This Week

Lucy Fisher, Financial Times.

Foreign Affairs and Defence Minister Helen McEntee.

Professor Michael Barry, Director of the NCPE.

Sister Helen Prejean, leading US anti-death penalty activist.

Jason Burke, Israel Correspondent for The Guardian.

President Donald Trump says the outline of a peace deal, will be signed today. However, Iran declared today that the regime's decision on the framework agreement is still what it termed "under review." Paul was joined by Sebastian Usher, the BBC's Global Affairs Correspondent and Ed Burke who is Assistant Professor in the History of War at UCD.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is fiercely proud of his Irish heritage, is in Mayo today to visit his family home place. He met President Connolly earlier this morning. Our Political Correspondent Micheal Lehane joined us in studio to tell us more. Our reporter Teresa Mannion was in Mayo as locals and relatives came out to greet Carney.

Our reporter Eithne Dodd went to Belfast to speak to members of the migrant community in the aftermath of riots that took place earlier this week. Paul was joined by Patricia MacBride, who is a former Victims Commissioner in Northern Ireland and is now a colmnist with the Irish News to tell us more.

UNICEF is calling for safe and unfettered access to deliver humanitarian operations. It comes as the Israel Defence Forces increase their control of the Strip to beyond 60% of the coastal enclave. Paul was joined by UNICEF's Communication Officer Salim Oweis who has recently returned from Gaza to Jordan.

Paul was joined by Bel Trew, who is the Chief International Correspondent with the Independent to give more details on the certainty of the deal.

On Friday it was confirmed that the final fight of Katie Taylor's boxing career will take place at Croke Park in Dublin in September. It's the first time that boxing has taken place at GAA HQ since Muhammad Ali fought Alvin "Blue" Lewis all the way back in 1972. Paul was joined in studio by Peter McKenna, who is the Croke Park Stadium Director.

Tomorrow is the deadline set by Health Minister Jennifer Carroll-MacNeill for the Rotunda Maternity Hospital to provide the HSE with an audit of the private work being carried out by consultants on public-only contracts. Paul was joined by David Cullinane, Sinn Féin's health spokesperson and one of the party's two TDs in Waterford.

A 36-year-old man was jailed for over 30 years by the Belfast Crown Court this week for the murder of his partner, Natalie McNally, in December 2022. Since 2020, 30 women have been violently killed in Northern Ireland. Paul was joined by Karen Devlin, Membership Services & Support Officer with Women's Aid Federation of Northern Ireland.

The US / Israeli war on Iran is entering its 100th day without any clear sign as to how it will be resolved. The Strait of Hormuz is still blocked, and there's been sporadic US bombing runs and Iranian retaliatory drone strikes. To assess the likelihood of any breakthrough, Paul was joined by David Blevins, US Correspondent of Sky News .

The Taoiseach was in Montenegro this week, the Adriatic nation of just 630,000 people, which is set to become the EU's 28th Member State. Negotiations on its accession are due to be completed during Ireland's 6-month Presidency of the EU, which begins on July 1st. Paul was joined by journalist, historian and author Misha Glenny.

Health experts are raising concerns about the use of 'snus.' These nicotine-filled products are rising in popularity among young people. Because they are tobacco-free, they can be sold in Ireland without any of the restrictions placed on similar products such as cigarettes and vapes. RTÉ reporter Eithne Dodd has been finding out more.

The World Cup kicks-off on Thursday, with co-host nation Mexico playing South Africa in Mexico City. But the football hasn't been the only thing garnering headlines, with controversy about changes to the game, pricing and security. Paul was joined for a breakdown by Miguel Delaney, author and Chief Football Writer at The Independent.

UNIFIL Batallion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel, Mark Lennon talks to This Week as more than 160 Irish peacekeepers from the 127th Infantry Battalion returned home, following a gruelling 6-month tour of duty in southern Lebanon. Followed by Beirut by Correspondent Jim Muir for the latest on what's happening in Lebanon.

As the US and Israeli war on Iran approaches its 100th day, tentative negotiations continue on a draft memorandum of understanding on a possible peace deal. For an update, we're joined by Gregg Carlstrom, who is the Financial Times Middle East Correspondent

To discuss Ireland's priorities for the EU Presidency, and more, we'll shortly hear from the Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne. Followed by Tony Connelly, RTE's Europe Editor.

"An Siopa Beag" is a volunteer run shop working to support the local community of Carrigaholt, reporter Peter O'Connell has more.

The Social Democrats triumphed in the Dublin Central bye-election, with Daniel Ennis winning the seat vacated by Fine Gael's Paschal Donohoe. Meanwhile, in the Galway West constituency, Fine Gael's Seán Kyne is still battling Independent Ireland's Noel Thomas for the seat. RTÉ Western Correspondent Pat McGrath joined Paul with the latest.

