The Claire Byrne Show

A new ESB price hike means you could be paying more to charge up than you would be for petrol or diesel. We get reaction to this with Policy Advisor to the Irish Environmental Network, Oisin Coughlan.

Unions and Government representatives, held separate meetings yesterday with an independent body in a bid to resolve the public sector pay row. For the latest on this we heard from Kevin Callinan is Forsa's General Secretary.

When you're doing your Christmas shopping, do you consider shopping local? Or do you generally go for the ease of shopping online? With more on this was Irish Times Consumer Affairs Correspondent Conor Pope.

RTE executives will appear at the Oireachtas Media Committee today. It’s Chair, Labour Party TD for Tipperary North Alan Kelly spoke to Claire ahead of this meeting.

There has been a blue wave in the Mid-term elections with the democrats taking control of the Senate and the House of Representatives. For reaction Claire was joined by Jerry McDermott, who is a Republican, and former Sheriff of Norfolk County, Massachusetts and Joe Walsh, who is a former Republican Congressman in Illinois now registered Democrat.

Arun Kapil of Green Saffron Spices joined Claire in studio and he explained how to prepare a Chicken Changezi.

Do we need more pet-friendly pubs and cafes in Ireland? Or should hospitality spaces be kept just for humans? We debate this with Mary McCarthy, Columnist with The Irish Independent and based in Brussels, and Columnist Brenda Power.

Claire was joined on the show by Clinical Psychologist and Author Dr Maureen Gaffney. Maureen has written a new book is called 'About Life – Notes on Staying Grounded in Unsettled Times'.

Following news yesterday that refrigeration systems at 13 SuperValu stores across Ireland were affected by a suspected cyber attack. It seems there has been a ratcheting up of the scale of these attacks. To look into this with Claire was the co-host of the 'For Tech Sake' podcast, Elaine Burke.

Colm Meaney, Aidan Gillen, Brian Gleeson and Alex Murphy are set to star in a film about the rise of betting company Paddy Power. The movie will be based on the book Punters: How Paddy Power Bet Billions and Changed Gambling Forever, by journalist Aaron Rogan, who is also the Deputy Editor of the Business Post.

Polls are opening today in the US midterms. Polls suggest the Republican Party is struggling to keep support amid dissatisfaction around the cost of living and the war in Iran. Reporter Bairbre Holmes is in Pennsylvania, a so-called purple state where both major parties enjoy support. Also Claire looked ahead to the election with former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

Ed Finn Travel Expert with Edfinntravels joined Claire this morning to talk through some winter sun options with a difference.

Almost 90% of our schools are still under the patronage of religious organisations. Should Religion be involved in schools? Claire discussed this further with Karin Fischer, Professor at the University of Orléans in France, is an expert in this area and the author of Separate But Equal? Schools and the Politics of Religion and Diversity in the Republic of Ireland.

Back on the picket lines. Can the public pay row be resolved? Claire asked Peter Chap Cleere, Fianna Fail TD for Carlow/Kilkenny and People Before Profit's Richard Boyd Barrett. Also speaking to Claire was Fionnan Sheahan, Ireland Editor, Irish Independent.

Claire's guest is Mentalist, magician and hypnotist– Keith Barry. For most of us our experience of hypnotism doesn’t go far beyond watching the likes of Paul McKenna on the TV back in the day or seeing your mate doing something mad on stage during Freshers Week. Those are examples of stage hypnosis but hypnosis is also used for therapeutic purposes in what is known as hypnotherapy. For the lay person the whole area is one that is shrouded in intrigue, suspicion and sometimes controversy. But it’s something Claire has always been fascinated by, at a distance. In this episode Claire speaks with Keith Barry. He is a multi-award winning entertainer and magician with a Merlin Award and a James Joyce Award to his name. And hypnotism has always played a central role in his outstanding career. Indeed he is probably the world’s foremost TV hypnotist. Can he hypnotise Claire? Email the podcast on never@newstalk.com

Have you ever considered renting your clothes instead of buying them? The idea is becoming popular around the world, for people who want to regularly update their wardrobes with less cost and less waste. Aoife Dunican, The Style Bob tells us more.

Fridges in 13 SuperValu stores have been targeted as part of a cyberattack, resulting in frozen and chilled foods being removed from shelves. We got the latest on this with Journalist and Consumer Columnist with The Irish Examiner, Caitriona Redmond.

We take a look ahead to the US Mid Term elections with Hilary McGann, Journalist, with the Instagram page ‘NewsByHil’.

Bestselling author Jodi Picoult joined Claire this morning to chat about her on her new book called 'Hollow Bones'.

A look back on a busy weekend of sport with Eoin Sheahan from Off The Ball.

Three years ago, a team of Irish Army Rangers winched onto a vessel called the MV Mathew. Taking it by force as it tried to make a break for international waters with over two tonnes of cocaine on board. A new documentary series takes us behind the scenes of some of Ireland’s biggest drugs busts and one of the people featured is Tom Talbot head of Investigation, Prosecution, and Frontier Management Division for Revenue.

German ministers have threatened tough penalties for looters and rioters. Stores were damaged and more than 100 police officers were injured in Frankfurt on Saturday night. Rob Hyde, Freelance Journalist based in Germany, was present at the protests in Hamburg.

