In The News

Uniformed gardaí are being issued with Taser guns as part of a six-month trial.It has long been a point of pride in Ireland that the police force are not armed unlike their European counterparts. And while these guns fire electric shocks and not bullets, this is change in how the gardaí police the streets.So does this move bring closer the day when the Garda will be an armed force? How will it change the way the gardaí interact with the public? And why now?Irish Times crime and security editor Conor Lally explains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a major military operation that began in September, the US administration continues to put pressure on Venezuela with navy warships massing in the Caribbean Sea.US president Donald Trump claims the air strikes on boats in the region are not acts of aggression but enforcement operations to prevent alleged drug trafficking.To date it is estimated that 83 people have been killed but it has not been made clear by the administration the intelligence that led up the attacks proving the boats were indeed carrying drugs.So is this a “war on drugs” or is it part of a broader plan to oust Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro?And with Trump now saying the country’s air space should be shut down, is a ground offensive on the horizon?I speak to professor of Latin American history and migration studies at Vassar College, Daniel Mendiola.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey and Andrew McNair.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New figures from the Residential Tenancies Board are stark: the number of eviction notices issued by landlords in the third quarter of this year increased by 35 per cent on the same period last year.This at a time when rents have never been higher.The reason given most frequently by landlords is that they are selling up. Why?New rent regulations which improve the rights of long-term tenants are set be introduced in March 2026. Could this be the reason landlords are getting out of the market?And why are small landlords more likely to want to exit the market than big institutional investors who dominate the private rental sector?Irish Times housing reporter Niamh Towey has talked to landlords and estate agents to get a clearer picture.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon and Andrew McNair. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gerry Hutch, also known as The Monk, is eyeing up the Dáil seat left vacant by the resignation of Paschal Donohoe.Already it is believed that the convicted criminal, encouraged by his near success in last year’s general election, is using what will be a long build-up to next year’s byelection to get his campaign in order and to register hundreds, even thousands, of new voters in Dublin’s north inner city.So will his €800,000 tax bill from the Criminal Assets Bureau put a stop to his political ambitions and could the man named as the head of the Hutch organised crime group become a TD?I talk to Irish Times crime and security editor Conor Lally who has long covered Hutch’s career in crime.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and Andrew McNair.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

By Friday, the death toll in the Hong Kong apartment complex inferno had reached 128 with many more people unaccounted for.A blaze that began in one 32-storey apartment block on Wednesday quickly spread to seven of the eight towers in the densely populated complex. So how did one of the city’s deadliest ever blazes spread so quickly.The Kwong Fuk Estate, a public housing development, was undergoing refurbishment and the buildings were covered in bamboo scaffolding and netting. New cladding had been installed and now that the rescue operation is over, attention is turning on investigating why and how the fire took hold.As the death toll grows and questions around building standards mount, Irish Times Beijing correspondent Denis Staunton, who reported from London in 2017 sees clear parallels with the Grenfell Tower disaster.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ireland has been slow to name its airports after people. Streets and housing estates, yes, but as Ronan McGreevy points out, the State is more inclined to honour those who died for Ireland rather than those who lived for it.A Bill to rename Dublin Airport after former taoiseach Seán Lemass has been brought forward in the Dáil.It is not the first time the suggestion has been made; four years ago Taoiseach Micheál Martin proposed it, but talk of it fizzled out.For McGreevy, an Irish Times journalist and historian whose next book is on Lemass, the former taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fáil (1959-1966) is a clear choice.He tells In the News how Lemass was a great moderniser and as minister for industry and commerce when the airport opened in 1940, was a a supporter of facilitating air travel both in and out of the country.The proposed legislation was introduced on Tuesday by Fianna Fáil TD Malcolm Byrne, who said the airport “owes much to his policies and foresight”.So will the Seán Lemass Dublin International Airport Bill 2025 succeed? And why are we so reluctant to honour our former taoisigh? He points out that Cork’s Jack Lynch Tunnel is the only piece of State infrastructure named after a former leader.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and John Casey.