RTÉ - Drivetime

Earlier this week, Tánaiste Simon Harris said Ireland's asylum seeker system is not working, and Government should reconsider its existing policies in a "very serious way". The comments were heavily criticised by some opposition parties.

Pat Dennigan, Chief Executive, Focus Ireland, reacts to figures released by the Department of Housing which show a total of 16,614 people living in emergency accommodation in September, an increase of 261 from the previous month.

Former Kilkenny hurler, DJ Carey has been told he faces an inevitable prison sentence for defrauding people by falsely claiming he needed money for cancer treatment. In court for us today was RTÉ Prime Time's Paul Murphy.

The Central Bank reports that the average premium jumped 9% last year to €623, driven by rising repair costs and legal fees.

From our reporter Una Kelly, live from Derry

After two and a half years of fighting, the city of El Fasher in Darfur has fallen to the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces, leaving tens of thousands trapped and reports of mass violence emerging. Sheldon Yett is spokesperson for UNICEF.

A BBC investigation has found that illegal teeth-whitening treatments that can burn gums and destroy teeth are being handed over in car parks and on doorsteps. For more on this Dr Rory Boyd, Vice President of the Irish Dental Association.

Tánaiste Simon Harris has said Ireland's asylum seeker system is not working, and Government should reconsider its policies "in a very serious way. To discuss this Matt Carthy, Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration and Paula Butterly, Fine Gael TD for Louth and Vice-Chair of the Oireachtas Justice Committee.

For some tips on staying safe this Halloween Alan Keane, Garda Community Engagement Bureau and Greg O Dwyer, Chief Fire Officer with Dublin Fire Brigade.

Thalidomide was prescribed to pregnant mothers in the 50s & 60s as an anti-morning sickness drug but was later pulled because of links to birth defects. Last year, Simon Harris announced an enhanced health package for survivors. For more on this Finola Cassidy spokesperson for the Irish Thalidomide Association who was part of that meeting.

On the 24th of September 31 year old Miguel García-Hernández was shot at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Dallas when a gunman opened fire outside the ICE field office. He leaves behind five children, including a newborn who was born just days after he died. Claire spoke to Miguel's widow, Stephany Gauffeny.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland has announced a number of increases to tolls across the national road network from the 1st of January next year. For more on this Brian Caulfield, Professor of Transportation at Trinity, Pa Daly, Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Climate, Energy and Transport & Michael Murphy, Chair of the Oireachtas Transport Committee

RTÉ's 2024 Annual Report has today been published. It shows a €4 million drop in licence fee income last year, a €5.5 million surplus, and higher costs from major events. RTÉ Director-General Kevin Bakhurst joined Claire for some feedback on the report.

According to research commissioned by insurance firm Royal London Ireland majority of people say that children should start receiving pocket money from the age of nine – but others reckon this is too early. To discuss this Joanna Fortune, Psychotherapist and author.

The Israeli military said that it had resumed enforcing the Gaza ceasefire agreement but this comes after at least 100 people were killed in series of strikes, launched by Israeli planes. For more on this Oliver McTernan founder & co-director of Forward Thinking. Oliver worked on conflict resolution and mediation in the Middle East and elsewhere.

We hear from meteorologist Matthew Cappucci, Jim Brennan & Kristina Ruggiero - a New York couple honeymooning in Jamaica are now stranded as Hurricane Melissa. Stevroy Steer runs a law firm here in Dublin but is back in Jamaica and John Sweeney , Climatologist at NUI Maynooth.

Data centres should be helped the least in the event of future power shortages, according to a poll from environmental advocacy organisation Friends of the Earth. For more on this Rosi Leonard, Data Centre Campaigner at Friends of the Earth and Alan O'Reilly // Customer Experience Manager for Blacknight.

Lisa Walsh, a member of the Endometriosis Advisory Taskforce within the Department of Health, will be travelling to Greece in just a few days' time for specialist surgery, after a decade of living with severe pain associated with the disease.

Many newer cars have superbright headlights , and this is leading to calls for a review in the UK . Could it and should it happen here too? To discuss this Geraldine Herbert, Motoring editor with Independent.ie.

