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Friday 31 March 2023 Dublin: 9°C

# the explainer

This week
26th March 2023 - 31st March 2023
# Podcast
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.
Last week
19th March 2023 - 25th March 2023
# Podcast
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?
# assessing autism
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.
Last month
March 2023
# Podcast
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?
# Podcast
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?
# Podcast
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.
# shall not pass
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.
# Podcast
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.
This year
2023
# Podcast
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.
# Podcast
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.
# Podcast
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.
# Podcast
The Explainer: How does Ireland's immigration system work?
Listen in to hear Nick Henderson of the Irish Refugee Council explain.
# depopulation
The Explainer x Noteworthy: Is the State ignoring island depopulation?
Noteworthy’s Niall Sargent and islander John Walsh tell Susan Daly about what is needed to help our offshore islands thrive.
# System Overload
The Explainer x Noteworthy: How is the Irish public health system coping?
Reporter Peter McGuire and Dr Anne Dee of the Irish Medical Organisation tell Susan Daly about public health challenges and reforms.
# Podcast
The Explainer: How did Ireland get so many Oscar nominations?
Listen in to hear reporter Aoife Barry on how it happened – and what it means for the film industry.
# Podcast
The Explainer: Who is Andrew Tate?
Listen in to hear Dr Debbie Ging of Dublin City University explain more about the controversial online figure.
# Fuelling Retirement
The Explainer x Noteworthy: Are Irish pensions invested in fossil fuels?
Lauren Boland of The Journal and Ciarán Hughes of ethical investment company Ethico tell Susan Daly about the relationship between pensions and fossil fuels.
# Podcast
The Explainer: How can you make your money go further in 2023?
Listen in to hear financial advisor Nick Charalambous give his advice.
# Podcast
The Explainer: Our favourite explanations of 2022
Listen in to hear what we picked amongst the range of topics we tackled across politics, sport, entertainment and health this year.
Last year
2022
# Podcast
The Explainer: What did 2022 hold for US politics - and what can we expect in 2023?
Listen in to hear columnist, Bostonian and lawyer Larry Donnelly explain how things went.
# Waste Away
The Explainer x Noteworthy: What happens to your soft plastic recycling?
Alice Chambers of Noteworthy and Mindy O’Brien of environmental charity VOICE tell Susan Daly about Ireland’s recycling system.
# Podcast
The Explainer: What is being done for survivors of Ireland's mother and baby homes?
Listen to Órla Ryan, presenter of Redacted Lives podcast, explain about Ireland’s mother and baby home system, and what is happening for survivors.
# Data Centres
The Explainer x Noteworthy: Are data centres ramping up Ireland’s emissions?
Niall Sargent of Noteworthy and UCD’s Dr Patrick Brodie tell Susan Daly about our latest investigation.
# Podcast
The Explainer: What do we know about an alleged coup plot in Germany?
Listen to hear Prof Peter Neumann, a German journalist and academic, explain the background and context to the story.
# Podcast
The Explainer: What is happening with inflation and how is it affecting our pockets?
Listen in to hear economist and research affiliate with the ESRI John Fitzgerald to hear more.
# Hands On Deck
The Explainer x Noteworthy: Are migrant fishers exploited in Ireland?
Maria Delaney of Noteworthy and Geela Garcia in the Philippines tell Susan Daly about our latest cross-border investigation.
# Podcast
The Explainer: What is RSV and why are so many children sick with it?
Parent Paul Murphy, whose son is being treated in hospital for RSV, and Dr Niamh Lynch explain more in this week’s podcast episode.
# Podcast
The Explainer: What’s Ceta, and will Ireland hold a referendum on it?
On this week’s episode of The Explainer, we’re joined by Trinity College Dublin’s David Kenny to examine the EU-Canada Trade Agreement, and how the Irish Supreme Court has thrown a potential spanner in the works of it.
# Podcast
The Explainer: What’s happening with the 2022 FIFA World Cup?
Listen in to hear The42.ie reporter Gavin Cooney, who’s heading to Qatar, explain.
# Revolving Door
The Explainer x Noteworthy: What are the problems with lobbying in Ireland?
Reporters Cormac Fitzgerald and Stephen McDermott tell Susan Daly about Noteworthy’s latest project which examined lobbying by former government officials.
# Podcast
The Explainer: What do the layoffs at Meta and Twitter mean for the tech industry?
Listen in to hear Elaine Burke, editor of Silicon Republic, explain to Sinéad O’Carroll.
# Podcast
The Explainer: What will the COP27 climate summit focus on?
Our reporter Lauren Boland joins us this week to look at what lies ahead for the climate conference.
# Blind Justice
The Explainer x Noteworthy: Why are Travellers so overrepresented in prison?
Reporter Michelle Hennessy tells Susan Daly about Noteworthy’s latest project which examined the impact of the justice system on Travellers.
# Podcast
The Explainer: Who is Mahsa Amini, and why has her death led to protests in Iran?
Dr Paola Rivetti joins us on this week’s episode to examine the protests that have gripped Iran – what’s driving people out on the streets, and who are the morality police?
# Podcast
The Explainer: What’s the story with the women’s football World Cup?
Listen in to hear The42.ie reporter Emma Duffy explain.
# episode
The Explainer: What will Putin's next steps be in his invasion of Ukraine?
Listen in to hear retired army officer Senator Tom Clonan explain what’s going on.
# Podcast
The Explainer: What's happening in Brazil's closely-fought election?
Listen in to hear journalist Sam Cowie, who’s based in Sao Paulo, explain.
# budget 2023
The Explainer: What type of tax system does Ireland have?
Is it progressive? And what does that even mean? The ESRI’s Barra Roantree joins us on this week’s episode to explain all.
# Podcast
The Explainer: What do recent arrests mean for the Kinahan gang?
Our reporter Garreth MacNamee joins us to look at how months of intense targeting by international police organisations has impacted the Kinahan Organised Crime Group.
# in the weeds
The Explainer x Noteworthy: How much weedkiller are councils using?
Reporter Anthea Lacchia and campaigner James Walsh tell Susan Daly about how almost all councils are still using pesticides.