Washington meeting

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 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.

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.

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.

New report commissioned by the Restaurants Association claims to make the economic case in favour of cutting the VAT rate on hospitality businesses to 9% in the upcoming Budget. To discuss this Tony Foley, Emeritus Associate Professor of Economics at DCU and economic researcher of this report and economist at Trinity College Dublin John Fitzgerald.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s increasing evidence that we rely on tech gadgets for stuff we used to remember. To tell us more about this Matthew Sadlier is a consultant and an Old Age Psychiatrist.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The contest for the Fine Gael nomination in this autumn's Presidential election appears all but over already. Reporter Barry Lenihan gives us the latest.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Geoffrey Roberts an expert in post soviet politics and history, and Ukranian MP Inna Sovsun discuss the meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President Donald TrumpSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.