Trade Unions are meeting today to discuss possible strike action next Wednesday November 11th. Talks ended on Friday night with unions citing a 'significant impasse', with talks due at the Workplace Relations Commission again tomorrow. Speaking to Claire with more on this was Gerard Howlin, Public Affairs Consultant and Irish times columnist.

This week on our parenting slot we discuss how to navigate the family outing. With some guidance on this was Claire Crowe, Member of the Psychological Society of Ireland.

Parents have paid out over €116million in voluntary contributions in five years, despite our much-vaunted ‘free’ education system. Claire discusses this further with Labour's Education Spokesperson and TD, Eoghan Kenny and CEO of One Family, Karen Kiernan.

We lost one of our greatest athletes yesterday morning. Ciara Mageean died at the age of just 34 – 17 months after her cancer diagnosis. To pay tribute to Ciara, Claire was joined by Gavin Noble, Olympian and Chef de Mission for Team Ireland at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, David Gillick, Irish international track and field athlete. Also we heard from Martina McCarthy, Ciara's friend and Sport Ireland Institute senior strength and conditioning coach.

We look back on the stories of the week with our panel in studio. Joining Ciara for this week's debrief was Paul Hosford, Deputy Political Editor of the Irish Examiner, broadcaster Meghann Scully and Liam Herrick. Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.

As the court is set to hear final arguments and the case enters closing stages entertainment journalist, Caroline Frost brought us the latest on the Russell Brand trial.

Did you see the Traitors last night? If you didn't, prepare for some spoilers. But we're sorry, we just can't help it! Entertainment Correspondent for the Irish Independent Melaine Finn and Lorcan Nyha from the Communications Clinic and Columnist both joined Ciara on the show to give all the updates and news from last night's Celerity Traitors.

Eoin Sheahan from Off The Ball previews all the weekend's sporting action.

The stage and screen actor Sir Patrick Stewart has died at the age of 86. Film Reviewer, Cara O'Doherty looks back on his life and career.

Acclaimed Irish music festival Other Voices turns 25 this year. Ciara Doherty was joined by MayKay, musician and host of the upcoming Other Voices: Home at the Guinness Storehouse event to discuss her Other Voices highlights.

Yesterday saw the biggest heist in human history, yet no bank was robbed, no getaway driver and no high-speed chase. Rather, a few hackers, managed to steal over 6 billion dollars of crypto currency. Ronan Murphy, Chief Strategy Officer at Forcepoint, and cybersecurity expert joined Ciara on the show to discuss.

Across the country, this week events will be held to try to curb the disturbances caused by bonfires and illegal fireworks. One area where community groups and the council are working together is Finglas in north Dublin. Reporter Bairbre Holmes visited to hear how preparations for Finglas Fright Night are coming along and brought us this report.

Is there really a chance we could be living on Mars? And what is the recent obsession with moving to space? Niamh Shaw, the scientist, explorer, engineer and space obsessive joined us on the show this morning to discuss.

A new Government body is being set up to research the challenges involved in a united Ireland. Pat Leahy, Political Editor of The Irish Times joined Ciara on the show with the details.

Garda sergeant John Fitzpatrick has said that Illegal fireworks are being sold to children through social media platforms such as Snapchat and WhatsApp while other messaging platforms with disappearing messages are beings used. Daithí Doolan, Sinn Féin Cllr for Ballyfermot/Drimnagh, Laura Melody, Consultant in paediatric emergency medicine and Peter Hendrick, third officer with Dublin Fire Brigade all joined Ciara Doherty on the show this morning.

Are we doing enough to protect our seas? Ciara asked Professor Tasman Crowe, UCD Vice President for Sustainability who chairs the National Biodiversity Forum and co-chairs the Marine Protected Areas Advisory group. Going Green is with thanks to Repak.

The President of the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde, is to resign from her role in February. She will be stepping down nine months before her eight year term was to expire. For more on this, we heard from Editor with The Currency, Thomas Hubert.

Ódhran Dever died at University Galway Hospital last year at 2 days old, from injuries he suffered during delivery. He had been born at 28 weeks. An inquest was held where a verdict of medical misadventure was returned. Ciara was joined this morning by Andrea Dever mother of Ódhran and Treasa Norrby, Senior Associate in the Negligence Medical Department at Callan Tansey Solicitors.

It’s time for ask the expert. This week’s expert is Trevor Grant, the Chairperson of the Association of Irish Mortgage Advisors.

Next week will mark 50 years since the ultimate underdog story, 'Rocky', first hit theatres. To mark the anniversary, we're getting a brand a new film 'I play Rocky', a Sylvester Stallone biopic which tells the unbelievable true story behind the movie. To tell us more was Chris Wasser, Culture Critic and Feature Writer with the Irish Independent.

An Tánaiste Simon Harris returns to Government working after taking paternity leave. The Tánaiste joined Ciara in studio this morning.

With the number of criminal offences growing. It is possible that no one knows the exact number of such offences that already exist in Irish law. To talk about the issues this raises is Lecturer of Law in UCC Luke Noonan.

The US midterms are fast approaching, but who are the two Dan Sullivan's running for senate in Alaska? Is this a freak coincidence or an ingenious ploy from the Democrats? To tell us more was Scott Lucas Journalist and professor of International Politics at UCD's Clinton Institute.