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Heart disease is the leading causes of death of women in Ireland but yet, many of us still consider it a male illness.Cardiovascular disease claims more women’s lives than breast cancer, while women are more than two times more likely than men to die after a heart attack. The risk of heart disease substantially increases during menopause and yet, women and their doctors often underestimate the severity of their symptoms.Why is that?Years of poor research into women’s cardiac health, combined with the perception often promoted through film and TV that heart attacks solely happen to men, has created a distorted image of this disease and resulted in a health system primarily designed to cater for the needs of men, not women.For decades, scientific experts presumed the results of cardiac trials designed using the male anatomy would also hold true for women. Women’s hormonal fluctuations during periods and menopause often excluded them from heart disease trials.And while research into heart disease among women has improved in the past decade, many women have no idea the risks they face, particularly during and after menopause.So, what are the heart attack warning signs women need to watch out for? And what changes can they make early to try to avoid heart disease?Today, on In The News, cardiovascular nurse Shirley Ingram reflects on her personal experience of suffering a heart attack. And Dr Sharon O’Donell and Dr Deidre Daly from Trinity College discuss how the university’s international Caramel project hopes to transform how women understand this disease.Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and Andrew McNair.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Black Friday – a Thanksgiving shopping extravaganza imported from the US – isn’t just one day any more. Retailers, both online and in the shops, started advertising their Black Friday deals as soon as the Halloween decorations came down. And it’s set to continue into December.Irish shoppers have taken to bargain hunting with enthusiasm: a survey by PwC, which looked at Black Friday shopping habits in five European countries, found the Irish spend an average of €329, way more than our more frugal neighbours in Germany, France and Italy.Two-thirds of that is online which opens the digital door for scammers to get in.Irish Times consumer correspondent Conor Pope explains why Black Friday, with its “unbeatable bargains” and countdown clocks is a gift for scammers. He also tells how to beat the scammers at this distracting time of the year.And are their bargains to be had? Pope advises the best time to buy and how to spend you money so you’ll get the best bargains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is an episode of our new sister podcast, Early Edition. It's in your feed this morning because -as a listener of In The News, we thought you might like enjoy it. But don't worry, you'll still find In The News in its usual spot. If you enjoy Early Edition - four of our top stories in ten minutes - please give it a follow on your podcast app.“Flying blind” and “budgeting like there’s no tomorrow” – the government’s management of the economy is being roundly criticised by the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council.A group of Ranelagh residents have launched a legal challenge to the Metrolink project – with the potential to stall the long-awaited underground rail line.Consumer Affairs correspondent Conor Pope is urging caution in the Black Friday online shopping frenzy.The RDS has been renamed the Laya Arena in a new naming rights partnership, while a bill to rename Dublin Airport after this former Taoiseach has progressed in the Dáil.Presented by Aideen Finnegan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Denmark’s immigration laws have evolved over the past 20 years but the intention underpinning them is the same: only asylum seekers who have been invited should come to the country.Danish immigration rules are strict. In 2013, the Danes instituted a so-called “jewellery law” whereby jewellery and valuables could be taken from refugees entering the country to pay for their keep. And while the measure has rarely been enforced, it is an example of government messaging aimed at deterring refugees from travelling to its borders.Gaining residency rights takes longer than in other EU countries and family reunification is more difficult. Those who live in areas where more than 50 per cent of residents are deemed “non-Western” are refused family reunion. Failed asylum seekers are moved to deportation centres where the conditions are basic, the idea being they will self-deport rather than stay there.As the UK’s Labour government cites Denmark as a model to be copied as it reforms its own immigration rules, EU states are increasingly looking northwards to the Danes for measures that stem arrivals and manage those already in the bloc.Irish Times Europe correspondent Naomi O’Leary explains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pharma giant Eli Lilly manufactures the ingredients for its weight-loss drug Mounjaro and its diabetes drug Zepbound in Kinsale, Co Cork.The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (Ifac) has found that the unprecedented surge in Irish exports this year (exports to the US rose by 153 per cent to €71bn between January and May) was almost entirely driven by shipments of these ingredients.Ifac tracked about €36.4bn of this export surge to Indianapolis, where Eli Lilly is headquartered and where it has several manufacturing sites.The jump in exports is expected to see the Irish economy expand by almost 11 per cent in GDP terms this year, which is almost certain to make it the fastest-growing advanced economy in the world in 2025.So with such an over-reliance on foreign direct investment, notably in the pharma sector, at a time of tariff threats and uncertainty, how vulnerable is Ireland?Irish Times economics correspondent Eoin Burke-Kennedy explains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and Andrew McNair.