The number of people homeless in Ireland has passed 10,000 for the first time since before the start of the pandemic - Mike Allen, advocacy director with Focus Ireland, joins us on this week's episode to explain why. What measures were used to reduce the number during the height of Covid, did he expect it to rebound so quickly, and what are the key measures which could be considered now?The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has be...
Jun 16, 2022•36 min
In the wake of the horrific shootings at a school in Uvalde, Texas, discussion has turned yet again to gun laws in the USA. The Journal columnist and author Larry Donnelly joins Michelle Hennessy this week to discuss attitudes to gun laws in the country of his birth, and whether they look set to change.The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has been the aim of The Journal for a decade. You can contribute to ensure we can keep quest...
Jun 08, 2022•32 min
As summer travel picks up again, Dublin Airport is buckling under the pressure. Editor of Air & Travel magazine Eoghan Corry joins to talk through the scenes witnessed at the airport last weekend and what is being done to tackle it. He also offers advice for passengers who may have missed their flights, or who are jetting off in the coming weeks.The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has been the aim of The Journal for a decade...
Jun 01, 2022•30 min
It could completely overhaul Ireland’s troubled healthcare system, but what exactly is it? Liam Doran, former general secretary of the INMO, joins us on this week’s episode to give us an insight into Sláintecare. The plan received cross-party support at first, but since then it has been beset by stumbling blocks and resignations. What does it aim to do, and how could it achieve those goals?The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has...
May 27, 2022•34 min
We're joined by The Journal's News Editor Daragh Brophy, who was at the Eurovision final in Turin, and Johnny Fallon, strategy director at Carr Communications and Eurovision voting expert, to examine why Ireland has been struggling to win the song contest. What went wrong this year, what were our previous successes down to, and does the fact that we once sent a turkey puppet cast a cloud over our chances of ever winning again?The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access ...
May 19, 2022•35 min
We’re joined by Press Association reporter Dominic McGrath to dissect the results of Northern Ireland’s election. What will it mean to both unionists and nationalists to have a Sinn Féin first minister - or will the seat even be taken? Who are the Alliance party and what was key to their success? And is this really as seismic an election as it might first appear?The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has been the aim of The Journal...
May 12, 2022•33 min
The Journal's Deputy Editor Christine Bohan and Ciarán O'Connor, analyst with the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, join us on this week's episode to examine factchecking - what is it, how does it work, and what impact is it having on tackling misinformation? Are people getting better at spotting false news, or is the situation getting worse?The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has been the aim of The Journal for a decade. You ca...
May 05, 2022•38 min
Our reporter Céimin Burke tells us about his experience reporting from the Polish-Ukrainian border. We examine why some Ukrainians are heading back to their homes now that Russia forces are concentrating their attacks on the east and south, the Tesco reception centre filled with beds, and the stories of those still fleeing Ukraine.The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has been the aim of The Journal for a decade. You can contribut...
Apr 28, 2022•29 min
Senior lecturer at Queen’s University Belfast Ray Flynn joins us to discuss the incredible importance of Ireland’s bogs. With the government proposing to ban the sale and distribution of turf, we examine the damage already done to the island’s wetlands and how some of it can be undone. Ray tells us the value of bogs in mitigating against climate change, and highlights that the scale of peat extraction in Ireland essentially amounts to the largest open-cast mine in Western Europe.The Explainer is...
Apr 22, 2022•34 min
As evidence of war crimes by Russian forces in Ukraine mount, we're joined by NUIG's Prof Ray Murphy to discuss what could happen next. When is a crime a war crime, how are they prosecuted, and what leaders have previously been responsible for such actions?The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has been the aim of The Journal for a decade. You can contribute to ensure we can keep questioning, investigating, debunking, explaining an...
Apr 14, 2022•35 min
We’re joined by our reporter Rónán Duffy and president of Conradh na Gaeilge, Paula Melvin, to put the Irish language under the microscope. What more can be done to support it, are we seeing a bit of a revival, and just how much untapped potential is there?The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has been the aim of The Journal for a decade. You can contribute to ensure we can keep questioning, investigating, debunking, explaining an...
Apr 07, 2022•31 min
It's almost time to fill in your census form - but what's the point in it? Joining us this week is senior statistician with the CSO Cormac Halpin to examine how the questions are set, what changes you might spot on this year's edition, and what exactly the data is used for once collected.The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has been the aim of The Journal for a decade. You can contribute to ensure we can keep questioning, investi...
Mar 30, 2022•29 min
Trevor Donnellan, head of economics and surveys at Teagasc, joins us to examine how secure Ireland’s food supply is. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has sparked concern over global supplies of grain and disrupted the production of fertiliser, vital for growing crops elsewhere. Where do we get most of our food from, how much do we produce ourselves, and how might we be impacted by this latest crisis?The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Irela...
Mar 24, 2022•30 min
Cyberpsychology researcher Dr Nicola Fox Hamilton joins to examine whether being online as much as we are in modern life impacts on our brain and our behaviours. What does the evidence say, can it impact children’s development - or is there a bit of ‘moral panic’ around the topic?The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has been the aim of The Journal for a decade. You can contribute to ensure we can keep questioning, investigating, ...
Mar 16, 2022•26 min
The military alliance has been at the centre of world politics - should it intervene in Ukraine, or stay out to avoid a direct clash with Russia? UCC’s Professor Andrew Cottey joins us on this week’s episode to look at what exactly NATO is, how it works, what Ireland’s involvement in it is, and why Putin cites its expansion east as a potential threat.The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has been the aim of The Journal for a decad...
Mar 08, 2022•32 min
As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues to cause devastation, we speak to independent journalist Olga Tokariuk about what life is like for people who have remained in the country - the dwindling access to food, incessant air strikes, the possibility that they might have to take up arms, and the psychological impact on children. We’re also joined by UNHCR spokesperson Gabriela Leu who tells us what conditions are like for people fleeing the country across western borders.The Explainer is brough...