Critism is growing of Fianna Fáil leadership following the presidential election. For more Barry Lenihan speaks to Minister Mary Butler of Fianna Fáil

Fiana Fáil are not the only party with questions to answer after election defeat. Joining Barry Lenihan to discuss the state of the party is Brian Brennan, TD for Wicklow-Wexford

Dogs aren't just for Christmas, here now to talk about the benefits of introducing one into your life is journalist Mary McCarthy

Mark Murphy, Senior Policy Manager with the Irish Heart Foundation; Dr Garrett McGovern, Medical Director and Addiction Specialist at the Priority Medical Clinic.

Bill Browder, Founder & CEO of Hermitage Capital, prominent Putin-critic, and Head of the Global Magnitsky Justice Campaign; Lisa Yasko, Ukrainian MP

Jamil Sawalmeh, Country Director of ActionAid Palestine

Alexander Boecker, MD of Boecker

Fionnuala Moran, Sustainability Influencer and Broadcaster

Gardai and the Emergency Services are encouraging everyone to stay safe on our roads. Reporter John Cooke has been meeting some of those on the front line in Galway.

The European Commission has issued preliminary findings that both TikTok and Meta are in breach of transparency rules. Brian O'Donovan, our Work and Technology Correspondent tells us more.

Gardai say they believe a further protest is planned for Citywest tonight. For more on second night of disturbances at the Citywest accommodation centre, Detective Garda Niall Hodgins, Vice-President of the Garda Representative Association and Chief Commissioner at the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Liam Herrick.

A former British paratrooper was found not guilty of two murders and five attempted murders on Bloody Sunday in Derry in January of 1972. To discuss this, we hear from author and journalist Aoife Moore, whose uncle Patrick Doherty was shot dead on Bloody Sunday, and Daniel Holder, Director of the Committee on the Administration of Justice.

Presidential contenders are making their final pitches tonight with polling stations opening at seven o'clock in the morning. Here's the latest from our reporter Barry Lenihan.

With Halloween just days away, Ireland's health regulator CORU has issued a stark warning. Those spooky “cat's eyes” or “vampire lenses” might look good for one night, but they could leave you with lasting eye damage, or even blindness. Declan Hovenden, member of the Optical Registration Board & Head of Optometry at TU Dublin, explains.

Under the deal, Ukraine would only repay the loan once Russia makes war reparations. It comes as EU countries have formally adopted the 19th package of sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. Minister of State for European Affairs & Defence Thomas Byrne, and Chris Weafer, Chief Executive of Macro-Advisory, discuss.

Children's minister Norma Foley has asked Tusla's national review panel to urgently examine the circumstances around how a 10-year-old girl in the care of Tusla was allegedly sexually assaulted. Cormac spoke to Helen Buckley, National Review Panel Chair.

The protest began after a man had appeared in court, charged with the sexual assault of a girl two days ago. For reaction Independent TD Paul Gogarty, who represents the area and Ciaran O' Connor- Senior Analyst at Institute for Strategic Dialogue.

An Irish man who was abducted and threatened with death while travelling in Tanzania. Dan MacCarthy was held hostage by five men in Dar es Salaam last Thursday morning after a bogus taxi collected him to bring him to the airport in the early morning. Dan is now home safe and sound in Ireland, he spoke with Cormac.

"Nobody's Girl", by Virginia Giuffre, one of the most prominent voices in the Jeffrey Epstein case is now out. In the book - Giuffre, lays bare her story of abuse, trafficking, and power without consequence. Cormac was joined by Mary Fitilchyan, an attorney with The Bloom Firm in Los Angeles, which has represented several Epstein survivors.

Several Chinese-made fireworks have been described as resembling small missiles, with the potential for serious injury. For more on this Ralph Reigel,Southern Correspondent with the Irish Independent and Claire Corridan, vet and animal behaviour and welfare expert, with Veterinary Ireland.

Cabinet heard yesterday how several councils made no compulsory purchase orders of homes or sites, in 2023 or 2024. For more on this Minister of State in the Department of Housing, with responsibility for Planning and Local Government and Fine Gael TD for Waterford.

Candidates are preparing for tonight's final televised debate of the Presidential Election - a showpiece which often provides huge moments in Presidential campaigns. For the latest Reporter Barry Lenihan and Gail McElroy, Professor of Political Science at Trinity College Dublin.

12 of the bodies were recovered from rubble, and 45 were killed by "direct targeting" by Israel. It comes as the World Food Programme say that not enough aid is getting into Gaza due to the closures of the Rafah crossing. For the latest from Gaza Jacob Granger, Emergency Coordinator with Doctors Without Borders in Al Mawasi in Gaza.