Highlights From The Pat Kenny Show

In just under four months Micheál Martin will give up the job of Taoiseach and allow Leo Varadkar to take back the mantle, but how did he do as Taoiseach? Sean Defoe gives us his view with this report.

We hear about the potential for a ‘Chornobyl-like event’ as shelling continues at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine with Nataliya Gumenyuk, Journalist specializing in international security and conflict reporting, human rights. Founder Public Interest Journalism Lab and also we heard from Norma O’Mahony, Nuclear Engineer.

We hear why twelve healthcare workers are being assaulted a work every single day with Paul Cullen, Health Editor of The Irish Times and Dr. Brendan O’Shea, Kildare GP, Assistant Adjuvant Professor for Public Health and Primary Care at Trinity College Dublin.

We get the very latest from Kerry as an investigation is launched after a body of a woman is found in Killarney with Amy Ní Riada Senior Journalist with Radio Kerry.

With school just around the corner, we find out how much parents are paying to send their children back to school with Paul Rolston, Communications Director at National Parents Council Post Primary.

Darragh O’Brien, Minister for Housing, Local Government, and Heritage of Ireland joins us to discuss the An Bord Pleanala report and the ongoing housing crisis.

We ask if anti-social behaviour is on the rise across the country with Senator Barry Ward, Fine Gael Spokesperson on Justice, and Cllr Michael Kilcoyne, Independent Mayo County Councillor.

Could compulsory purchase orders be a solution to the country’s dereliction problem? T debate Pat spoke to Kieran Rose City Planner and also Tom Gilligan, Director of Services for Housing and founder of Vacanthomes.ie.

Our expert today was Martin Hennessy Managing Director of Doodl.ie and she help listeners with their mortgage questions.

With so many system alerts over the last two years, is our power grid in the midst of a perfect storm? For more on this Pat spoke to Brian Ó Gallachóir, Director of MaREI and Professor of Energy Engineering at UCC.

Long waiting lists and long ambulance response times – are staffing and funding solely to blame? To discuss this further Pat was joined this morning by Stephen McMahon, Co-founder of the Irish Patients Association, Fiona Kiernan, Health Economist & Former Consultant, and David Hall, owner of Lifeline Ambulance Service Ltd.

Former Army bomb squad member Mark Keeley criticizes the Government on lack of respect for role of Defence Forces.

As student teachers amongst those taking up roles in correcting this year’s state exams amid shortages, what can be done to recruit teachers to correct the exams once again. To discuss with Pat was Brian Mooney Irish Times Columnist and End of Career Guidance Counsellor with Standard Life.

We take a look back on the news stories of the week with our Friday Forum. Joining Pat today was Philip Ryan Political Editor with the Irish Independent, Matt Carthy Sinn Féin spokesperson on Agriculture and TD for Cavan Monaghan and Mary Seery Kearney Fine Gael Senator Seanad Spokesperson on Children, Disability, Equality, Integration & Privacy Rights.

Bestselling Author Claudia Carroll joined Pat on the show to talk about her latest page turner 'The Love Algorithm'.

Barbequed Beef Burger with Crispy bacon, cheese, egg, and tomato relish is the dish to try this sunny weekend brought to us by Gareth Mullins Executive Chef at the Marker Hotel.

We discuss new data on drug intravenous use with cocaine injections on the rise with Dr. Garrett McGovern, Medical Director and Founder of the Priority Medical Clinic, and also Prof Eamon Keenan, the HSE’s national clinical lead for addiction services.

We hear how employers can make the workplace a safe space for domestic abuse victims. Sarah Benson CEO of Women’s Aid spoke to Pat this morning on the show the training they offer employers and businesses.

We hear how ICS Mortgages is about to put the squeeze on lending to first-time buyers with Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor with The Irish Independent, and also Rebecca Moynihan, Labour Senator, and Spokesperson on Housing Local Government and Heritage.

We hear how many frontline healthcare workers have not yet received their Covid-19 bonus payment with Joan Carthy National Advocacy Manager with the Irish Wheelchair Association.