Mar 02, 2022•36 min
In another episode by Noteworthy, Susan Daly speaks to reporter Maria Delaney about the recent SILENT TREATMENT investigation by Noteworthy which found that the health system is failing people with eating disorders.The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has been the aim of The Journal for a decade. You can contribute to ensure we can keep questioning, investigating, debunking, explaining and informing at http://www.thejournal.ie/co...
Mar 01, 2022•22 min
As the situation on the ground in Ukraine continues to deteriorate rapidly following last night’s invasion by Russia, we’re joined by DCU professor Donnacha Ó Beacháin, an expert in post-Soviet politics, to try to make sense of what’s going on. What is the background to the conflict in eastern Ukraine, under what pretext was the country invaded, and what is the end-goal here for Putin?The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has been...
Feb 24, 2022•39 min
This week, as a bonus episode of The Explainer brought to you by our investigative platform Noteworthy, Susan Daly chats with science and nature reporter Anthea Lacchia about her deep dive into the damage being done to riparian habitats as a result of overmaintenance of rivers and their banks. Joining them is Elaine McGoff, Natural Environment Officer with An Taisce.Find out more about Noteworthy's work at https://www.noteworthy.ie/proposalsThe Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providi...
Feb 21, 2022•22 min
Alan Regan, a radio producer based in Canada, and Ciarán O'Connor, an analyst from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, join us to examine how a protest by truckers brought Ottawa is a standstill and sparked copycat demonstrations elsewhere. We examine who the groups involved are, what the response from authorities was, and how the truckers involved represented only a small minority of their industry and the wider public.The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to v...
Feb 18, 2022•28 min
This week, as a bonus episode of The Explainer brought to you by our investigative platform Noteworthy, Susan Daly chats with reporter Peter McGuire about his recent childcare crossroads investigation which examined the state of Ireland’s childcare system and the funding model it operates. Joining them is Professor Mathias Urban of the School of Language, Literacy & Early Childhood Education at Dublin City University.The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to va...
Feb 15, 2022•27 min
Our business reporter Ian Curran and Tricia Keilthy, St Vincent de Paul’s social policy development officer, join us on this week’s episode to examine what’s driving the rise in the cost of living. What exactly is inflation, is what we're seeing now just a byproduct of the pandemic, and what is the government doing to tackle it?The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has been the aim of The Journal for a decade. You can contribute t...
Feb 11, 2022•28 min
We speak to Orla O'Connor, director of the National Women's Council of Ireland, about what more can be done to make Ireland a safer place for women - should we look to education in schools, how the courts operate, or does it require an even more systematic change?We examine how difficult it is to compare Ireland to other countries in terms of the actual level of safety, how online abuse has increased recently, the need for more domestic abuse refuges, and how, ultimately, there is no quick fix.T...
Feb 03, 2022•30 min
Behavioural scientist Pete Lunn and immunologist Christine Loscher join us on this week's episode to examine Ireland's unexpected and sudden reopening. Most Covid restrictions have been lifted, so could we see a continued wave of infection? How do people feel about their re-found freedoms and will they easily adapt? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 27, 2022•36 min
We're joined by four healthcare workers to examine what working during the latest wave of Covid has been like so far - Dr Amy Morgan is a GP based in Drogheda, Brendan Flynn is a paramedic supervisor, Dr Fergal Hickey is an emergency medicine consultant, and Dr Catherine Motherway is head of an intensive care unit.The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has been the aim of The Journal for a decade. You can contribute to ensure we ca...
Jan 20, 2022•42 min
An expert on post-Soviet states, DCU politics professor Donnacha Ó Beacháin joins us to examine recent protests in Kazakhstan. The rare unrest left dozens dead and many more injured and also brought new focus to the level of inequality in the oil-rich nation. What is it like as a country, what's the political environment, and what could this mean for Russia?The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has been the aim of The Journal for ...
Jan 13, 2022•33 min
Mia Malan, editor-in-chief of Bhekisisa - an award-winning health journalism centre in South Africa - speaks to us about what Ireland can learn from South Africa's experience of dealing with an Omicron-fuelled surge in cases. How did the country's hospitals fare, why is South Africa so good at identifying variants - and do we finally have enough evidence to say for sure that Omicron is 'milder'?The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Irelan...
Jan 07, 2022•33 min
In another episode by Noteworthy, Susan Daly speaks to reporter Maria Delaney about the findings of the team's latest investigation into fertility treatment in Ireland.This forms part of the recent FUNDING FERTILITY investigation by Noteworthy which revealed that the private fertility sector is making millions as patients are left in debt. It also found that numerous decisions have not been finalised by Government on long-promised public IVF services.The Explainer is brought to you by The Journa...
Jan 04, 2022•18 min
The Explainer team of Gráinne, Michelle, Sinéad, Nicky, and Aoife sit down to pick their favourite clips from the year, with topics ranging from Cuba to data centres and everything in between.The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has been the aim of The Journal for a decade. You can contribute to ensure we can keep questioning, investigating, debunking, explaining and informing at www.thejournal.ie/contribute/ Hosted on Acast. See...
Dec 30, 2021•23 min
RTÉ's outgoing Washington Correspondent Brian O'Donovan joins us to look back on Joe Biden's first year in power as US President - what were the big challenges, and what does 2022 have in store? O'Donovan also shares his memories of the attack on the Capitol, what living and working in the United States has been like, and gives us a glimpse of what's next for him.The Explainer is brought to you by The Journal. Providing open access to valuable journalism in Ireland has been the aim of The Journa...
Dec 22, 2021•49 min
