Highlights From The Pat Kenny Show

From venues and sporting events to equipment and travel, sport, like every industry, has an environmental impact. As the climate continues to change, heatwaves and other extreme weather phenomena negatively affect competitions and impact athletes’ health and performance. Sustainability Journalist Jo Linehan tells us what is being done to reduce this impact.  

Some children are not being seen for their crucial child developmental checks. While parents in some parts of the country find it hard to access these appointments at all, due to a post code lottery. Newstalk Reporter Stephaine Rohan has been looking into this and explained her findings with Pat.

According to a new survey, a majority of people believe that the family home should be exempt from inheritance tax. The survey also found that many are unsure about the inheritance tax thresholds. Joining Pat to discuss further is the Irish Independent’s Personal Finance Editor, Charlie Weston.  

Most people know Alcatraz as the infamous prison in San Francisco Bay, a place of punishment, isolation, and harsh living. Yet the story of the island is much richer than that. Long before it became a federal penitentiary, Alcatraz had gardens. In fact, the history of gardening on the island stretches back three times longer than its life as a prison.Dermot Gavin tells us the story of the gardens of Alcatraz.

In June of 2020, Katherine Zappone stepped down as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. A latecomer to elected politics, Zappone was first nominated to Seanad Éireann in 2011 before making in to a seat at the Cabinet table. Katherine chronicles her life leading up to this in her new memoir. 

VHI, Laya and Irish Life Health (ILH) recently announced further rate increases from the 1st of October. For VHI and ILH, the average increase will be 3% whereas the Laya average increase will be 4.5%. To discuss the increases and how to get the best deal was Dermot Goode health insurance expert with Healthinsuranceireland.ie.

Lisa Cannon, TV Host and Executive Producer for ‘Spotlight’ takes a look at the family favourite movie 'Toy Story.

Why job turnover at Irish workplaces has surged to a record high? All to discuss with Donal O’ Donoghue, MD Sanderson Recruitment.

European leaders are meeting in Copenhagen today to discuss continued support for Ukraine. It follows one of the largest attacks of the war over the weekend where at least four people were killed in Kyiv. Sean Bell Former Fighter Pilot, Military Analyst and Co-Host Of The Red Matrix Podcast, in Kyiv  joins us from on the ground in Kyiv.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin is among several EU leaders gathering in Denmark today for an informal European council meeting to discuss defence and drone incursions. Ministers across several departments have clashed with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. We discuss this and more with Harry McGee, Political Correspondent with the Irish Times and also Michael Gillespie, TUI General Secretary.

In the Green Scene this week our Moon is rusting and it could be Earth’s fault. We also hear how scientists used AI to create a brand-new virus, and a couple of new antibiotics. All to discuss with Dr Ruth Freeman Director of Research for Society For Research Ireland.All with thanks to Repak.

Daft, broken process for the ‘surrender’ of driving licenses. There are about 11,000 cases per year where a driver is disqualified. That can be for reaching 12 penalty points, or for getting a disqualification from a court. When disqualified, you are supposed to hand over the document itself within 14 days.We ask why was only one disqualified driver out of thousands penalised for the offence? All to discuss with Conor Faughnan, Transport Commentator.

US shut down, Tony Blair in Gaza peace deal and what next for the Labour party. All to discuss with Alastair Campbell writer and mental health campaigner and host of The Rest is Politics Podcast.

Last night, the three candidates for the Presidency took to their first three-way debate on Virgin Media’s Tonight Show. We listen back to the highlights with analysis from Newstalk Political Correspondent and Host of the Let Me Explain Podcast Seán Defoe.

Meta boss says Irish parents should take charge of kids’ Instagram and Facebook usage more. Launching new teen accounts in Ireland, Meta’s Global Head of Safety, Antigone Davis, said that parents should step up to judge whether content their kids see is ‘free speech’ or ‘harmful’.We discuss further with Jess Kelly Newstalk's Technology Correspondent.

Only 13 men will begin their studies for the priesthood this autumn. The number is down from 21 last year and takes the total number of Seminarians for the country’s dioceses to 77. But just why is this number falling? Pat discusses this further with Fr Paddy Byrne, Parish priest of Abbeyleix, Co Laois. 

A new film, 'Re Creation' imagines the debate in the jury room following the trail of Ian Baily for the murder of Sophie Toscan Du Plantier. Joining Pat on the show was Jim Sheridan, Six Time Academy Nominated Director and also David Merriman, Award Winning Writer and Director.

Bali has become on the most popular holiday destinations in recent years. With a tropical climate all year around alongside lively beach clubs, relaxing yoga retreats and fresh acai bowls. We ask Is Bali the tropical paradise that social media portrays it to be? All to discuss with Ruby Borg, Social Media Editor at Lifestyle with The Telegraph.

A US peace plan for Gaza has been welcomed by European and Middle eastern leaders. President Donald Trump has warned Hamas to accept it.   Pat discusses this and more with Duncan Bullivant, Special Advisor to the Head of the Bosnia peace keeping mission and Ceo of the Henderson group, an international risk management advisory.  

We take look at new figures contained in 2024 ‘Local Authority Performance Indicator Report’ from National Oversight and Audit Commission. The findings all to discuss with  Michael McCarthy, Chair of the National Oversight and Audit Commission.