A major change is underway in how local communities, gardaí, and councils discuss safety in Ireland. But you might not be allowed to hear about it just yet. The government is replacing the long-standing Joint Policing Committees with new Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSPs). However, new Department of Justice guidelines are advising councils to restrict press access to these meetings. What are these new committees, and what do these rules mean for public accountability? We're joined by Eoghan Dalton, a reporter at The Journal.

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It was something many people noticed on Monday: the internet was slow to load, maybe your banking app was acting up, or you weren’t able to complete your daily DuoLingo. You check your WiFi, but the problem isn't in your house. It’s actually a problem with the internet itself. But how? Is it so fragile that business-as-usual is constantly one bad line of code away from collapsing? We're joined by tech journalist and co-host of the For Tech's Sake podcast Elaine Burke.

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After months of intense conflict, genocide, and a devastating humanitarian crisis, what seemed at times impossible has been achieved: a ceasefire in Gaza. The news is a welcome relief, but tempered by concerns over whether it will last. There are also significant questions hanging over the fine print of what the plan will actually involve. We're joined by Dr Brendan Ciarán Browne, associate professor in Conflict Resolution and a fellow of Trinity College Dublin, to examine the chances for a lasting resolution to the conflict.

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We’re joined by Elaine Burke, tech journalist and host of the For Tech’s Sake podcast to ask: are these new controls a meaningful step towards safety, or just a sticking plaster on a much deeper problem?

We’re all grappling with how to use new AI tools, or whether to attempt to stay away from them completely. For some people, they've become a source of support. But what happens when a chatbot becomes a trusted confidant for a teenager in crisis?

Following a lawsuit in the United States from the parents of a teenager who died by suicide, OpenAI is rolling out parental controls for ChatGPT. The move comes as data suggests mental health queries are a common type of prompt from Irish users, with local experts and regulators issuing stark warnings about the dangers of using AI for therapy. 

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The hugely successful reality competition series The Traitors is about to land in Ireland, following much loved versions in the UK, US, Australia and beyond. It’s the latest in a long line of television programmes to go from concept to global franchise - think Big Brother, Love Island, MasterChef. This trend seems to be taking up more and more airtime on our screens.

But how does a show actually make that leap? What’s the business behind international formats? And what does the rise of these "global-but-local" shows tell us about how we watch TV today? We’re joined by Sunday Times columnist and arts journalist Aoife Barry.

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A coordinated international approach to events in Gaza appeared to emerge last week, with countries like the UK, France and Canada announcing their plans for formal recognition of the State of Palestine. They were following the earlier lead of Ireland, Spain and Norway. The catalyst for the move is clear — the unfolding genocide, deepening humanitarian crisis and harrowing scenes of starvation in Gaza have intensified both public outrage and political pressure, pushing governments to act. 

The question now is, what real difference, if any, will this make for Palestinians on the ground? In this episode, we explore what lies behind the shift, its implications for global diplomacy, and any possible outcomes. Our own reporter, David Mac Redmond, joins us to discuss.

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Jeffrey Epstein's name has long cast a shadow over America's elites, but new reporting has dragged one prominent figure back into the swirl of accusations: President Donald Trump.

Supporters who once demanded the release of the so-called Epstein Files have watched as the Trump administration shifted tone after the president’s own name appeared in court filings and related documents. What exactly is in the files? And what is Trump’s real connection to the disgraced financier?

We’re joined by our own columnist, Larry Donnelly, a lawyer and law lecturer at the University of Galway, to untangle the facts from the conspiracy theories.

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In 2024, Ireland made announced it would divest from six companies associated with illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. New reporting says otherwise.

The Journal's FactCheck Editor Stephen McDermott detailed how in 2013 the State’s sovereign wealth fund held more than €10 million in eight companies flagged by the UN for links to settlement activity. These companies include global names like Airbnb, Booking.com, and Motorola Solutions, as well as Israeli firms supplying fuel and telecoms infrastructure inside settlements. Why do these investments remain? How are they justified? And what pressure is there for Ireland to go further?

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Ireland was named the loneliest country in Europe, but how did we get here?

This week on The Explainer, we’re looking at the scale and impact of loneliness in Irish society. From bereavement to social isolation, housing to remote work, our recent Your Stories piece highlighted just how many people are affected, and how deeply.

Dr Joanna McHugh Power of Maynooth University and chair of the Loneliness Taskforce Research Network joins us to explain the causes and consequences of long-term loneliness, what the latest research tells us, and what practical steps individuals and policymakers can take.

Help is available: you can contact Samaritans on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.ie or ALONE on 0818 222 024.

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It had all the makings of a Hollywood thriller — a dramatic high-seas chase, elite Army Rangers fast-roping onto the deck, and a massive cocaine haul hidden in plain sight. In September 2023, the seizure of the cargo ship MV Matthew led to the discovery of 2,000 kilograms of cocaine with a street value of €157 million euro.  It was the State's largest ever drug seizure.

Since that dramatic day, courtrooms have heard about encrypted phones, international smuggling routes, and plans to destroy the evidence. And now, we’re taking a step back to explain the full story.

We're joined by Niall O'Connor, News Correspondent with The Journal, who has been covering the story in detail. 

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