Behind the Story

Kevin Bakhurst, RTÉ's Director General joins Fran and Paul for a wide ranging interview following the sudden withdrawal of €20 million from the broadcaster's budget for 2027. 

Mr Bakhurst discusses his shock at the funding cut but expresses confidence a solution will be reached. Fran and Paul quiz the DG on Ireland, Israel and the Eurovision, Ger Gilroy's new podcast, Fair City and license fee. 

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Voters turned out in their highest numbers in decades in an election that was described as make-or-break for Israel, but provisional results suggested no clear path to power for either Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or his main opponent, Gadi Eisenkot.

On this episode, Alexander Cornwell, senior correspondent for Reuters in Tel Aviv joined Paul Cunningham to explain the political fallout, what happens next and what it means for the wider Middle East region

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Although President Trump is not on the ballot paper, the US midterm elections will decide how the final phase of his presidency will play out.  And there is a lot at stake as Democrats try to win majority control of the US Congress.

On this episode, Dan Geary - Mark Pigott Professor in U.S. History at Trinity College Dublin – guides us through what is happening, where to watch and what it all means for US politics.

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Israel's general election takes place next week, the first since the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attacks on Israel. Our Deputy Foreign Editor Heaphy talks to us from Tel Aviv, on what many see as the most pivotal elections in Israel's history, with global implications.

Later, RTÉ’s GAA correspondent Marty Morrissey takes Eamon Horan through the proposed rule changes in hurling. 

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Iarnród Eireann's scrapped IT project is back in the headlines, when it was revealed today that Indra, the company contracted to do the work, is seeking €30m as part of final accounts. Public Policy correspondent with the Irish Times, Martin Wall, joins Paul to explain the background to the failed project and what the plan is to rescue it. 

Later, Security analyst, Declan Power discusses the possible end of the Triple Lock and UNFIL mission in Lebanon. 

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Violent protests and looting spread across several cities in France over the weekend, as over a half a million people took to the streets on a wide variety of issues. The authorities plan to implement localised curfews in some areas to deal with the deteriorating situation. Senior lecturer in European Politics at UCC, Emmanuelle Schon Quinlivan joins Paul to explain the background to the crisis. 

Later, Adam Maguire discusses the popularity of Chinese EVs and why the EU has security concerns around the increasing level of tech available in the cars. 

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Award winning author Sally Rooney's books will no longer be available for sale in the UK due to her support for Palestine Action. Human rights lawyer, Caoilfhoinn Gallagher joins Fran to discuss the situation and why sweeping anti-terrorism legislation is having a far reaching impact on protest and culture. 

Later, Arts and Media correspondent Evelyn O'Rourke goes behind the scenes of NBC's Today show and looks at the success of Tourism Ireland's strategy. 

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Big Tech, Big Business and lots of politicians are attending the International AI Summit at the RDS. Fran and Paul are joined by Bloomberg's Tom MacKenzie to discuss AI in Europe.  

Later, Liz Carolan of The Briefing.ie and Charlie Taylor of the Business Post chat about the ups and downs of AI, dress codes and bad merch! 

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After five and a half years of illegal detention in Iraq, Robert Pether landed in Dublin airport on Monday morning. He was greeted by family and friends and spoke of his time in a Baghdad prison and subsequent struggle to survive before he was allowed leave the country. 

His lawyer, Irish man Peter Griffin, took up his case, pro-bono in 2021 having heard about Robert's case in his son's school newsletter. Peter speaks to host Karen Creed about the legal fight to secure Robert's release. 

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The decision by the US Defence Department to live stream the execution of a man convicted of murdering thirteen unarmed soldiers at a military post in Texas in 2009 has sparked global headlines.

The Pentagon announced earlier this week it would execute Nidal Hasan in December in the first military execution for more than 60 years.

On this episode of Behind The Story we talk to death row lawyer Clive Stafford-Smith who has represented hundreds of people sentenced to death over the past four decades.

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