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Tuesday 5 December 2023 Dublin: 4°C

# Explainer

All time
Another fish fight: Why is the UK at loggerheads with France over fishing?
There is a disagreement about French vessels’ access to UK waters, and whose fault it is.
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10.9k
Oct 29th 2021, 7:45 PM
Explainer: Why has Facebook changed its company name?
Facebook has revealed a new company name and brand, Meta.
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Oct 29th 2021, 1:25 PM
'Both challenging and not ambitious enough': Why the carbon budgets are a huge deal for Ireland
Ireland’s first proposed carbon budgets were finalised yesterday.
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Oct 26th 2021, 4:41 PM
Anti-vaxx groups' claims about Covid deaths among the vaccinated are misleading
Anti-lockdown groups suggest that vaccines aren’t working – but the data shows otherwise.
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Oct 24th 2021, 12:05 AM
Explainer: What is the Fuel Allowance and who can qualify for it?
It was announced in the Budget this week that the Fuel Allowance would increase by €5 per week.
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Oct 17th 2021, 6:30 AM
A useful guide to Ireland's planning system and how to have your say on proposed developments
News of two developments brought the system into focus again this week.
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Oct 9th 2021, 7:00 PM
Explainer: Why did Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp go down yesterday?
The platforms were down for around six hours yesterday.
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Oct 5th 2021, 12:33 PM
The Explainer: What does 'missing white woman syndrome' tell us about media coverage of missing people?
On this week’s podcast we look at the discussions around the deaths of Sarah Everard, Gabby Petito and Sabina Nessa, and the issues about the media coverage of them raised on social media.
0
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Oct 1st 2021, 6:00 PM
The Explainer: Why are there fears about Ireland facing power shortages this winter?
In this week’s podcast, we look at what’s behind these fears, and how the supply of electricity works.
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Sep 27th 2021, 9:50 AM
Ivermectin is not a proven treatment for Covid - so what's behind the demand in Ireland?
Health authorities across the world have warned of potentially serious side effects associated with improper use.
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26.2k
Sep 18th 2021, 9:30 AM
Explainer: What is the European Union Agency for the Space Programme?
EUSPA was officially launched this year as part of the EU’s €14.8 billion space programme.
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Sep 13th 2021, 7:00 PM
What's going on with the government's Sláintecare plan for the health service?
The office in charge of the reforms saw two key departures this week.
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Sep 10th 2021, 8:00 PM
How much do we know about the Mu strain of Covid-19, the WHO's latest 'variant of interest'?
Four cases of this variant have been identified so far in Ireland, according to latest figures.
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Sep 5th 2021, 7:00 AM
The Explainer: What's the future for women in Afghanistan?
This week’s guest is Heather Barr from Human Rights Watch.
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Aug 26th 2021, 7:30 PM
The Taliban are returning to power in Afghanistan after two decades - but who are they?
The last time the Taliban had control over the country, women and girls were mostly denied education or employment.
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Aug 16th 2021, 2:59 PM
Explainer: Here's why a limited number of Covid-19 cases in vaccinated people is to be expected
The vaccines aren’t 100% effective, but they are a significant barrier against severe illness from Covid-19.
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Aug 15th 2021, 6:30 AM
Explainer: Here's what you need to know about the Ebola-like Marburg virus
Guinea has recorded its first known case of the disease.
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Aug 10th 2021, 7:45 PM
The Explainer: What has sparked rare protests in Cuba?
Ruaridh Nicoll, a journalist based in Havana, joins us for this week’s episode.
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8.7k
Jul 31st 2021, 8:45 AM
Explainer: Why you may have a second dose vaccine appointment sooner than recommended
The HSE says that a 17 day gap for Pfizer is “safe and effective”.
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Jul 29th 2021, 8:01 PM
Here is the current guidance on vaccinating children against Covid-19
Niac is expected to issue guidance to the Government and HSE this week.
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Jul 26th 2021, 6:00 PM
The Explainer: Why does the British government want to stop Troubles prosecutions?
David Blevins of Sky News joins us for this week’s episode.
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Jul 22nd 2021, 3:55 PM
Why is South Africa facing its worst level of unrest since the 1990s?
At least 72 people have died and over 1,200 have been arrested.
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Jul 14th 2021, 6:17 PM
What does data show about England's third wave, as it prepares to 'unlock' in 10 days?
