucey is the Inspector of Mental Health Services in Ireland,

Mayo GAA has come under criticism for the tone and way they parted ways with manager Kevin McStay. Last night, the County Board released a statement saying they 'made the decision to relieve Kevin McStay and his management team from their roles with the Mayo Senior Football Team with immediate effect'. Former Mayo footballer David Brady discusses.

"Exasperated and utterly dismayed": that's how the Children's Ombudsman, Niall Muldoon, described his own feelings around a long list of chronic issues affecting children.

The rising Cost of Living has been a big political focus this week. One of the big issues arising out of these high costs has been cross-border shopping and people travelling North to look for certain things that are significantly cheaper. Amy Morgan (GP) and Eamonn Connolly, manager of Newry Business Improvement District, speak to Drivetime.

A Garda representative says Gardai are being assaulted on a 'daily basis' as some areas struggle with a staffing crisis. It comes after one Garda told the courts this week how he feared he was going to join the list of members killed in the line of duty following an assault in Roscommon in 2023. Barry Lenihan reports.

In an extraordinary Pentagon briefing this afternoon, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth described the US strikes as "historically successful" and robustly defended President Trump. Dr. Patrick Bury, Senior Associate Professor in Security at University of Bath discusses the briefing.

European Parliament Transport Committee have adopted a proposal that would allow all passengers to bring a 7kg bag on board with them, and give families the right to sit together without extra charges. Kevin Hiney is the Communications Director for the group Airlines for Europe says this could take choices away from passengers.

There were 32,144 contacts to the Women's Aid service in 2024, a rise of 12% compared to the previous year and the highest in the organisation's 50-year history. The figures released in the charity's latest annual impact report also expressed concern about what it has described as "the inconsistent response" from members of An Garda Síochána.

Speaking at NATO, US President Donald Trump says he believes the war between Iran and Israel is finished, he thinks both countries are "tired" and "exhausted". To discuss this, Alon-Lee Green, from the group 'Standing Together', and Doctor Marwa Maziad, Professor of International Relations, Defence & Security Affairs, at University of Maryland.

It's described as the ticking timebomb of the housing crisis, many people wonder if they'll ever be able to buy a home and how they'll afford to pay rising rents in retirement. With housing charities and groups like Age Action sounding alarm bells over a rising number of pensioners facing homelessness now, John Cooke meets some of those affected.

The Occupied Territories Bill, considered by cabinet, Senator Frances Black outlines her demands.

They are appealing to the government to abolish Minimum Unit Pricing and reduce excise duty on alcohol while also reforming Ireland's licensing laws. To discuss this, Dr. Sheila Gilheany, Chief Executive of Alcohol Action Ireland and Jamie Malone, President of Young Fine Gael.

Government today launched a new agency tasked with revitalising Dublin City Centre. Its targets include redeveloping the GPO, regenerating social housing, converting derelict sites, and creating a new 'Cultural Quarter'. Sean Canney, Minister of State in the Department of Transport was part of the launch of this 10-year plan today.

To discuss the latest on the Iran/ Israel fragile ceasefire, Oliver McTernan, co-founder and Director of 'Forward Thinking', which specialises in conflict resolution and mediation, and from Israel, by David Patrikarakos, Special Correspondent with the Daily Mail, And author of Nuclear Iran: The Birth of an Atomic State.

The Taoiseach Micheal Martin has rejected comments that the Irish government's co-operation with the Omagh Bombing Inquiry has been “wholly unsatisfactory”. Reporter Una Kelly was at the inquiry to discuss.

With school almost out, many families are looking forward to summer, but for those with children suffering from hay fever, the warmer months can bring a host of uncomfortable symptoms. For more on this, Sheena Mitchell - Pharmacist and host of the Wondercare.ie Health Podcast.

New research suggests you could be about to spend 25years worth of your lifetime staring at your phone. To discuss this Dr Paul Redmond, is a researcher and writer, who was also Director of Student Experience and Enhancement at Liverpool University when this survey was carried out.

Israel has continued its bombing of Iran today, Iran has also launched a new wave of attacks on Haifa and Tel Aviv, all while the world gets to grips with the aftermath of Saturday's American strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. For more on this Former Director of the CIA John Brennan & Chairman of Republicans Overseas UK, Greg Swenson.

A solicitor representing some of the bereaved families and survivors of the Omagh bombing has criticised the Irish government for what he called a failure to co-operate fully with the inquiry process. He was speaking at a hearing in Omagh today at the second phase of the inquiry into the atrocity, our reporter Una Kelly was there.

