RTÉ - Drivetime

Day of high political drama has ended with former Dublin football manager Jim Gavin as Fianna Fail's candidate for next month's Presidential Election. Barry Lenihan was in Leinster House for some party reaction to today's vote.

Three confirmed candidates for the presidential election with former Dublin GAA boss Jim Gavin getting the nod from the Fianna Fáil party. For more on this Mary Regan, political editor with the Irish Independent, Paul McAuliffe, Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin North West and Derek Mooney, Public Affairs Consultant & former Fianna Fáil Government Adviser.

A fifth of children in poverty according to the ERSI stats released today. Claire speaks to Sinn Fein's Finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty on how to reverse the trend.

Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder can be caused by alcohol consumption by fathers prior to conception, not just mothers drinking during pregnancy? It's all in a new report being launched by researchers at the Royal College of Surgeons this evening to mark FASD Awareness Day. John Cooke reports.

Tomorrow marks World Suicide Prevention Day... and charity Pieta House is launching its No More Silence campaign, urging people to talk about suicide. The CEO of Pieta House is Stephanie Manahan she spoke to Claire.

Former General Secretary of AGSI, the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors Antoinette Cunningham became the victim of what a judge yesterday called "vile social media attacks" Yesterday, a 38 year old man was jailed for those attacks. Antoinette spoke to Cormac about the risks of being in the public eye.

Former weather presenter and meteorologist Joanna Donnelly has withdrawn from the Presidential election. And as we reach the 5pm FF deadline for presidential nominations, we hear criticism from within the party about how former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has been treated. Reporter Barry Lenihan has the latest.

A mother with young children lives next door to the workplace of a man who has been convicted for possession of child sex abuse images. The business directly overlooks her back garden. She is now calling for stronger safeguarding policies for companies where convicted child sex offenders are employed. Una Kelly spoke with her.

Modular apartment units went on public display in Limerick this afternoon as part of a proposal to speed up the delivery of affordable rental homes in the city. Our reporter John Cooke was there.

Irish cyberpsychologist Dr Nicola Fox Hamilton is warning that banning smartphones for teenagers could do more harm than good arguing that the real issues behind rising youth mental health problems are far more complex. Instead of bans parents should focus on guidance, resilience, and open conversations. To explain more is Dr Nicola Fox Hamilton.

The Irish Association of Social Workers, the body representing social workers in both the public and private sector - has now called for a statutory review to be carried out into the case. To discuss this Caroline Strong, Chief Operations Officer with the Irish Association of Social Workers and Aidan Farrelly, Social Democrats.

House prices in New Zealand are falling sharply, with drops of up to 30% in cities like Wellington and Auckland. While Ireland's housing market remains tight, might the New Zealand property landscape offer hope that could bring similar relief here? For more on this Kelvin Davidson Chief Property Economist at Cotality NZ.

A major project to investigate false memories which is led by University College Cork has today received significant EU funding. To tell us all about it Dr Gillian Murphy, Senior Lecturer in Applied Psychology at UCC.

Ireland's First Wheelchair Accessible Outdoor Pre-School Facility opened this week in the village of Straide, in Co. Mayo. Drivetimes reporter John Cooke went back to a new school with a difference .

The Minister of State with Responsibility for Disability outlines the new five-year strategy that aims to provide better accessibility for disabled people.

Ahmed Kamal Junina, Assistant Professor of Applied Linguistics and Head of the English Department at Al-Aq-sa University in Gaza and a Fellow at Bristol University, speaks to Drivetime about the daily struggle in Gaza.

A number of twelve-year-olds in Greystones, Co. Wicklow, remain without a secondary school place over a week since the term started. Barry Lenihan reports.

China's leader Xi Jinping held an enormous parade of new weaponry while hosting Vladimir Putin of Russia, and Kim Jong Un of North Korea. Finbarr Bermingham, Europe Correspondent with the South China Morning Post, gives us the mood from China.

A new report reveals a dramatic surge in AI chatbot use among 8-15 year-olds, with more than a quarter of primary school children now engaging with the technology without adequate safeguards. For more on this Eoghan Cleary - Secondary School teacher and Online Safety Expert.

One in five candidates, who responded to a Coimisún na Meán study - were the subject of online attacks in last year's local and general elections. To discuss this Ciaran Cannon former Fine Gael Galway East TD &Senator and Janet Horner, Green Party member of Dublin City Council.

The date for the Presidential election is expected to be confirmed tomorrow as Friday the 24th of October. Former Met Eireann meteorologist, Joanna Donnelly has announced she will be putting her name forward.

A Belfast priest has spoken about the unfairness of excluding Irish citizens in Northern Ireland from voting in the upcoming Presidential election. Parish priest of St Mary's Parish in Belfast, Fr Timothy Bartlett spoke to Sarah.