Case rates are rising sharply, including among children, but the number of deaths remains at a low level.
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Jul 9th 2021, 3:25 PM
Cuckoo funds are said to be playing a role in Ireland's housing market, but what impact are they having?
The Government has come under fire for passing an amendment to allow tax breaks for the funds.
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Jul 8th 2021, 7:30 PM
Haiti is in a 'state of siege' after its president was assassinated – so what's behind the latest chaos?
The 53-year-old was killed by gunmen yesterday.
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Jul 8th 2021, 3:36 PM
Explainer: Ireland got its first cost-rental homes today - but how exactly do they work?
“They’re secure, people can lay down their roots here,” said Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien.
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Jul 7th 2021, 8:00 PM
The Explainer: What is the mica scandal and how has it affected homeowners?
This week, we talk you through how the mica scandal unfolded, and what it tells us about housing in Ireland.
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Jul 7th 2021, 6:00 PM
'The gates of hell opening up': What caused the massive Gulf of Mexico fire?
Footage of the inferno went viral over the weekend.
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Jul 5th 2021, 1:13 PM
The Explainer: What is going on with the National Maternity Hospital?
Reporter Gráinne Ní Aodha talks us through what you need to know.
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4.7k
Jul 2nd 2021, 6:00 PM
The Explainer: What's all this about a Brexit sausage war?
Yes, a Brexit sausage row. Let us break it down for you with the help of Gráinne Ní Aodha and Dominic McGrath of BBC Radio Foyle.
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Jun 17th 2021, 6:00 PM
Explainer: How does Hungary's new law affect LGBT+ rights?
Hungary has passed a bill that bans sharing content that “promotes” being gay to children and teenagers.
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Jun 17th 2021, 4:34 PM
The Mica controversy explained: Here's why thousands of people took to the streets of Dublin to protest today
Homeowners are protesting in Dublin’s city centre today.
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Jun 15th 2021, 4:07 PM
Explainer: Why has a controversy blown up around political party members posing as pollsters?
Some parties have said they never engaged in this practice, while others used it up until a few years ago.
It was reported yesterday that Sinn Féin party members had pretended to be pollsters carrying fake marketing research company IDs.
SF TD Eoin Ó Broin described the practice as "widespread and common".
Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party have also engaged in similar polling in the past.
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Updated
Jun 10th 2021, 3:10 PM
Taoiseach said he does not know if law broken by Fianna Fáil members posing as canvassers
Leo Varadkar says FG paid students to pretend to be pollsters, DPC to ask SF about its practices
Explainer: Some of the world's best known websites went down today - why?
The Irish Times, Amazon, Gov.UK and other major sites weren’t available earlier today – here’s what happened.
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Jun 8th 2021, 4:46 PM
Landlords can impose rent increases of up to 8% under newly-discovered loophole as Covid-19 rent freeze ends
Measures that provided for a rent freeze for those in financial trouble were implemented during the pandemic.
Measures that provided for a rent freeze for those in financial trouble were implemented during the pandemic.
In Rent Pressure Zones, the maximum rent increase permitted is 4% per annum.
Where a landlord carries out a rent review for the first time in two years in an RPZ, a total increase of 8% increase can apply.
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Updated
May 28th 2021, 2:07 PM
Government to set up Commission on Housing to deal with housing issues in Ireland over the coming decades
Number of residential units sent for planning dropped by 29% in first quarter of this year
Explainer: How does a garda media blackout work in the age of social media?
Gardaí requested a media blackout during the Blanchardstown siege on Tuesday night but social media companies did not comply.
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May 26th 2021, 9:00 PM
What's happened in Belarus since last year's protests against president Alexander Lukashenko?
Yesterday’s incident was the latest in a series of crackdowns against the country’s opposition.
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May 24th 2021, 12:54 PM
Explainer: How is Ireland's response to the threat of global cyber crime coordinated?
The fight back against the HSE cyber attack is a multi agency operation.
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May 18th 2021, 5:30 PM
The Explainer: What's the story with rapid Covid-19 tests?
On this week’s podcast, we explain more – and producer Nicky Ryan takes an antigen test during recording.
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May 13th 2021, 7:00 PM
The Explainer: Has Covid changed the way we work?
On this week’s podcast episode, we look at how working from home might work in a post-Covid world.
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May 7th 2021, 8:04 PM
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