907. The Health System in Crisis: A Winter of Discontent

The trolly crisis is out of control and while Covid might not be getting the headlines it once was, it is still dangerous enough that it is having serious implications for hundreds of people and putting strain on our already struggling health service. Joining us on the tortoise shack is DCU’s Professor of Health Systems, Anthony Staines. We talk about […]

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914. Ireland’s Defamation Laws and the Tyranny of the Talentless

It was a pleasure to be joined by Emma DeSouza and Roman and Eoin of the ditch to discuss the week that was and what is up ahead. We chat about Dr Vicky Conway posthumously winning Irish Women’s Lawyer of the Year, the ridiculous and vile “Ireland is Full” hashtag, the Children’s Hospital’s Grenfell cladding, the Global Property Bubble Index […]

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908. It’s Not a Dog’s Life

We love our pets. So why don’t we have laws (not guidelines) that look after them? Joining me on the tortoise shack is Sinn Féin Senator, Lynn Boylan, to discuss the Oireachtas Committee Report that outlines some of the ways we need to act now to stop animal cruelty and give breeding dogs a better quality of life. We also […]

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911. Tory Chaos: A Little Less Insane?

As the UK does more U-turns than a James Bond car chase and Lizz Truss is given the title PINO, Prime minister In Name Only, we caught up with economic justice campaigner and now tortoise shack regular, Prof Richard Murphy. He explains that while the return to ‘Business As Usual’ may have appeased the ‘markets’, it’ll do less than nothing […]

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905. Black Light with Michael O’Toole

Crime Correspondent with the Irish Daily Star, Michael O’Toole has written his first fictional novel, Black Light. So of course we had to have a chat about it and how much of his life and work was poured into it. It’s a fast-paced plot twisting page turner. We also discuss the current situation for both the Hutch and Kinahan gangs […]

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910. Tortoise Shack Live – Hell-Sinki Bound

This was a brilliant tortoise shack Sunday show! Thanks to Shrapnel co-host, Sam McIlwaine, Legal Eagle, Seana Grant and Irish man in Finland, Dan Nikstrom for joining us to talk election gerrymandering, immigration Stamp System dysfunction, ill-judged chants and sectarian songs, social housing done correctly, data centre bailouts, the Tory govt dysfunction and why we’re all moving to Helsinki. tickets […]

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904. Who Am I? – The Mother and Baby Home Information System

The government have launched their long-awaited online service to assist people affected by the Mother and Baby Homes to find out their personal details. Joining me to discuss this is co-founder of the Adoptions Rights Alliance and director of the Clann Project, Claire McGettrick. We talk about the services now available and whether they are fit for purpose, the Government […]

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888. Just Collect the Taxes!

The Government announced their plans for a flexible retirement age and for years now we’ve read or heard about the tick, tick, ticking of a pensions time-bomb. Then we witnessed Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, dismissing the expert Commission on Taxation, let’s just say that many eyebrows were raised. A Government preaching for less taxation, while looking to extend the working life? […]

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