A 6.0 quake hit the Kunar area in Afghanistan on Sunday has destroyed entire villages. A second earthquake struck south-eastern Afghanistan today.. prompting fears of further damage and destruction. For more on this Dr Abdul Qayum Popal from Medicins Sans Frontieres.

Former GAA President Sean Kelly has withdrawn his candidacy for the Fine Gael Presidential Nomination - paving the way for Heather Humphreys to represent the party in next month's election. Our reporter Barry Lenihan gives us the latest.

At the US tennis open at Flushing Meadows, chaos is part of the charm,screeching New York subways, raucous crowds, celebrity sightings. But now, a different distraction is wafting in - the unmistakable scent of cannabis. Dr. Ray Walley, GP and Associate Professor of General Practice at the UCD School of Medicine spoke about his concerns.

A man was left with serious injuries following an assault in Dublin City Centre early yesterday morning. This follows a spate of recent attacks and stabbings in and around Dublin City Centre. To discuss safety in Dublin, Gary Gannon, Social Democrat TD for Dublin Central and I'm also joined by James Geoghegan, Fine Gael TD for Dublin Bay South.

The Central Bank of Ireland's role in approving Israeli bonds has ended today, with Luxembourg now the authorised state for the marketing of those bonds in Europe. For more on this Sinn Féin's Finance Spokesperson Pearse Doherty, TD for Donegal.

Sláintecare reforms are today being linked to rising health insurance costs. As more consultants move to public-only contracts, fewer insured patients are treated in public hospitals. To discuss this Dr Brian Turner is a Health Economist with Cork University Business School.

Jim Gavin is expected to formally announce his intention to seek the Fianna Fail nomination for the Presidential Election over the coming days, with the backing of the Taoiseach. However, some Government ministers are expected to instead vote for MEP Billy Kelleher. Meanwhile, former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is also wading in.

School secretaries and caretakers are continuing their strike action today, over their demands for public sector pensions and other entitlements.

Amjad Shawa, Director of the Palestinian NGO Network

The UN peacekeeping operation in Lebanon, which Irish troops have been involved in for decades, is set to come to an end in two years. The resolution, passed yesterday, ensured that the Unifil mandate would end in December 2026 followed by a year-long withdrawal. Andrea Tenenti is the Spokesperson for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.

World-famous movie score composer John Williams has made the astonishing revelation that he has never liked film music very much. We hear from conductor and composer Eímear Noone.

Irish woman Gena Heraty and all those abducted with her have been released following their kidnapping in Haiti earlier this month. Her family confirmed the news earlier and thanked Tánaiste Simon Harris and his team at the Department of Foreign Affairs, including Irish Ambassador to the US Geraldine Byrne Nason, for their support.

The montly homelessness figures are due to be published tomorrow, they are expected to show child homelessness has reached the milstone of over 5,000. Childrens' Charity Barnardos are saying that 1 in 5 of the children it supports are living in unsuitable accommodation. For more on this Stephen Moffatt is National Policy Manager at Barnardos.

The Ukranian authorities have been giving an update on last night's attacks by Russia, when 598 drones and 31 missiles were fired into Ukraine. They said 19 people are now confirmed killed- including four children. For the latest MP Oleksiy Goncharenko and member of the Ukrainian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Christine Campbell mother of innocent murder victim Anthony Campbell is calling on the new Garda Commissioner to initiate a cold case review into the unsolved 2006 killing. The 20-year old apprentice plumber was shot dead as he worked in a house where crime boss Marlo Hyland was assassinated in his bed. Reporter Barry Lenihan spoke with Christine.

Celebrety Chef Jamie Oliver has revealed he's had only three or four hours of sleep a night for a decade, highlighting a dangerous trend among overachievers. Is sacrificing rest for ambition a badge of honour, or a serious health risk? Dr Jayne Carberry, assistant professor in the school of medicine at University College Dublin tells us more.

A new dig is taking place in Co Monaghan to search for the remains of Tyrone teenager, Columba McVeigh. The 19-year-old was abducted by the Provisional IRA, killed and secretly buried in 1975. Sarah spoke to Eamonn Henry, Lead Investigator with the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains and Columba's brother, Oliver McVeigh.

Childcare availability figures show up to 40,000 children are on crèche waiting lists nationwide. New research published today shows majority of parents say childcare accessibility impacts their ability to work. Reporter Una Kelly spoke to some parents. We also hear from Laura Bambrick, head of social policy at the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.

The CAO first round offers are out this afternoon with points up in almost half of all degree courses. Some students will miss out on their top choice of college course this year, despite receiving the maximum grades available. For some advice Sarah is joined by Kay Lynch a Guidance Counsellor with the Dublin Academy of Education.

The CAO first round offers are out this afternoon with points up in almost half of all degree courses. Some students will miss out on their top choice of college course this year, despite receiving the maximum grades available. For some advice Sarah is joined by Kay Lynch a Guidance Counsellor with the Dublin Academy of Education.