Highlights From The Pat Kenny Show

Why can’t we offer MRIs and ultrasounds in hospital 24/7? Why is it still an accepted norm to wait hours in A&E? Why do issues with staffing, such as spending unnecessary amounts on agency nurses, persist? All to discuss with Dr Chris Luke, Former A&E Consultant and Phil Ní Sheaghdha from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.

Questions surrounding the future of our energy supply are being raised again. It comes as the Taoiseach and Ministers have voiced their support for an LNG facility of some kind. Given this, our reporter Josh Crosbie travelled to North Kerry to meet with those who are for and against the proposed Shannon LNG project. 

Why do some people need less sleep? What is sleep for? Sleep and the immune system and what science says about ‘short-sleepers’. All to discuss with Luke O'Neill Luke O’Neill, Professor of Biochemistry at the school of Immunology, Trinity College.

Prime Minister Starmer and President Trump meet in Washington following announcement to increase UK defense spending. Joining us to discuss this and more news from the UK was Enda Brady, TRT Presenter and International TV News Anchor.

Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan announced plans to establish register for those convicted of serious sexual assault or domestic violence. The call has been welcomed by survivors of domestic violence but there are concerns over the anonymity of the victims with a public register. To discuss this further Jonathan was joined on the show by Sarah McGuinness, Political Correspondent with The Irish Daily Mail and also Nicola Hanney, survivor of domestic abuse.

Last week it was indicated that planning rules around cabins and modular homes would be relaxed. We ask how viable is it to live in a modular home.Speaking to Jonathan this morning was Paula Donohue has been a owner of a modular home  in Taum for around two years and also Sean Brett founder of Steel Tech Modular Homes to discuss.

Yesterday Donald Trump announced his intention to impose 25% on imports on goods from the EU. What will this mean for Ireland? To discuss further Jonathan spoke to Pat Leahy Political Editor with the Irish Times.

Plans for a multi-million euro outdoor swimming pool in Dublin’s North Inner City are making waves again. However, locals say the money could be better well spent, to tackle crime and improve the lives of those living near the proposed site. Josh Crosbie has been looking into this and reports for us.

This week Lisa Canon takes us through Low Budget and Indie Films made for $1 million and less which won BIG awards and made millions.

The Sorrow and the Loss – Journalist and Author Martin Dillon presents a vital exploration of the toll Northern Ireland’s bloody conflict took on women from his new book ‘The Sorrow and the Loss’. 

This week Diarmuid Gavin tells us the history of Derek Jarman’s garden Prospect Cottage. Derek Jarman was never a man to follow convention. A filmmaker, artist, writer, and activist, his life was one of relentless creativity and defiance. his artistic journey took an unexpected turn when he found himself on the windswept shingle of Dungeness, a desolate landscape on the Kent coast, dominated by a looming nuclear power station and battered by salt-laden winds. Most people would have seen it as barren, inhospitable. Jarman saw possibility. When he overheard talk of a small black fisherman’s cottage for sale, he bought it on impulse and named it Prospect Cottage 

In 2027 the Ryder Cup golf tournament will return to Ireland in Adare Manor. Hotels warned not to price gouge ahead of Ryder cup. Director of Hospitality and Guest Experience at Ryder Cup Europe Alan Evans. We discuss this further with Hotels warned not to price gouge ahead of Ryder cup.

Today is National Slow Down Day, which is something that the Garda do a few times per year on designated days. That means we will see a large amount of extra speed straps and camera vans deployed today. Pat spoke to Conor Faughnan Transport Consultant.

New research from Tesco Ireland into families benefitting from the Stronger Starts Food programme reveals that almost 9 out of 10 parents surveyed have seen their children eating healthier at home The initiative sees Tesco provide free packs of fresh fruit and vegetables to thousands of children in 240 DEIS primary schools across Ireland every week. Natasha Adams CEO Tesco Ireland  explained more about the programme to Pat this morning.

Between surrogacy and IVF there are so many options and questions for fertility but where do people start? Nikki Dwyer started the Future fertility show to help people navigate their options when it comes to starting a family with help of experts like Dr Ahmed Omar from Beacon CARE Fertility.

Apple has announced that airpods will be the latest technology to provide clinical-grade hearing aid. Newstalk Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly brings us the details.

A new plan to deal with violence in the capital has been launched by social democrats, with knife surrender bins being part of the proposal, Gary Gannon tells us more. 

Yesterday Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan was leading a European Parliament delegation to visit Palestine as part of the Relations Committee with Palestine of which she is chair. In order to travel into Palestine she and her delegation had to fly through Israel. Upon landing, however, she and the group she was travelling with were held in the airport and refused entry. To get the full story Lynn Boylan joins us from Brussels.

Saturday 1 March is DSPCA Foster Day, in which the DSPCA raise awareness over the importance of fostering animals to prepare them for adoption into their forever homes. Many animals, including puppies, kittens, and pregnant and sick animals needing rest are available for fostering. For more on the foster day Pat spoke to Nicola Gibbons, DSPCA Dog Foster Coordinator. 

Dublin’s O’Connell Street is lined with a number of statues that all have one thing in common they are all men. A proposal was put forward by Dublin City Council in 2018 for a statue of Constance Markievicz, but proposals have since changed to another statue. Is it time to have a female statue on O'Connell Street?Pat discussed this further with Councillor Cat O’Driscoll, Social Democrats.