The Hard Shoulder

This week, Ciara and Shane were joined by Off the Ball’s Cameron Hill and Freelance Journalist Niamh O’Reilly, to look back on the week that was, but with a few twists...

The HSE drugs group’s recommendation to refuse reimbursement for the drug Skyclarys is a stark reminder of the devastating human cost that can lie behind bureaucratic decisions. So wrote Consultant in Paediatric Intensive Care, Dr Suzanne Crowe, in The Journal yesterday.
She joins Ciara to discuss.

Just 6% of children say they spend enough meaningful time with people closest to them – that's according to new research from Heinz Beanz & Barnardos.
Joining Shane to discuss the findings is Vogue Williams, TV personality, podcaster and mum-of-three & Dr Malie Coyne, Galway-based Chartered Clinical Psychologist.
For more information, or if you wish to donate, you can do so at barnardos.ie/donate.

Off The Ball’s John Duggan joined Shane and Ciara on The Hard Shoulder to review the week in sport and look ahead to the weekend action…

The Government has confirmed that the planned reversal of excise duty fuel cuts in September and October will not go ahead.
Joining Ciara to discuss this is Minister for Agriculture, Martin Heydon. Later, Shane is joined by Pat Leahy, Political Editor of The Irish Times and John Fitzgerald, Adjunct Professor of Economics at Trinity College Dublin.