The US and Israel have commenced 'major combat operations' against Iran. Iran has responded by hitting sites in several Gulf States including Israel. Fran and Paul are joined by Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East Editor with the Economist and by Ali Vaez, Iran Project Director with the International Crisis Group to discuss the situation and to explore the possible outcome of US action and the increased threat to the global economy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Feb 28, 2026•30 min
Larry Goodman is one of Ireland's richest men, with a business empire that stretches from beef to healthcare and property. A new two part TV documentary 'Goodman - Too Big to Fail' looks at how his business collapsed two governments and brought in the era of tribunals. Ella McSweeney and Ciarán Cassidy share insights from the documentary. Later, Arts and Media correspondant, Evelyn O'Rourke joins Fran and Maggie to discuss the decline in interest in arts degrees and asks if we need 'STEAM' as we...
Feb 27, 2026•33 min
The government published the country's first maritime strategy today, but what's in it? and do we have the money to pay for it? Former Army Ranger and TD, Dr Cathal Berry joins Fran and Paul to tease out the plan. Later, RTÉ's Brian O'Donovan discusses the possibility that Stripe - the payment firm may buy PayPal, which would be a significant move for the Collison Brothers from Limerick, who own Stripe. And, Punch the monkey gets a mention! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Feb 25, 2026•31 min
As the 4th anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine approaches, Professor Donnacha Ó' Beacháin joins Fran and Laura to discuss the situation now. A planned European Union loan of €90bn for Ukraine has been blocked by Hungary so what needs to happen to support the country in the future? Later, Fran takes a look at a special project at the University of Limerick where Irish, Ukrainian and EU students are making plans to help with the reconstruction of Kharkiv and other cities in the war torn co...
Feb 23, 2026•36 min
Following the arrest and release of Andrew Mountbatten Windsor by Thames Police, the story continues to dominate world headlines. Historian and author of 'Entitled', Andrew Lownie joins Fran and Maggie to discuss the unprecedented nature of the arrest and his research into the former Prince's activities as a trade envoy. Fran and Maggie also reveal the story behind the photo that was taken of Andrew's release and how Reuters' photographer Phil Noble got the shot that was flashed across the world...
Feb 20, 2026•30 min
Richard Browne, the Director of the National Cyber Security Centre joined Fran and Paul for a deep dive into the cyber risks facing the country. AI is acclerating the number of attacks globally and even the National Cyber Risk Assessment document, published in December is already out of date in parts. Richard explains the type of threats that are evolving and how some nation states are actively involved in espionage and attacks on critical infrastructure. Closer to home, Richard explains that th...
Feb 18, 2026•38 min
"I have a lift, bye'... the last words of Jo Jo Dullard in 1995 before she went missing. Gardaí declared her case a murder investigation in 2020. Deirdre Jacob went missing in 1998, her case was upgraded to a murder enquiry in 2018. Today, a new search began in a quarry in Co Wicklow, it is the first time both cases have been linked by the authorities. Crime journalist and author Barry Cummins joins Fran and Maggie to explain the new developments which led to today's search. Later, Fran and Magg...
Feb 16, 2026•31 min
An agreement between the OPW and a charity to build a National Children's Science Centre has run aground. The OPW says it doesn't have the money and no government department wants to take responsability for it however it was revealed on Thursday that the building MUST be delivered by 2029. So what is going on? Public Affairs Correspondant with the Irish Times, Martin Wall joins Fran and and Laura to explain what's happening and why the OPW are saying there could be less flood defences if they ar...
Feb 13, 2026•30 min
Irish man Seamus Culleton who is detained by ICE in a facility in Texas went public with his story yesterday and appealed to politicians to help get him released. But would diplomacy help or hinder the situation? Former Irish Ambassador to the US, Dan Mulhall joins Fran and Paul to discuss what could be done. The duo also explain the latest developments in the review into children's spinal surgeries in CHI Temple Street. Fran and Paul tease out the latest Olympic drama off the ice, the story of ...
Feb 11, 2026•31 min
House buyers who bid on properties in open or online auctions are pushing prices up more than they can afford. Bidders in sealed auctions pay less and don't go beyond their budget. A new report by ESRI examines the behaviour of bidders in different house buying systems. Professor Pete Lunn joins Fran and Maggie to explain the research and the psychology at play when someone is bidding on a property. Later, Dr Kathryn Simpson of Keele University analyses the mounting pressure on British Prime Min...
