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Wednesday 27 September 2023 Dublin: 12°C

# the explainer

Last week
17th September 2023 - 23rd September 2023
The Explainer: What is the American bully XL and do bans on certain dog breeds work?
This week on The Explainer, we speak to Dog Behaviourist Nanci Creedon who tells us more these headline-grabbing dogs and looks at what evidence there is on whether some breeds are more aggressive than others.
The Explainer x Noteworthy: Will home births ever be the norm in Ireland?
Editor Maria Delaney and researcher Soma Gregory tell Susan Daly about the many obstacles facing women who would prefer this option.
This month
September 2023
The Explainer: Luis Rubiales and the Spanish football scandal - what happens next?
This week on The Explainer, we speak to Emma Duffy, sports journalist with The42, to discuss Luis Rubiales and the scandal that has engulfed Spanish football since their women’s team won the World Cup Final last month.
Last month
August 2023
The Explainer: Why is Ireland getting more TDs?
Art O’Leary, chief executive officer of the Electoral Commission joins us explain how the changes were decided on and what factors were taken into consideration. We’re also joined by our Political Reporter Jane Matthews, Deputy Editor Christine Bohan, and Assistant News Editor Rónán Duffy to dissect the results and take a look at the political ramifications.
The Explainer: How has the Rose of Tralee festival survived for so long?
Joining us this week is our own Carl Kinsella, who was at the festival earlier this week, and the Irish Independent’s Kirsty Blake Knox. They explore the history of the festival and changes over the years, its relevance in today’s world, and look at what’s next for this year’s winner. Also – if they were a Rose, what would their talent be?
The Explainer: Why is there so much talk about a farmers' party in Ireland?
This week on we’re joined by journalist and organic beef and dairy farmer Hannah Quinn Mulligan to look at the growing talk of a farmers’ party in Ireland. What are the types of policies they would implement? And what are their chances of success?
The Explainer: A forgotten crisis - what is happening to the Rohingya minority fleeing Myanmar?
We delve into the prosecution faced by the Rohingya minority in Myanmar, and the treacherous journey many make across the Andaman Sea in search of asylum and a better life. We speak with Michelle Cicic, head of the regional office for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) in south-southeast Asia Pacific, as well as Lilianne Fan and Hassan bin Roshid from the Geutanyoë Foundation.
The Explainer: Who is Robert F Kennedy Jr and could he be the next US president?
This week on The Explainer, we speak with US correspondent with the Business Post Marion McKeone to delve into Kennedy Jr’s campaign so far. What are his rallies like, and what is he like as a person? Is he in with a chance of becoming US president, or are we simply looking at Trump vs Biden in 2024?
The Explainer: What next for Ireland's women's football team?
Sinéad O’Carroll is joined by The 42′s Gavin Cooney for a wide-ranging discussion on women in football. What does Ireland’s performance at the World Cup say about the future of the team? And did they catch the public’s imagination enough to keep the fanbase growing from here? More widely, is enough being done by sports organisations to support women in sport?
July
July 2023
The Explainer: Do Barbie and Oppenheimer mark the return of the summer blockbuster?
This week, presenter Laura Byrne is joined by journalist and author Aoife Barry, who takes us through the hype machine behind Barbie and how this rubbed off on Oppenheimer. Did it translate into box office success? Also, how will the strike by actors and writers in the US impact film and television over the coming months?
The Explainer: What is the Nature Restoration Law and how will it work in Ireland?
This week on The Explainer, we’re joined by Lauren Boland, climate reporter with The Journal, to examine what precisely this legislation is all about and why it sparked so much anger. Do environmentalists think the now-watered-down law will have any impact? And how does Ireland fit into the picture?
The Explainer: How do Oireachtas committees work, and how did Tubridy end up in front of one?
Presenter Laura Byrne is joined this week by Gavan Reilly, political correspondent with Virgin Media News, to look behind the scenes at Oireachtas committees, from the grandstanding to the selection process, as well as to analyse previous appearances by John Delaney, Angela Kerins, and – of course – Ryan Tubridy.
The Explainer: What does Ireland’s ‘unprecedented’ marine heatwave tell us about our climate?
Presenter Laura Byrne is joined on this week’s episode by Lauren Boland, reporter with The Journal, and Maynooth University’s Dr Gerard McCarthy They examine the impact of the heatwave, what it means for marine life, and look at wider oceanic climate trends impacting Ireland, such as an increasingly unstable Gulf Stream.
The Explainer: What does the Ryan Tubridy payment scandal mean for the future of RTÉ?
Presenter Laura Byrne is joined by The Journal’s Rónán Duffy and Dr Eileen Culloty of DCU School of Communications.
This year
2023
The Explainer: What is hydrogen power, and could it replace coal, oil, and gas?
James Carton, assistant professor in Sustainable Energy with DCU and an academic advisor to the United Nations on hydrogen, joins us on this week’s podcast to discuss this lesser spotted form of energy. How do you make it? Where could it be used instead of fossil fuels? Could it be part of a clean energy future, or does it amount to simply greenwashing?
The Explainer: Hard cash and soft power - what is going on in the world of golf?
The world of golf has been upended in recent days. The story of why is one that involves a lot of money, antitrust concerns, and a new – but perhaps murky – future for the world of golf, one in which Saudi Arabian soft power has come to the fore. Gavin Cooney, sports writer with The42, joins us to explain all.
The Explainer: What is it like to sit the Leaving Cert in 2023?
Luke Saunders, co-founder and CEO of Studyclix, joins us on this week’s episode to give the lie of the land for anyone whose own memory of sitting the exams might be fading. We look at the lasting impact of the Covid pandemic on the exams, and share advice for students and parents alike.
