The race for the Áras gets into gear

The findings of the CSO May report showed that visitors to Ireland were down by 10% compared to May 2024. RTÉ reporter Peter O’Connell travelled to the coastal towns of Ballybunion in Co Kerry and Lahinch in Co Clare to see the situation on the ground.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The search for people swept away by devastating floods in Central Texas -- including two dozen girls from a riverside summer camp -- continued this morning as the death toll climbed to at least 51 people. Terry Sheridan, news director of WSHU public radio, had been monitoring the story, and he joined us today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 9 July deadline set by Donald Trump for a trade deal with the EU approaches without any sign of agreement on tariffs. Meanwhile Irish businesses struggle with the uncertainty. We were joined in studio by Denis O'Flynn, Director of Clonakilty Distillery and Vice Chair of Irish Whiskey Association and Enterprise Minister Peter Burke.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More potential candidates for the presidency are emerging, among them Independent TD Catherine Connolly, Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald, and UNICEF's Peter Power. To make sense of it all, political analyst Gerard Howlin joined Carole in studio today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Israel is sending a delegation to Qatar today for talks on a possible Gaza ceasefire deal. Meanwhile Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - who is to meet US President Donald Trump tomorrow - described the concessions demanded by Hamas as unacceptable. Bel Trew, International correspondent with the Independent, joined us from Washington.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"We took our eye off the ball." Those were the words of HSE CEO Bernard Gloster to the Oireachtas Health Committee this week. A review of third party care delivery companies discovered that over half of directors in those companies are current or former HSE staff. HSE Chief Executive Bernard Gloster joined us to unpack the review's findings.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fiosrú has decided to avoid further action in the case of Evan Fitzgerald, who fired shots in the air in Carlow before taking his own life. Questions have been raised in the Oireachtas about Gardai's investigation into Mr Fitzgerald. We were joined by Independent Senator Michael McDowell and Former Assistant Garda Commissioner Pat Leahy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At a private meeting this week the Tánaiste Simon Harris reportedly outlined his budget priorities including reducing the cost of education. But his successor in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Minister James Lawless has indicated his opposition to universal fee cuts. He was with us in studio today to discuss this and other issues.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Irish Times London Correspondent Mark Paul briefed us on the latest developments in the UK, including police examination of Kneecap's Glastonbury performance, and the state of Kier Starmer's Labour government as it heads into its second year in power.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Plans approved by the government to redevelop the GPO into a mixed use precinct, with retail components, offices, and a post office has received criticism from Sinn Féin. We were joined by Sinn Féin's Louise O’Reilly and Fine Gael's James Geoghegan to discuss the matter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.