Highlights From The Pat Kenny Show

On this week’s Green Scene, Dr Ruth Freeman, Director of Research for Society for Research Ireland, joined Pat Kenny to discuss Sikkim, the fully organic State in India, and why Greenland really matters. All with thanks to Repak.

Traffic, house alarms and construction are just some of the sweet sounds that make up Dublin city's soundscape. But is our capital becoming too loud for citizens' happiness and health and what can really be done to deal with Dublin's deafening din? Newstalk's Sarah Madden reports…

The Cabinet is to approve plans for the abolition of the triple lock. Yesterday, the Minister of State for AI said she would like the power to shut down X when AI crises occur and the government has announced that for the first time ever, every Minister will be going abroad this St. Patrick’s Day.   Political Correspondent with Newstalk & Host of the Let Me Explain Podcast, Sean Defoe, joined Pat Kenny on the show to discuss some of the biggest stories in politics.   

Artificial intelligence has become ingrained in all aspects of life from search engines, online shopping, and speech writing. Politicians, both at home and abroad, are increasingly starting to write speeches with the help of ChatGPT. One politician who has admitted to this is Fergal Dennehy Lord Mayor of Cork and Fianna Fáil Councillor for Cork City Southwest, and he joined Pat Kenny on the show to discuss this morning.

This week Jess Kelly joined Pat to discuss why California Governor Gavin Newsom is carrying out a review of the now US owned TikTok. Newsom accused TikTok on Monday of suppressing content critical of President Donald Trump as he launched a review to decide if its content moderation practices violated state law, while the platform cited a systems failure. With thanks to Renault,

This week marks National Grief Awareness Week. it’s the sixth year the Irish Hospice Foundation are running this campaign, especially during January, a time which can be difficult for many people.  Broadcaster Venetia Quick, who you might know from ‘The Grief Pod' speaks about how her own experience when her husband Martin died in 2018. Also joining Pat was Amy Gibney, National Grief in the Workplace Lead at Irish Hospice Foundation.

When it comes to transport here in Ireland, we always seem to be the last country to jump on the latest trends. We see some progression in the Metro Link, the Luas line has plans to expand and soon we will be bringing in contactless payments. but what's next? Pat discusses this and more with Tony Canavan EY's Global Transport Leader.

Who is Nelson Peltz? As the rift between Brooklyn Beckham and his family was made even more public last week, who is his billionaire father-in-law who calls himself the ‘matchmaker’ between Elon Musk and Donald Trump? All to discuss with Lorcan Nyhan, Head of Training with The Communications Clinic and Columnist with The Sunday Independent.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee will bring to Cabinet the over 50 destinations that Ministers will visit this St Patrick’s Day, headlined by the Taoiseach’s visit to the White House. But in the aftermath of two killings by ICE agents and talk of annexing part of a sovereign European nation, should Micheál Martin attend?Pat asked Malcolm Byrne TD, Spokesperson on Climate, Environment and Energy, Fianna Fáil, Wicklow-Wexford and Richard Boyd-Barrett TD, People Before Profit, Dún Laoghaire.

The impact of storm Chandra has caused major distributions this morning. Our reporter Josh Crosbie who is standing by in one of the worst affected areas of Dublin.

Ireland is among the few European countries who have bucked trends and have continued to increase public funding for the non-profit and charity sector. While the primary work of NGOS is to assist and advocate for some of the most vulnerable members of Irish society, recently public perception of NGOs are on the decline due to the rise of far-right rhetoric.  Pat discussed this further with Teresa Buczkowska from the Immigration Council of Ireland.

Most parents overprotect for the best of reasons. The world feels more dangerous than ever. We want our children to be happy, confident, unhurt. So we step in early. We smooth the road. We solve the problems. We shield them from disappointment, discomfort, and failure but it comes at a psychological cost. All to discuss with Steph Regan, Clinical Psychotherapist, and host of the Tough Love Podcast.

For many people who emigrate, the GAA becomes an important part of their life abroad. For decades now, the sport has been a way for people to find a community and settle in to a new city and country, especially one far from home, where things might be very different from what they’re used to. But, it’s now quickly becoming a new community for locals of the country to join too. Our reporter Emily Keegan was in China recently, where she met with players from the country’s biggest GAA club in Shanghai, to learn more about it.

Storm Chandra has brought rain, wind and flooding across Ireland especially in the East of Ireland. We get the latest on the situation with Aoife Kealy, Meteorologist with Met Eireann, Graeme McQueen, Media Relations Manager with Dublin Airport and Blake Boland, Spokesperson with Dublin Bus.

A former flight attendant who posed as a pilot to get hundreds of free flights and why did Air Force one stop in Shannon airport. All to discuss with Kevin Byrne, Retired Lieutenant Colonel and Airport Safety and Security Expert.

Back and joint pain are some of the most common injuries many of us face whether it's from playing sports, exercising in the gym or even from sitting at your desk!  So how can we prevent this? Ask the Expert this week was Lowry O'Mahony, Chartered Physiotherapist.

Federal immigration officers shot and killed another American citizen in Minneapolis on Saturday. Alex Pretti was a 37 year old ICU nurse who worked in the city’s veteran’s hospital. Pat was joined on the show by Scott Lucas, Professor and Political Analyst, Clinton Institute, UCD.

With a new documentary set to release on February 4th, Lucy Letby is back in the news. The upcoming Netflix documentary on the former nurse is set to feature exclusive footage of Letby’s arrest and interview. With more on this Pat spoke to Enda Brady, TRT World Presenter.  

it was another successful weekend for Michael Carrick at the helm of man united as they defeated arsenal 3-2 in emirates stadium.  Leinster secured their tenth win in a row in the URC against Connacht and in the Australian open, defending champion Madison Keyes is knocked out by fellow American Jessica Pegula. Colm Boohig from Off The Ball looks back on the weekend of sport.

The cost of accommodation for international protection applicants surpassed €1 billion for the first time in 2024. The new figures come as the latest deportation flight with Polish and Lithuanian citizens left Dublin Airport yesterday afternoon.Pat discusses this more with Matt Carthy TD, Spokesperson on Justice, Home Affairs, and Migration Chairperson of the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Sinn Féin, Cavan-Monaghan.