The Explainer

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.

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The government has announced plans to let homeowners build habitable units of up to 45 sq metres in their back gardens without planning permission, and to rent them out under the Rent-a-Room scheme. It says the move will ease the housing crisis, but critics warn it could create a wave of unregulated rentals where tenants have almost no rights. We're joined by Robin Mandal, former president of the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland and vice chair of the Dublin Democratic Planning Alliance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The recent release of the 1926 census has sparked a huge wave of interest in Irish family history. It was the first census taken after the foundation of the State, capturing a snapshot of the country after a period of massive upheaval. But between missing records, complex transcription errors, and endless name variations, building your family tree can quickly become a daunting puzzle. Jennifer McLachlan Doherty, a Donegal-based genealogist and family history expert from IrishAncestral.com, tells us where to start. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In response to the fuel protests, the government scrambled to announce a €505 million euro support package, slashing excise duties on petrol and diesel. But with the Strait of Hormuz now blockaded by Donald Trump and global oil prices continuing to surge, will these cuts actually be felt by consumers at the pump? And what does this massive supply chain disruption mean for Ireland's food and energy security? We’re joined by Dr Emma Howard, an economist at TU Dublin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ireland's fuel protests have brought parts of the country to a standstill this week, with blockades at refineries and slow-moving convoys on major roads - and currently with no end in sight. But the disruption has raised a much bigger question: where exactly is the legal line when it comes to protest in Ireland? Dr Illan Wall, professor at the Irish Centre for Human Rights at the University of Galway, takes us through the law, the policing of demonstrations, and why Ireland's protest landscape may be shifting in ways we haven't seen before. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.