A ban looks likely to be introduced on smoking and vaping at all playgrounds, games areas and amenity spaces controlled by Cork County Council. To discuss this further Fianna Fáil councillor Audrey Buckley and Dr. Gareth McGovern, who specialises in addiction treatment at the Priority Medical Clinic in Dundrum.

The air base in Qatar is the Middle East's largest US base with around 10,000 troops living there. It's the first move by the Iranians after the US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities at the weekend. For more Ali Vales, who is the director of the Iran Project at the International Crisis Group.

The 16-year-study at University College London suggests a positive outlook could significantly protect against memory loss as we reach middle age. For more on this Prof. Ian Robertson of Trinity College Dublin and author of How Confidence works.

Fingal County Council has issued an enforcement notice..to the operators of Dublin Airport, for breaching the cap of 32 million passengers a year. For more on this Gerry McDermott, Head of Communications at Fingal County Council.

It's one of the hottest days of the year and a busy weekend of sport and live entertainment. Thousands are heading East for the first of Zac Bryan's concerts this evening, while thousands more headed West to cool off by the Wild Atlantic. Drivetime's John Cooke took to the roads and beach in Co Clare.

An Coimisiún Pleanála has refused permission for a service station to be redeveloped at the site where ten people lost their lives in Creeslough, Co Donegal, more than two years ago. Cormac spoke with Donna Harper, whose daughter Leona was killed in the explosion, at the age of just 14.

Foreign ministers from the UK, France and Germany, with the EU's foreign policy chief, have opened talks in Geneva today with their Iranian counter-part, Abbas Araqchi. For more on this Gideon Levy, Columnist with the Haaretz newspaper; Chris Weafer Chief Executive of 'Macro-Advisory', Eurasia based Business Consulting firm.

As the world keeps guessing whether the US president will intervene against Iran, Donald Trump has said "nobody knows" what he will do. For more on this Jennifer Ewing is spokesperson for Republicans Overseas UK.

SIPTU representatives have called for urgent meetings with Bus Éireann over increased incidents of anti-social behaviour on one of its Limerick City services resulting in serious damage to buses and endangerment to workers in recent days. Drivetime's John Cooke tells us more.

CHI appeared before the Oireachtas health committee today and addressed the hip surgeries and a number of other problems. For more on this Padraig Rice is Chair of the Oireachtas Health Committee, and Social Democrat TD for Cork South-Central.

Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders has sent an open letter to EU leaders and the European Commission urging them to act decisively with regard to Israel in order to lift the siege of Gaza. Christopher Lockyear, the Secretary General of MSF Gaza joined Sarah.

Fine Gael today launched its vision for Dublin city with the objective of rejuvenating the city. Among the measures proposed is the introduction of a tourist levy of 5% to collect more funding for the city to discuss this James Geoghean, Fine Gael's spokesperson for Dublin & Paul Gallagher, chief executive with the Irish Hotels Federation.

A social enterprise that focuses on helping people grow their own food is calling on the government to support a national roll out of a Grow at School programme. Grow It Yourself Ireland says teaching children where food comes from and how to grow it, builds lifelong habits that support health and climate resilience. Our reporter Una Kelly has more

Overnight Israel hit two Iranian centrifuge production sites - the UN's nuclear watchdog said while Iran said it targeted Israel with a hypersonic missile. To discuss this Tara Kangarlou, global affairs journalist and author of The Heartbeat of Iran and Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University.

Executives from the Health Information and Quality Authority, or HIQA, were before the Oireachtas Health Committee today, addressing a number of serious issues raised in the recent RTÉ Investigates programme. To discuss this Martin Daly, Fianna Fáil TD for Roscommon-Galway & Marie Sherlock, Labour Party TD for Dublin Central.

For more on this Fawaz Gerges, Professor of International Relations at the London School of Economics; Errol Morkoc, American Political Strategist & Spokesman for US Republicans Overseas.

According to a study published today by the Anti-Bullying Centre at Dublin City University, bans will have little or no impact on education and online bullying among students. To discuss this Dr. Megan Reynolds, Anti-Bullying Centre at DCU & Prof. Matthew Sadlier, Consultant Psychiatrist & Vice President of the Irish Medican Organisation.

New research challenges the long-held hydration myth of at drinking at least eight glasses a day. Experts now advise a more nuanced approach to fluid intake to combat the warmer weather. For more on this Registered Dietician Orla Walsh.

A protest about the housing crisis took place today at the gates of Leinster House. Our reporter Una Kelly was there.

Cabinet today approved the purchase of the CityWest Hotel in Dublin for 148 million euro. To discuss this Paul Gogarty is an Independent TD for Dublin Mid-West and Fiona Hurley, the CEO of Nasc.