Feb 09, 2026•30 min
As the Winter Olympics gets underway in Italy, RTE Sport's Eamon Horan joins Fran and Laura to discuss the Irish hopefuls at the games and the controversy around penis injections in ski jumping! Later, Assistant Lecturer in Global Business at TUD, Richard Woodward, discusses the ongoing ban of Russian and Belarusian athletes from international sporting competitions. FIFA and the IOC signalled this week they support lifting the ban on the two countries for future games. See omnystudio.com/listene...
Feb 06, 2026•32 min
A new survey from the University of Limerick Student Union found 60% of commuter students travelled more than one hour each way to campus during the last academic year. Commuting is having a substantial impact on students’ academic performance, financial security and wellbeing. Dervla Ryan, Diversity & Inclusion Officer at UL Students’ Union, discusses the survey – and what needs to be done to change things. Lucy Fisher of the Financial Times also joins Fran and Laura to outline the growing ...
Feb 04, 2026•27 min
A bitter row has broken out over the last week between farmer organisations and the Chair of Bord Bia, but what's it all about? Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Correspondent Aengus Cox joins Fran to explain what's going on and why he believes both sides have become entrenched in their positions. Later, Editor of Travel Extra, Eoghan Corry discusses the proposed changes to the ESTA visa waiver scheme which could affect tourists and World Cup fans travelling to the US this summer. See omnystudio....
Jan 30, 2026•33 min
The Slaney and Dodder rivers burst their banks and flooded surrounding areas following subtantial rainfall over the past few days. And while the clean up has begun, more rain in expected over the next 24 hours. Could the flooding have been predicted? and are there nature based solutions that could help prevent floods. Professor of Geography at TCD, Mary Bourke joins Fran and Karen to explain how nature could help prevent some of the worst flooding, she rules out the use of beavers, the aquatic a...
Jan 28, 2026•35 min
Officials in US President Donald Trump's administration continue to defend the fatal shooting on Saturday of a man by immigration agents in Minneapolis, even as video evidence contradicts their version of events. Alex Pretti, who worked as an intensive care nurse, is the second US citizen to be fatally shot by ICE this month in Minneapolis. Niall Stanage, White House columnist with The Hill, joins Fran and Karen from Washington DC to discuss the official response to the shooting and the uncertai...
Jan 26, 2026•26 min
As the man who murdered Dublin woman Marilyn Rynn in December 1995 is released from prison, author and crime journalist Barry Cummins details the investigation into her murder and the role DNA played in helping Gardaí identify David Lawler as her killer. Barry's been chatting to Fran and Karen about the case that gripped the country in the early days of 1996. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 23, 2026•32 min
As President Trump continues to make demands, newly minted Washington Correspondent, Jackie Fox joins Fran and Fiona to discuss the US President's extraordinary speech at Davos this afternoon. Later, the duo are joined by business correspondent Fergal O'Brien who sat in on the Ryanair press conference today. Michael O'Leary took aim at the world's richest man, Elon Musk [again] as he launched the Ryanair 'idiots seat sale, while thanking Musk for the publicity! This morning, at the health commit...
Jan 21, 2026•33 min
As US President Donald Trump issued tariff threats on 8 European countries, Fran [yes, he's back] and Karen speak to Chief Economist with the Institute of European Affairs, Dan O'Brien. The tariff threats are retaliation for the countries disagreeing with Trump's demand to own Greenland. Dan explains the impact of the previous round of tariffs and says that there's comes a time when economics needs to take a backseat when the territorial integrity of a member state is at risk. See omnystudio.com...
Jan 19, 2026•28 min
Earlier this week, it was reported that China's trade surplus has reached $1.9 trillion last year, a 20% increase on 2024. As China exports continue to grow, Agriculture and Consumer Affairs correspondent Aengus Cox joins Evelyn and Karen to discuss his recent trip to China and what it was like to be stopped by police in Shanghai. Later, reporter Julieanne Corr of the Sunday Times discusses the increasing use of ketamine in Ireland and the side effects of the drug. See omnystudio.com/listener fo...
Jan 16, 2026•36 min
Senior Gardaí appeared at the Oireachtas media committee today where they revealed they are investigated two hundred complaints about Grok AI and child abuse imagery. Work and Technology correspondent Brian O'Donovan joins Evelyn and Karen to discuss the committee hearing, which politicians are leaving X and if the authorities are playing catch up with AI developments. Later, retired architect, David O'Connor explains the history of the construction of Dublin City Council buildings and why he be...