The Explainer: 16 years on, what is happening with the Madeleine McCann case?
Joining us on this week’s episode is journalist Robbyn Swan, author of Looking for Madeleine and who featured in the Netflix series The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann, to look over the history of the investigation. Are police making progress? Who is the suspect who has been linked to the case?
The Explainer: What's behind Ireland's love affair with the Late Late?
Mark O’Brien, head of DCU’s School of Communications and associate professor in journalism history, and Kirsty Blake Knox, writer with the Irish Independent, delve into the show’s history, examine its enduring popularity, and ask what its new presenter must do to keep it going strong.
Media history expert says The Late Late Show needs to 'bring back its unpredictability'
The professor said if the show returned to the unpredictable format, it would bring back the energy of the show and “make it lively”.
The Explainer: Interview - HSE doctor speaks about her evacuation from war-torn Sudan
We sit down with Dr Sulafa Salama, a Sudanese doctor working in St James’s in Dublin, who was trapped in Khartoum when the fighting broke out. We’re also joined by Dr Aia Mohamed, assistant professor at Trinity College Dublin, who speaks to us about how her father was visiting Sudan when the fighting broke out.
'I couldn't reach my kids for five days': Ireland-based doctor describes outbreak of war in Sudan
“Some people were praying, some people were crying.”
The Explainer: Why are supermarkets suddenly cutting the prices of milk, butter and bread?
We’re joined by Caitríona Morrissey, news editor with the Irish Farmers Journal. She gives us the background to these recent price drops and explains how cuts to ‘loss leaders’ might have little impact on your overall shopping basket.
The Explainer: How does Ireland and the EU fight wildfires?
Marcin Pater, an emergency response officer at DG ECHO’s Emergency Response Coordinate Centre, and Pádraic Fogarty, campaigns officer with the Irish Wildlife Trust explore the issue of wildfires from both an Irish and European perspective. What is being done to help country’s battle these fires, and what type of impact have we seen on the ground in Ireland?
The Explainer x Noteworthy: Is GSOC fit for purpose?
Journalists Mick Clifford of The Examiner and Alice Chambers of Noteworthy tell Susan Daly about the Garda watchdog’s severe and ongoing problems.
The Explainer: How is Revolut changing and what does it mean for its customers?
Joining us this week is Daragh Cassidy of Bonkers.ie to look what’s next for Revolut – is it on track to dominate Irish banking, or will it remain nothing more than a handy app for splitting a bill? Should we start viewing it as a traditional bank? And what do the latest changes mean for its customers?
The Explainer: What is happening in Sudan?
Joining us on this week’s episode to explain more is Jehanne Henry, a human rights lawyer based in East Africa. She was an advisor to the transitional government in 2020-21, and previously held the role of associate director in Human Rights Watch’s Africa division.
The Explainer: Everything you need to know about the trial of Gerry Hutch
Frank Greaney, courts correspondent with Newstalk and Today FM, joins us on this week’s episode to delve into the case. We examine the origins of the feud, explain who exactly The Monk is, look at key moments from the trial, and explore the origins of the Special Criminal Court.
The Explainer: What does Trump being indicted mean for him and the 2024 election?
This week on The Explainer, Laura Byrne is joined by The Journal columnist and University of Galway law lecture Larry Donnelly to delve into the case.
The Explainer: Why are there concerns over how TikTok is using your data?
Chris Stokel-Walker, author of a definitive book on TikTok, joins us this week to explain what the controversies around the Chinese-run app are.
The Explainer: What's behind the recent wave of bank failures?
Brooke Masters from the Financial Times joins us on this week’s episode to explain exactly what is going on. What caused the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank? How did it cause ripple effects across the world? And although we’re hearing a lot about venture capital, how worried should Joe and Jane Doe be about their savings?
The Explainer x Noteworthy: Why is it so tough to access autism services?
Reporter Niall Sargent and expert Eleanor McSherry tell Susan Daly about chronic delays in autism assessments and services for children.
The Explainer: What is shrinkflation?
This week on The Explainer, Laura Byrne speaks to Edgar Morgenroth, professor of economics at DCU Business School, to delve into the subject more. What level of shrinkflation are we seeing right now, is there anything to protect consumers from it – and when will it end?
The Explainer: What is it like to be a humanitarian on the ground in Ukraine right now?
Presenter Sinéad O’Carroll speaks with Claudia Amaral, head of office with DG ECHO in Kyiv, about her work. What type of assistance do people need the most? What stories has she heard from people on the ground? And how long will her work be needed?
The Explainer: Why does Matt Hancock keep making headlines?
This week, we’re joined by PA Media’s Dominic McGrath to look back over the career of Matt Hancock, and delve into the impact of his leaked WhatsApp messages.
The Explainer x Noteworthy: What is the environmental cost of hydropower?
Reporter Anthea Lacchia tells Susan Daly about declining fish stocks and significant changes in Ireland’s longest river.
The Explainer: What are 15-minute cities and why do some people think they’re controversial?
Listen in to hear Stevie McDermott and Camilla Siggaard Andersen explain.
The Explainer: Why are there still problems accessing a drug that prevents extreme morning sickness?
Listen in to hear political correspondent Christina Finn explaining the situation with Cariban.
The Explainer: Why is Bertie Ahern back?
Listen in to hear Lise Hand and Sinéad O’Carroll discuss the highs and lows of his career – and what might be in store next.
The Explainer: How could the war in Ukraine end?
Donnacha Ó Beacháin, professor of politics at the School of Law and Government at Dublin City University, joins us.