Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Drivetime

A new recruitment campaign aimed at hiring 300 new prison officers in full-time positions has gotten under way. With Donna Craven, Director of Corporate Service and IT with the Irish Prison Service.

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With the boom in food delivery companies ever since the pandemic, the takeaway sector has been booming. But how recyclable are the container, wrapping, bag and cutlery that you might be using? Pat Kane, sustainability advocate and founder of Reuzi.ie

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The tiger mosquito continues its way north in Europe. In France in the year 2022 there were more cases of mosquito borne diseases than in the previous 20 years combined. For more on this Prof Gerry Killeen, acting research chair in Applied Pathogen Ecology at UCC, but first we're joined by longterm Paris resident Ciaran O'Hagan.

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That's the warning from the ICMSA, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, today. They warn that the increasing costs of producing food are here to stay so costs will remain high. For more President of the ICMSA, Denis Drennan & Oliver Browne, lecturer in the Accounting at University College Cork who has been taking a look at the numbers.

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Tánaiste Simon Harris has told a trade forum that US tariffs of 10% on exports from Ireland will be the "new normal". To discuss the implications Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke.

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One Government TD says the Coalition must urgently review a State compensation scheme for affected families. The CEO of the HSE Bernard Gloster earlier refused to be drawn on the review's publication date. Reporter Barry Lenihan has more.

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If you’re not a fan of Dad jokes but your Father is, don’t worry, scientists have found its unlikely you’ll inherit his sense of humour. A new study has found that unlike eye colour or intelligence, humour doesn’t run in the family. To tell us more Eric Lalor, Comedian, Actor and Co-host of the You Must Be Jokin’ podcast.

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Women who are suffering from the side-effects of vaginal mesh implants have been meeting TDs today to highlight their concerns about the possible reintroduction of the surgery in Ireland, after it was paused in 2018.. Reporter Una Kelly tells us more.

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Parents of primary school children are also being warned that they face a hike in so-called "voluntary contributions"or an increase in fund raising requests. To discuss this Lorriane Kennedy Principal and Teacher in Ramsgrange National School, in Wexford and Seamus Mulconry General Secretary of the Catholic Primary School Management Association.

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Donald Trump's sweeping tax and spending legislation - his so-called Big Beautiful Bill - has passed a key hurdle in the past hour, but it required a casting vote by Vice President JD Vance in the Senate. Elon Musk says it will add trillions of dollars to US national debt. For more on this Greg Swenson from Republicans Abroad

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The widow of a motorcyclist who died after being hit by a disqualified driver is appealing for longer sentences to be imposed for dangerous driving causing death. 54-year old Maurice Feehily was fatally struck by a van driven by Daniel Phillips in 2020, who was jailed for five years and nine months in March. For more on this reporter Barry Lenihan

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A severe shortage of GPs in a number of areas of the country has been highlighted in a new report, analysing the supply and the growing demand for family doctors. To discuss this Dr Liam Glynn, Professor of General Practice at the University of Limerick, also a rural GP & Denis McAuley, GP & former President of the Irish Medical Organisation.

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With Alan Corr, RTÉ entertainment journalist

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Higher Education Minister James Lawless said over the weekend that “as it stands”, the universal cut to college fees for all undergraduate students in Ireland will not be replicated in this year’s Budget. Labour senator and Further and higher Education Spokesperson, Laura Harmon.

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Israel has carried out a wave of strikes on Gaza, as Palestinians in the North of the enclave reported one of the worst nights of Israeli bombardment in weeks. For the latest Leila Molana- Allen Special Correspondent with PBS Newshour.

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The Irish Small Enterprise Association has criticised Government proposals to raise personal injury awards by 17%. To discuss this Neil McDonnell, chief executive of ISME and Stuart Gilhooly, a solicitor specialising in personal injury cases and past President of the Law Society

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James Lawless Minister for further and Higher Education.

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

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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.

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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,

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

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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.

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Mayo GAA has come under criticism for the tone and the way they parted ways with manager Kevin McStay. Last night, the County Board released a statement saying they had '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.

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Is Europe loosing its optimism as tariffs negotiation deadline with the US looms? With Dr Eoin Drea, Senior Researcher in the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies in Brussels.

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"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.

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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.

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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.

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

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

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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.

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It’s described as the ticking timebomb of the housing crisis, as 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 has been meeting some of those affected.

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

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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.

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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.

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Amid US accusations of Irish anti-semitism, could the the Occupied Territories Bill do more harm than good? With Conor O'Neill, Head of Policy, Christian Aid, on behalf of the "Campaign to Pass the Occupied Territories Bill" and Dan Mulhall, former Irish Ambassador to the US.

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You will have heard by now that outburst from US President Donald Trump, lashing out at both Israel and Iran. After a lot of confusion overnight and this morning a fragile ceasefire is in place between the two countries, and some hope is now being offered that negotiations could take place. For more on this, 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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Generation Z's long-held reputation for abstinence and being anti-alcohol might not be as accurate as we thought. A new survey of more than 26,000 people across 15 countries shows an increase in young people's drinking. Richard Halstead is Head of Consumer Research at IWSR, which carries out consumer research on alcohol trends.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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