Jan 14, 2026•35 min
Jessie Buckley won Best Actress at the Golden Globes for her performance in 'Hamnet', an adaptation of the best selling book of the same name by Coleraine born author Maggie O'Farrell. Evelyn O'Rourke and Maggie Doyle discuss the win, what it means for Irish acting talent and if this could be the start of even more awards for the actress from Killarney. Later, the duo are joined by Professor Fawaz Gerges of the London School of Economics to discuss Iran and the ongoing protests in the country. S...
Jan 12, 2026•25 min
A majority of EU States voted to pass the Mercosor trade deal with South American countries. Ireland, along with 4 other countries voted against the deal. Professor John O'Brennan of Maynooth University joins Evelyn O'Rourk to explain the deal, Ireland's position and why it's not over the line just yet. Later, Dara Tallon, producer of 'On The Beat' - the fly on the wall TV documentary following on duty Gardaí reveals the secrets of the production and what it's like to go on a drugs raid with the...
Jan 09, 2026•38 min
The Government is hoping to attract more tourists here from India, the UAE and the Asia-Pacific region as part of a new strategic investment plan of €4.7 billion across a range of sectors. Political Correspondent Mícheál Lehane joined Evelyn and Karen to outline what's in the plan and looks at the changing political mood around climate targets. Later, teacher and researcher Eoghan Cleary explains the growing concern around Grok AI's feature that 'undresses' people and the rise of so called 'nudi...
Jan 07, 2026•32 min
Ousted President Maduro was brought to court in New York this afternoon to face drugs and weapons charges. Meanwhile, it remains unclear who is really running Venezuela amidst claims by President Trump that the US is in charge. The UN Security Council is meeting in an emergency session as the American administration continues to threaten other countries including Greenland saying it needs to annex the country for 'national security' reasons. Host Karen Creed is joined by Assistant Professor in t...
Jan 05, 2026•25 min
With less than six months to the kick off of the World Cup, Fran is joined by sports reporter, Miguel Delaney for a deep dive into how FIFA operates and asks who is Gianni Infantino. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 02, 2026•27 min
Kneecap, Traitors, Adolescence and the Eurovision, just some of the big entertainment stories that hit the headlines this year. Streaming continues to grow and threatens to upend how we watch and enjoy movies. Actors unions and the big studios are concern about the future. Despite this, it was a good year for Irish musicians, actors and production companies. Fran talks to Arts and Media Correspondent Evelyn O’Rourke and Entertainment Journalist Alan Corr as they pick out their highs and lows of ...
Dec 31, 2025•36 min
Concerns around US tariffs dominated the first half of the year in 2025. While on the domestic front, the debate around working from home continued as many businesses insisted their employees return to the workplace. The school secretaries strike was one of the year's big industrial actions and the challenges of meeting housing targets were never far from the headlines. RTÉ's Brian O’Donovan and David Murphy sit down with Fran McNulty to tease out the stories that shaped the economic and busines...
Dec 29, 2025•32 min
As the year comes to an end, Fran takes a look back at some of the stories on artificial intelligence that were covered on the podcast. From new guidelines, AI music, technology in schools and AI therapy chatbots, the technology continues to challenge and upend many industries. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 22, 2025•29 min
Dáil rows, Trump's tariff threats and a Presidential campaign: Professor Gary Murphy of DCU and political reporter Sandra Hurley join Fran to dissect and analyse the year in politics. The trio discuss the emergence of Michael Lowry TD as a power broker in government formation and the decision by Sinn Féin to back Independent TD Catherine Connolly for the run at the Áras which she ultimately won. The trio also take a look into the new year and the prospect to two by-elections. See omnystudio.com/...
Dec 19, 2025•35 min
Twenty four hours on from the publication of the Fianna Fáil report into their Presidential campaign, Fran and Barry dissect the reaction to the report and examine the pressure on Party leader Michéal Martin. Later, reporter Kate Varley joins the duo and chats about her recent trip to Bangladesh. Kate visited Cox's Bazaar, home to 1.3million Rohinyga refugees and explains how recent aid cuts are beginning to take effect. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Dec 17, 2025•32 min