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're happy to share an episode Early Edition, a new podcast from The Irish Times that brings you four of our top stories in under ten minutes. Find it in your podcast app and hit follow to get updates each morning from Monday to Friday. On today's episode:The Minister for Justice and the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces must hand over the names and contact details of people who may have blocked, or simply ignored, complaints of abuse within army ranks. Ellen Coyne has the details.Nursing home owners want immigration rules relaxed so they can hire more workers from outside the EU, UK and European Economic Area. Martin Wall says they’re seeking changes to the so-called 50/50 rule.Tech workers in Ireland think the general public has an unrealistic idea of who they are and what they really do. Three of them have been speaking to Hugh Linehan in the first of our series, The Professionals, which looks at Ireland through the lens of different categories of worker.And winner of The Traitors Ireland, Vanessa Ogbonno, has been chatting to Tony Clayton-Lea for Me and My Money. She describes herself as a saver, but her most extravagant purchase ever was a bit of retail therapy to take the sting out of losing a football competition. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2024 the Criminal Assets Bureau seized assets and money totalling just over €17 million and sold 20 houses that had been bought with the proceeds of crime. The sale of 20 forfeited homes – the highest number to date in any one year – took in early €5 million.And next week, in an auction timed for Black Friday, a haul of designer goods, ranging from Canada Goose jackets and Chanel handbags to Rolex watches and designer trainers, all bought with dirty money and all seized by the Cab, will go under the hammer – with the proceeds going to the exchequer.It’s not all assets, the annual report shows that €13.3 million was collected by Revenue and just over half a million euro in Social Welfare recoveries.So it was a good year for the head of the Cab, Det Chief Superintendent Michael Gubbins who explains how he and his team of experts do their work and why, for most of them, anonymity is vitally important.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey and Andrew McNair.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So now we know, the World Cup play-off fixtures have been announced: Republic of Ireland will play Czech Republic away on March 26th, and if they win, they will play Denmark or North Macedonia in Dublin on March 31st.Northern Ireland will play Italy away, and if they win, they will be away again to Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina.The playoffs are knockout matches so it could all end on March 26th, but what if it doesn’t?Can Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson bring the team to the World Cup? That’s a dream that even the most diehard fans, looking at the dismal start to the qualifying campaign, had all but given up on. But then there was the win over Portugal – a victory that not only made a trip to the tournament a possibility but kept the manager in a job.Irish Times soccer correspondent Gavin Cummiskey spoke to Hallgrímsson after the draw. On In the News he looks at the manager’s reaction to the draw, comments on our chances against the Czechs (good!) and explains how after a year of getting it wrong, everything came good for the Irish team.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey and Andrew McNair.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Epstein files are a vast cache of documents which include legal files, witness testimonies and flight logs, collected during an extensive US Justice Department investigation into the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his now jailed associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Epstein died in prison while awaiting trial having been charged with running a network of underage girls for sex.President Donald Trump could have released them to the public at any time – it was a presidential campaign promise of his – but he fought for months to stop lawmakers voting through a bipartisan petition to release the files.That finally happened on Tuesday – Trump issued “permission” to Republicans to vote in favour of the release. Hours later the Senate reached a unanimous agreement to pass the measure, which would clear it for the president’s signature. He has said he will sign the release. But when might that happen? And what will be released? And why did he give up the fight to keep the files secret?Scott Lucas, political analyst and professor at UCD’s Clinton Institute, explains.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan and Andrew McNair. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There has been a sense for some time that Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe’s next move was never going to be to some other role in Leinster House.Instead it has long been expected that his side gig as President of the Eurogroup since July 2020 would lead to a top job on the financial world stage - the IMF was mentioned regularly. The question was when might he hand in his notice.Yesterday Donohoe announced that he had resigned his job and will start his new job as number two at the World Bank in Washington on Monday.Irish Times political correspondent Ellen Coyne explains the political fallout to his move, while economics correspondent Eoin Burke-Kennedy outlines what the job will entail.