The Explainer

Even if you've never watched an episode of Love Island in your life, it has become almost impossible to escape the drama. This season, with Galway footballer Seán Fitzgerald swapping the GAA pitch for Majorca, viewers in Ireland are once again deeply invested in the villa's antics.

But away from the poolside chats, the series faces heavy scrutiny over its intense production schedules and a shift from genuine matchmaking to becoming an influencer pipeline. We're joined by Kate Demolder, arts and culture journalist, to examine the growing criticisms aimed at the franchise and how its modern duty of care measures up against a deeply controversial reality TV legacy.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda has just been declared a global health emergency, sparking alarm worldwide. It is driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain, a variant of the virus for which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment. Complicating matters further, the epicentre lies in a war-torn region where medical workers face rebel checkpoints, depleted supplies, and widespread public suspicion. We’re joined by Dr Gabriel Fitzpatrick, a consultant in public health medicine who is director of the International Clinic in Dublin, and who has worked on the frontline of previous Ebola outbreaks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New figures suggest the rental market could be experiencing historic levels of strain. Rents surged by 4.4% between December and March, marking the largest quarterly increase on record for the Daft.ie series. We’re joined by Michael Byrne, Associate Professor at the School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice at University College Dublin, and author of Beyond Generation Rent, to examine how tied this rise is to recent rent reforms - and what, if anything, could help to reverse the situation.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest is playing out this week, in the shadow of unprecedented controversy. Five traditionally participating countries, including Ireland, are boycotting this year's competition in Vienna over Israel's inclusion in protest over the country’s wars in Gaza and Lebanon. The Journal’s News Editor and resident Eurovision expert Daragh Brophy joins us to examine the impact on the song contest. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For decades, nuclear power has been the ultimate taboo in Irish energy policy, with proposals dating back to the late 1960s ultimately defeated by massive public opposition. But as energy bills soar and climate targets loom, some politicians are asking if it's time to rethink the nuclear option. Has modern technology answered the long-standing concerns over nuclear safety, and is it a realistic solution for a country of our size? We’re joined by Dr Pádraig Lyons, head of the International Energy Research Centre, based at UCC’s Tyndall National Institute.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.