The Minister for Higher Education, Simon Harris, joined Kieran live in studio to discuss his portfolio, the CAO portal and much more... The Hard Shoulder Listen and subscribe to The Hard Shoulder on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

Highlights from The Hard Shoulder

Simon Harris "I do genuinely worry myself and my colleagues..."

Writing in todays Irish Times Brianna Parkins says she doesn’t want a man to make all the money, she wants him to make dinner. Her opinion piece asks lots of questions despite women now contributing equally to the mortgage they are still doing most chores around the house. Brianna wants to send an email to all men to say the key performance indicators have changed on what makes a good husband, boyfriend or partner. It’s no longer being a bread winner. Henry McKean took to the streets to see if the public agree with her.

Have performance indicators of being a good partner/boyfriend/husband changed?

Yesterday we had TD Neale Richard on the show who told us about some of the horrific abuse that is levelled at him on a daily basis. One of the most compelling arguments he made was that children often get caught in the crossfire. Today Kieran was joined by Eoin O’Malley to discuss... The Hard Shoulder Listen and subscribe to The Hard Shoulder on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

''It happened outside my house, but it's important people can express their views''

Ed Sheeran apparently lost his cool, referring to a gag made on Graham Norton’s show, comparing him to a “orange tabby cat”. Redhead singer questioned the presenter when jokes about ginger haired people will be finally considered offensive?  So we’re also questioning now. Why are other people still allowing themselves to poke fun at redheads and should this form of body-shaming be cut short? Joleen Cronin, former chief and founder of Irish Redheads Convention joined Kieran to discuss... The Hard Shoulder Listen and subscribe to The Hard Shoulder on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.  

Should redhead jokes finally be cut short?...

The day the John Lewis ad airs signals the beginning of Christmas for a lot of people, and that’s the song accompanying the ad - “Together in Electric Dreams” sung by Lola Young What is it about these ads that are so captivating? To discuss Kieran was joined by Neale Davis from BBDO Advertising... The Hard Shoulder Listen and subscribe to The Hard Shoulder on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

''It looks stunning, but something seems to be missing''

Minister Eamon Ryan joined Kieran on Thursday's edition of The Hard Shoulder to talk about the Climate Action Plan, unveiled by Government today.

Eamon Ryan on the Climate Action Plan

The Government is releasing their Climate Action Plan today, and there are many who have been waiting a long time to look at the figures and the details in involved. Tim Cullinan, President of the IFA, Hannah Daly, Lecturer in Sustainable Energy and Energy Systems Modelling at University College Cork, Ivana Bacik, Labour Party TD for Dublin Bay South and Gerry Murphy, Connacht Tribune Motoring Correspondent joined Kieran on the Hard Shoulder... The Hard Shoulder Listen and subscribe to The Hard Shoulder on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.  

''There's a welcomed diversity away from just looking at technological change''

Joining Kieran to take a look back at one of the most historic elections in US history and the first year of Bidens presidency is Matt Mayer, US Public Policy expert & Contributor to The Spectator and Larry Donnelly Law Lecturer and Author of “The Bostonian -Life in an Irish American Political Family”… The Hard Shoulder Listen and subscribe to The Hard Shoulder on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

One year since President Joe Biden was voted into office... 

Fine Gael TD for Dublin-Rathdown Neale Richmond responded to a tweet from an account that said they had an ‘inexplicable hatred’ for him - just one example of some of the abuse that is received by politicians. The user has since deleted the tweet Neale Richmond joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder... The Hard Shoulder Listen and subscribe to The Hard Shoulder on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

''This isn't right, this person doesn't know me, they're expressing hatred''

It’s 25 years since this movie burst onto the scene - a Shakespearean play told in modern day America. Baz Lurhmann’s Romeo and Juliet, starring two young actors - Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes, who would be catapulted to fame after its release. Sarina Bellissimo joined Kieran to take us through this modern day classic... The Hard Shoulder Listen and subscribe to The Hard Shoulder on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

It's 25 years since Romeo and Juliet...

Significant increase in vaccine uptake at walk-in centres. In the last few days there has been a surge in the number of people getting vaccinated, especially their first dose. In the last five days alone thousands of people received their first jab. There are 35 vaccination centres across the country and the walk-ins are opened to anyone over the age of twelve. Our reporter Barry Whyte went along today to the walk-in centre in Grangegorman in Dublin...

"My son's asking why we cannot sit in McDonalds - so now I have to get the vaccine"

According to reports, a new US co-living operator could potentially enter the Irish market. They want to operate as a build-to-rent company, operating both conventional and co-living apartments. Could co-living still be a thing in Ireland?  And does it have to be a bad thing? Eoin O’Broin is Sinn Fein’s spokesperson on housing, and told Kieran why he doesn't want to see co-living as an option.

"Absolutely..." Eoin O'Broin on why he supports free antigen tests

Simon Lewis, Principal of Carlow Educate Together National School joined Kieran on The Hard Shoulder for an update on the substitute teacher shortage... The Hard Shoulder Listen and subscribe to The Hard Shoulder on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

''That's not translating into any extra substitutes unfortunately...''

Cabinet ministers will sign off tomorrow on new legislation which will see rent increases capped at 2pc and indefinite tenancies put in place. Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien has said that the laws will take effect by the end of this month. They will see rent increases capped at 2pc, or the current rate of Harmonised Indices of Consumer Prices, whichever is lower. Peter Dooley, co-founder of the Dublin Renters Union and Aoife, who is a landlord herself, joined Kieran to discuss... The Hard Shoulder Listen and subscribe to The Hard Shoulder on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

''No, we don't welcome it, it doesn't go anywhere near far enough''

Dr Cara Augustenborg Environmental policy fellow at UCD joined Kieran on the Hard Shoulder to discuss Taoiseach Micheal Martin address at the COP 26... The Hard Shoulder Listen and subscribe to The Hard Shoulder on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

''What they say on stage can be very different to what's actually done''

Highlights from Ivan Yates on The Hard Shoulder