Aubrey McCarthy on the a push to get more Independents on the Presidential ballot paper

This week is National Heritage Week, with events across the country. Cappamore campus in Limerick is the only place in the country that offers accredited training in blacksmithing. The college has been offering taster sessions for those interested in taking up the ancient craft and our reporter Una Kelly went along.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The EU-US framework trade agreement published this afternoon with a 15% tariff on more European Union imports. To discuss this Oliver O'Connor, Chief Executive of the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare and Eoin Ó Catháin, director of the Irish Whiskey Association.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Leaving Cert results out tomorrow, students are being reminded that if results don’t go their way, there are still plenty of no-points Bachelor’s Degrees options available to them. For more on this Tanya Jones - Deputy Director of the National Tertiray Office and Fiona O'Malley - CEO of Turn2Me.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Irish Life Health will hike the cost of its health insurance plans by an average of 3% from October - its the third price rise this year. To discuss this Brian Lee, CEO of the Health Insurance Authority and Dermot Goode, Health Insurance Expert with Health Insurance Ireland.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Israeli military has been given the green light to move forward with plans to take over Gaza city. Reports that IDF troops have reached the outskirts of Gaza city and that the army were assembling tents in Southern Gaza to deal with displaced populations. For more Caroline Willemen, Project Coordinator with Médecins Sans Frontières in Gaza.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Does the end of summer mark the end of the joy of unstructured playtime and will the return of school mean the return of schedules, excessive homework and too much time inside. Máire Treasa Ní Cheallaigh has been writing about this in the Irish Independent and spoke to John.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Several names have been mentioned today as part of a push to get more Independents on the ballot paper, one of those names mentioned is Independent Senator Aubrey McCarthy, the founder of the charity Tiglin. Senator McCarthy joined John in studio.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

79% of private homes sold in Dublin last year were bought by landlords including 75% by large landlords... that's according to Sinn Féin today, with Finance Spokesperson Pearse Doherty analysing property tax figures from Revenue Pearse joined John to discuss this and the race for the Aras.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government is due to publish guidance on the operation of drones tomorrow but some residents in Dublin 15 say it is coming too late for their community. They have come together to form an action group to highlight their concerns around the impact of food delivery drone services. Reporter Una Kelly has been speaking to them.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United Nations human rights office said today that Israel is not letting enough aid into Gaza to avert widespread starvation. For more on this spokesperson for the UN human rights office Thameen Al-Kheetan from Geneva.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.