Enterprise Minister and Fine Gael director of elections for Galway West Peter Burke joined Paul to talk about recent lay-offs in the tech sector and the bye-election.

Fiosrú, the office of the police ombudsman, is the statutory body which deals with complaints from members of the public and the Gardai about the Gardaí. Police Ombudsman Emily Logan joined Paul ahead of the publishing of the body's first annual report next week.

Hundreds of people turned up at Dublin Airport yesterday to welcome home eleven Irish citizens detained by the Israeli military when their Gaza Sumud Flotilla was intercepted in international waters. Colm Byrne, who skippered the vessel the Don Juan, joined Paul to describe the ship being intercepted and his subsequent detainment by the IDF.

There's increasing concern over a deadly outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Uganda also has confirmed cases, and the African Centre for Disease control says 10 other nations are at risk. Paul was joined by Emmet Livingstone, who's a journalist in Kinshasa, DRC.

Returning to the weekend bye-elections, Paul was joined by RTÉ Political Correspondent Barry Lenihan to discuss the latest count tallies, and what the results spell for the government parties and the opposition.

Fianna Fáil held its Ard Fheis in Dublin this weekend as the party marks its centenary year. Micheal Martin has been the party leader for the past 15 years. He joined Paul to discuss what Fianna Fáil stood for in 2026.

Around 80,000 people participated in events last weekend in the annual Darkness Into Light to raise funds for suicide prevention services. However, Pieta House says there's been a decrease in income in recent years that triggered a restructuring process last year. Paul was joined by the Chief Executive of Pieta House, Stephanie Manahan.

The British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has endured a rollercoaster of a week, with his ongoing tenure in Downing Street now an open question. Paul was joined by political analyst and Talk TV Presenter Peter Cardwell.

In 2024, it became illegal to sell, exchange, transport or breed more than 30 non-native plant-types in Ireland under both Irish and EU law because they are deemed to be invasive. However, some of these plants are still being sold here. RTÉ's Eithne Dodd reported on the matter.

The World Health Organisation has declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda as a "public health emergency of international concern." This particular strain of Ebola has no approved therapeutics or vaccines. For more Paul was joined by Professor Kingston Mills, immunologist at Trinity College Dublin.

Two Irish citizens have been evacuated from a cruise ship in Tenerife and are scheduled to be repatriated home on the Government jet after health checks. Both passengers are currently asymptomatic and will be transferred to an HSE isolation facility for monitoring. From Tenerife, we were joined by journalist Cliodna O'Flynn with the latest.

The Government has a recurring problem with budgetary overruns. Last year, overspending amounted to €4.1 billion. Already this year Education needs an extra 646m, while the HSE is 250m over for the first three months of the year. Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Jack Chambers joined Paul now in studio to discuss the way forward.

Last year An Coimisiún Toghcháin, the independent electoral commission, published an 'Oversight Report on the Electoral Registers.' The 190-page document was billed as the beginning of the end of Ireland's dodgy electoral register. To get an update on the task, Paul was joined in studio by the Commission's Chief Executive Art O'Leary.

The twin bye-elections in the Dublin Central and Galway West constituencies take place on May 22nd. Today RTÉ Western Correspondent Pat McGrath and RTÉ reporter Ethne Dodd joined us to give the lie of the land in Galway West.

A wildlife rescue centre in Kildare is calling for the creation of a nationwide service, with multi-annual funding. Kildare Wildlife Rescue opened just four years ago and is heavily reliant on volunteers and donations for its conservation work. RTÉ reporter Eithne Dodd joined a shift, as volunteers rescued wildlife and brought them to the centre.

A ceasefire is supposed to be in place in Ukraine and Russia, with US President Donald Trump hoping it can be extended and end the four year old war. However, Ukrainian officials say that at least three people have been killed over the past 24-hours by Russian drone strikes. Paul was joined by Emmanuelle Chaze from Kharkiv for the latest.

Irish activists, whose vessels were boarded by the Israeli navy on Wednesday, in international waters off the Greek island of Crete, returned home last night. Martin Guilfoyle was on the vessel Kafr Birim skippered by Dubliner Colm Byrne

Controversial legislation heads to the Seanad on Wednesday, on a topic which has already triggered rancorous debates in the Dáil and even Supreme Court challenges. For more we speak to Pat Leahy, Political Editor with the Irish Times.

The Central Bank of Ireland is now targeting illegal financial promotions on social media, in a bid to protect Irish consumers. To discuss this we speak to Peter Gallagher, who is the Bank's Head of Enforcement, Market Abuse and Oversight.

RTEs Eastern Correspondent Samantha Libreri joins Paul in studio to have a look at both the candidates and the issues in the constituency.