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Like a whole generation of young Irish men, John Mackey emigrated to the UK in the 1950s in search of work.At 87 and living alone in north London, the Kilkenny man who never married was sociable, charming and always dapper in his trilby hat. He was beloved by his nieces and nephews.On May 6th he headed to his local supermarket for some shopping and, as he’d increasingly stopped cooking for himself, a takeaway of chips and sausages.On his way home he was set upon by Peter Augustine (59) who stole his shopping and food, and having beaten the frail man, left him for dead.Augustine’s two-week trial ended last week in the Old Bailey with a guilty verdict. He will be sentenced on November 28th.For Irish Times London correspondent Mark Paul, Mackey’s murder had a particularly poignancy. He was one of a dwindling number of 1950s emigrants who left a very different Ireland to make their home in London.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're happy to share an episode Early Edition, a new podcast from The Irish Times that brings you four of our top stories in under ten minutes. Find it in your podcast app and hit follow to get updates each morning from Monday to Friday. On today's episode: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris asked his Polish counterpart for help in resolving a child abduction case involving a young girl with dual Irish-Polish citizenship. Orla Ryan has the story.A leading psychologist diagnoses the causes behind Ireland's lengthy waiting lists for child mental health services.Winter arrives early this week in the form of an 'arctic air mass' - find out what to expect.The eruption of joy following Ireland's World Cup qualification win over Hungary continued into Monday - especially on Portland Row, home of hat-trick hero Troy Parrott. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For generations, Irish speakers north and south of the Irish Border have fought to keep their language alive. And today, what was once dismissed as a fading tongue is undergoing an exhilarating and vibrant revival.The Republic’s newly elected president Catherine Connolly has made it clear the Irish language will play a central role during her time in office and says she wants to see the native tongue of this island flourish.Meanwhile, north of the Border, the Irish language is also making headlines. In October, attendees at the annual Oireachtas na Samhna Irish-language festival heard Belfast was “leading the revival” of the language. New Irish-medium schools are springing up across the city to meet a surge in demand and Belfast is now hailed by many as Ireland’s largest urban Gaeltacht.However, beneath all this buzz lies a battleground. The Irish language remains highly politically charged across Northern Ireland, with unionist leaders pushing back against what they see as an erosion of their identity and traditions. They argue the language is being imposed, without consent, into on daily lives.From bilingual street signs to Irish on council property – every word is a flashpoint.So why does the Irish language stir such fierce resistance in Northern Ireland?Claims that the language is being “weaponised”, are unhelpful and only create further divisions, says Linda Ervine, one of the leading activists and teachers of the Irish language in Northern Ireland and manager of the Turas Irish language project in east Belfast.“I try to say to people if you don’t like the language, it doesn’t symbolise who you are, that’s fine, I totally accept that,” Ms Ervine tells today’s In The News episode. “Nobody is removing the English. All we’re asking for is a shared space.”“The language is part of the family of Celtic language, it’s spoken throughout the British Isles,” she says. “No matter our history, we have these shared, familial and linguistic ties to each other and I think that’s something to be celebrated, not something to be frightened of.”Today, on In The News, what’s behind the revival of the Irish Language in Belfast, and why is it controversial?Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by Andrew McNair.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In hard hats and high-vis jackets, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Simon Harris and Minister for Housing James Browne looked the part at Thursday’s launch of “Delivering Homes, Building Communities, 2025-2030″, the Government’s latest grand plan to tackle the housing crisis.By 2030, it is committed to delivering 300,000 new homes. It’s an ambitious target.But who is going to build these new homes and how can that target be met given successive governments’ failure to meet far more modest goals?Will private developers be tempted to ramp up the delivery of apartment schemes? And given the acute skills shortage in the construction industry, where will the builders – the real hard-hat wearers – come from? And what about Ireland’s creaking infrastructure - the water and electricity needed to make building possible?The shame of record-breaking homelessness figures means a move to solve this aspect of the housing crisis is a key plank of the new plan.Irish Times Political Correspondent Ellen Coyne was at the plan’s launch. She joins In The News to discuss these issues.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey and Andrew McNair.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.