This Week

Several people are dead after a head-on collision involving a car driving on the wrong side of the M9 motorway in County Kildare. The crash happened at Moone on the M9 Northbound lane at Junction 3 at around 3am this morning. RTÉ reporter Eleanor Burnhill was at the scene for us this lunchtime, and told Justin what she saw.

The medals gleamed, the records fell, and dreams long chased were finally caught. From the roar of the track to the waters of the pool, this was a week of Irish sporting brilliance. Justin was delighted to be joined on the line from Birmingham by European Champion Kate O'Connor.

Sexual violence campaigners have said the spiking of drinks - giving someone drugs or alcohol without their knowledge or consent - is far more widespread than official figures suggest, and they've called for stronger measures to tackle it. RTÉ reporter Karen Creed has been looking at the scale of the problem, and told Justin of her findings.

In the aftermath of the All Ireland Camogie Final last week the Galway Manager Cathal Murray urged the president of the Camogie Association to create a fund to help All Ireland finalists pay for a team holiday. Justin was joined by Brian Molloy, the President of the Camogie Association.

Some children are being denied a place on the Government's school transport scheme because they are not attending the nearest school, often because the school itself is full. Justin was joined by RTÉ reporter Sally-Ann Barrett and the Minister of state in charge of school transport Fianna Fáil TD for Cork North West Michael Moynihan.

Daniel Kinahan is due back on Irish soil this evening, after being arrested and then extradited on the Government jet from Dubai. Aisling was joined by Crime Correspondent with the Irish Daily Mirror and Irish Daily Star Paul Healy and Former Asst Garda Commissioner Micheal O'Sullivan.

On July 27th last, two brothers from Co Westmeath who sexually assaulted teenage girls in the mid-nineties were identified for the first time. Three of the women spoke to RTÉ Midlands Correspondent Sinéad Hussey, and she joined Aisling on the line with a report.

Ireland's primary schools are to reopen at the end of August. But once again this year many autistic children who were promised a school place for September will remain at home. Aisling spoke to Labour's spokesperson on health and TD for Dublin Central Marie Sherlock.

In Boxing, Aaron McKenna has become the new middleweight champion of the world. The County Monaghan fighter said his dream is now a reality after he defeated Etinosa Oliha of Italy by unanimous decision of the judges at the 3Arena in Dublin last night. Aaron spoke to Aisling about his achievement.

Tens of thousands of people are flocking today to the Tullamore Show near Bluebell County Offaly as the agricultural showcase celebrates its 35th year. The packed programme of events features livestock competitions, trade exhibitions and family entertainment. RTÉ Agriculture Correspondent Aengus Cox joined us for a preview.

FIFA's reputation has taken a kicking in recent weeks following its President Gianni Infantino's ill-fated bid to sell off part of the men's World Cup. Aisling spoke with Miguel Poiares Maduro, former Chair of FIFA's Governance and Review Committee and dean of the Catholic Global School of Law in Lisbon.

From today, companies will be obliged to make clear to customers when they are interacting with something artificial intelligence-driven. That's because transparency obligations included in the European Union's AI Act come into force today. Adam was joined by Niamh Smyth, Minister of State with responsibility for AI.

The National Asset Management Agency was dissolved at midnight on Friday. It spent more than 16 years managing down the bad loans it took from Irish banks at the height of the financial crisis. Patrick Honohan, former governor of the Central Bank at the time that NAMA was established, joined Adam in studio for a post-mortem.

Last month the HSE settled a case with a family affected by the delayed diagnosis of Huntington's Disease. Sinead's maternal grandfather was diagnosed in 2015; however, Sinead's mother, who began to display symptoms in 2010, did not receive a diagnosis until 2022. Adam spoke to Sinead and to consultant neurologist Professor Orla Hardiman.

There have now been more than 3,400 confirmed cases of Ebola across the Democratic Republic of the Congo - including more than 1,500 related deaths, with five provinces of the country now impacted by the outbreak. Adam spoke to Trish Newport, emergency coordinator with Médecins Sans Frontières, who is currently based in Bunia, DRC.

A year ago this weekend, on the back of a rise in physical attacks on Indian people, the Indian Embassy in Ireland warned its citizens here to take precautions for their personal security. So, one year on, have things improved? Adam spoke to Prashant Shukla, chair of Ireland India Council.

The key findings of the Aughinish Alumina report were revealed on Friday. Fiachra was joined by Yaroslav Humeniuk, first secretary on economic issues at the Ukrainian embassy in Ireland, and minister of state at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Fianna Fáil TD for Limerick County Niall Collins.

Concerns have been raised over the Bessborough mother and baby home site in Cork City due to developer Estuary View Enterprises having received permission to build apartments on the controversial site. Fiachra spoke to Katherine Zappone, ex-children's minister who had responsibility for the commission of investigation into mother and baby homes.

Two separate road fatalities have occurred on Irish roads in the early hours of this morning: an e-scooter user in Navan, county Meath, and a man in his late teens in county Tipperary. RTÉ Eastern Correspondent Samantha Libreri joined Fiachra with the details.

Tomorrow Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan will meet with Law Society of Ireland representatives to discuss the ongoing dispute over fees in the free criminal legal aid system. With neither side backing down, three more days of walk outs are due to take place from Tuesday. Fiachra was joined by Cork-based criminal solicitor Frank Buttimer.

Firefighters continue to battle blazes at Slievenamon in Co Tipperary for the seventh day in a row while significant wildfires ravage continental Europe. Fiachra spoke to Will Hayes, Researcher in Wildfires at Leverhulme Centre for Wildfires, Environment and Society at the University of London, about what could be causing the blazes.

