Highlights From The Pat Kenny Show

When the European Central Bank meets this month to discuss a potential interest rates cut this month, Donald’s Trump tariffs will be front and centre along with Russia’s war with Ukraine. So how will the ECB deal with these issues? To discuss this and much more was the President of the European Central Bank Christine Lagarde who joined Pat in studio this morning.

Could the occupied territories bill could be put off to keep the US happy. But is this the right move? Pat discusses this further with  Richard Boyd Barrett, People Before Profit TD for Dun Laoghaire and also Craig Hughes, Political Editor at the Irish Daily Mail.

Today Meta AI has launched in Europe and is now accessible for free across Europe through the messaging apps people already know and love. It's is available across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger. Newstalk's Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly brings us the details.

Today, Donald Trump faces two electoral tests in both Wisconsin and Florida with two state elections taking place. It comes against his planned ‘liberation day’ tomorrow with significant tariff announcements expected. We get the latest from Terry Sheridan, Senior Director of News at WSHU Public Radio.

It's 60 years since the Irish blood transfusion board was set up. With 1 in 4 of us needing a donation at some point or other, countless lives have been saved and shaped by the service. But what is the history of the IBTS and whose stories are inextricably linked to it? Newstalk's Sarah Madden reports: 

Weapons flights over Ireland have increased almost 70% in a decade, hitting their highest level in 13 years last year. Senators will propose a bill on Wednesday to ensure none of these flights are destined for Israel. One of those Senators, Alice Mary Higgins joined Pat on the show.

Vacant and derelict properties have long been floated as one part of a solution to the housing crisis. But how easy would it be to bring those vacant properties on stream and do the various schemes work as intended?Pat discussed this with Dr Cian O’Callaghan, Assistant Professor of Urban Geography at Trinity College Dublin and also Cllr Fiona Bonfield, Labour, Tipperary County Council.

The True Story of Ireland’s Mafia’ is landmark television Kinahan: The True Story of Ireland’s Mafia started last night on BBC – its a four part series that looks into the rise of the Dublin crime gang to global power. Pat spoke to Nicola Tallant, Investigations Editor, Sunday World. Author, producer, podcaster about what is featured in the series.

Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy faces a vote on motion of confidence in the Dáil today, Barry Heneghan has asked for a seat swap to get away from Michael Lowry and of course tariffs will be on todays agenda too.To look ahead to a busy day in the Dáil was Fionnan Sheahan, Ireland Editor at the Irish Independent. 

Peter Cosgrove joined us for this week’s Ask the Expert slot. Peter discussed the skills auditing and upskilling, how to broadening your interests and how to best to search for a job. All with thanks to Hidden Hearing.

In-laws, potential in–laws, the challenges for parents, and big relationships with breakups and when new ones begin. But there is a third group, and it is the parents of adult children who split with their significant long-term partners. Stephanie Regan, Clinical Psychotherapist, joined Pat on the show.

Journalist and Author Lara Marlowe, who will deliver the annual lecture to the arts and humanities faculty of University College Dublin on Wednesday evening, joined Pat on the show this morning.

It was a weekend of celebrations for Aston Villa, who are off to the FA Cup semi-finals. They secured against Preston's north end following two strikes from Marcus Rashford, who is on loan from Manchester United.  Meanwhile, Ireland's women’s rugby team dominated Italy in their second game of the 6 nations. Colm Boohig from Off the Ball joined us on the show this morning.

All this week Newstalk is teaming up with Make a Wish to raise money for children with critical illness. Make A Wish creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illness. Ruth McDonnell Mum of Ruairi (RIP) & Fionn McDonnell had the same genetic illness, and both have been granted a wish by Make a Wish. Ruairi’s illness was caught late and sadly Ruairi passed away. Fionn’s was caught early and thankfully he is doing well after a long journey. Ruairi’s wish was to have sensory equipment and Fionn’s wish was to have football goals. Ruth McDonnell Mother of Ruairi (RIP) & Fionn McDonnell joined Pat Kenny on the show.   

The Government is considering legislation to exclude decisions on the Dublin Airport passenger cap from the planning system. It comes as the passenger cap risks being dragged into the EU-US trade war. Kenny Jacobs, Group CEO of the DAA joined Pat on the show.

The head of Roundtower Capital, a leading alternative funder of housebuilders, has claimed a “culture of silence” among developers over infrastructure bottlenecks. Developers refrain from criticising utility delays in housing developments for fears that they will be blacklisted, leading to further delays in generating housing. Ian Lawlor, Managing Director of Roundtower Capital joined Pat on the show this morning.

 Almost one year since taking over as Taoiseach, Simon Harris is now two months into his new role as Tánaiste, along with two ministerial portfolios in Foreign Affairs & Trade and Defence. Both portfolios have not been quiet in his first two months and neither has domestic politics. Simon Harris, Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Minister for Defence and Leader of Fine Gael, joined Pat Kenny on the show.

If you have any little people in your life, it is not uncommon for them to pick up swear words. Kids can often blurt out a curse or two.But what if some of the words they have picked up are very offensive curse words.Iseult White, Psychotherapist and Author joins The Pat Kenny Show to talk us through what we can do when our little ones pick up curse words.

Maeve O’Connell, Fine Gael TD for Dublin Rathdown, Eoin Ó Broin Sinn Féin TD Spokesperson on Housing and Lorcan Nyhan, Columnist with the Sunday Independent and Head of Training at the Communications Clinic, are on the Friday Forum.From the Dáil speaking row and no-confidence motion in the Ceann Comhairle to the Government plan to allow developers invest less and borrow more, get all the best discussion from the week’s stories here.

A group of academics writing in the British Medical Journal has found that blanket smartphone bans do not prepare children for a healthy relationship with technology. Professor James O’Higgins-Norman, is the Director of the DCU Anti-Bullying Centre and joins the Pat Kenny Show to discuss.