On Friday, a hose pipe ban came into effect for the entire country and will remain in place until 26 August. In addition to the hosepipe ban, Uisce Éireann is urging people to avoid unnecessary water use until conditions improve. RTÉ reporter Eithne Dodd has been finding out how the hose pipe ban is impacting people's daily lives.

Police in Germany are searching for a 21-year-old man believed to have Islamist links after a vehicle drove into a crowd near Berlin's Gay Pride celebrations. One person was killed and 16 others are reported as wounded, including three with life-threatening injuries. Fiachra was joined from Berlin by Irish Times journalist Derek Scally.

The United States has continued to bomb targets in Iran for the eighth night in a row. In response, Iran has continued to retaliate by firing ballistic missiles and deploying drones against US bases in the Gulf and US allies. Paul was joined for an update by BBC analyst Sebastian Usher.

RTÉ reporter Eithne Dodd joined Paul to discuss how the gambling industry has changed in recent years.

“Children and young people are among the most at-risk members of Irish society when it comes to gambling exposure and harm." So says Anne Marie Caulfield, chief executive of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland. She joined Paul to discuss the work of the Authority.

The new Labour Party leader Andy Burnham will become the Prime Minister tomorrow. What's less clear is what that will mean for the UK and its European neighbours. To evaluate the possibilities, Paul was joined by Rory Montgomery, an honorary professor at Queens University and once-second secretary at the Department of the Taoiseach.

The National Competitive and Productivity Council has called for the speedy delivery of Ireland's offshore wind energy projects. As it stands, Ireland's only offshore wind farm, Arklow Bank Wind Park, ceased operations last year. To establish where we stand, Paul was joined by Caroline O'Doherty, Environment Correspondent with the Irish Times.

The German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said this morning that his Government will do "everything we can" to stabilise the country's auto industry. Workers at car manufacturer Volkswagen have been roiled by the dramatic news that tens of thousands of layoffs could be on the horizon. Paul was joined by Deutsche Welle journalist Arthur Sullivan.

In just over six hours time the World Cup final will kick off in New Jersey, with Spain and Argentina battling it out for the biggest prize in football. It's clinical passing and structure versus ferocious passion and guile. Paul was joined from New York by Miguel Delaney, author and chief football writer with the London Independent.

Firefighters in southern Spain said today that a wildfire, which has killed at least 12 people, is close to being brought under control. The development has allowed hundreds of evacuated residents to return home. RTÉ Correspondent Dimitri O'Donnell reported from the region.

In just over a week's time, the Government is due to publish its investigation into the Aughinish Alumina plant in Co Limerick amid claims that the plant's exports to Russia are ending up assisting President Putin's war on Ukraine. The directly-elected Mayor of Limerick John Moran joined Paul in studio for a discussion.

The pay row between the Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan and solicitors working in the District Courts on criminal cases is expected to intensify next week. Paul was joined by Gary Mulchrone, a solicitor in criminal law at Thomas J Walsh Solicitors in Castlebar, and President of the Mayo Solicitors Bar Association.

The drone delivery operator Manna announced last month that it was ceasing delivery operations in Ireland, in what was termed a 'strategic pause' due to an absence of a clear national planning framework here. This week Manna announced it would employ about 1,000 people over the next 3 years in the US. Paul spoke to Manna's co-founder Bobby Healy.

A VAT cut for restaurants came into effect at the start of July, but that doesn't mean the cost of your takeaway being delivered will go down. The workers in the takeaway meal economy were typically classed as self-employed, but new legislation will require them to be classified as employees. RTÉ reporter Eithne Dodd has been finding out more.

A diplomatic battle has been underway in recent months between the EU and the United States over the future of the former war-torn Balkan nation of Bosnia Herzegovina. Paul was joined in studio by Kurt Bassuener, co-founder of advocacy group The Democratization Policy Council, for a discussion about what's at stake for all parties.

Finally to France, where the far right leader Marine Le Pen announced this week that she will run for the presidency in April. She made the announcement after an appeals court ruling opened the way for her fourth tilt at the top job. To find out more, Paul was joined from Paris by The Irish Times Correspondent Naomi O'Leary.

A row between Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan and solicitors over pay in the District Courts is threatening to cause further legal disruption this week. To discuss the impasse, Paul was joined by Michael O'Higgins, Senior Counsel, who practices in the criminal courts.

A man in his 40s has died following a shooting incident in Dún Laoghaire in South County Dublin. Paul was joined from the scene by RTÉ reporter Karen Creed.

Ireland’s EU Commissioner Michael McGrath said the Commission was maintaining close contact with the Irish government in advance of the completion of its report into Aughinish Alumina, the Co Limerick refinery which has been sending alumina to Russia. Irish Times correspondent Conor Gallagher joined Paul for a thorough discussion.

Survivors of mother-and-baby institutions say they're still finding it extremely difficult to secure full access to documentation about their lives from the State and its agencies. Paul spoke to a survivor of the St Patricks Home on the Navan Road, and to Patricia Carey, Special Advocate for Survivors of Institutional Abuse.

The Ukrainian armed forces have continued persistent drone strikes on oil refineries inside Russia, leading to fuel shortages and queues at forecourts across the country. Russia has been forced to import fuel to try and counter the problem and ease mounting public anger. Paul spoke about the situation with Moscow-based Correspondent Fred Weir.

Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan.

Shona Murray, Europe Correspondent for EuroNews.

Senior Journalist with the Irish Examiner Neil Michael.

RTÉ Reporter Eithne Dodd.

Peter Power, head of UNICEF in Ireland.

Lucy Fisher, Financial Times.

Foreign Affairs and Defence Minister Helen McEntee.

Professor Michael Barry, Director of the NCPE.