Behind the Story

Professor Barry O'Sullivan, an expert on AI, joins Katie and Paul to discuss the dangers of AI Therapy, which is becoming increasingly popular amongst young people. Barry explains that that technology is moving so fast, that authorities are finding challenging to keep up. 

He believes safety measures need to be put in place and a possible ban on some AI therapy chatbots. 

The trio discuss what is AI psychosis and why chatbots are always telling you what you want to hear. 

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Laura Reiley's 29 year daughter, Sophie took her life in February this year. Her parents later discovered that Sophie had been using an AI therapy chat bot, it had even helped her write a suicide note. 

Laura spoke to Katie and Paul about what happened and why she wants to see safeguards put in place when people use AI therapy chatbots.  

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The international lawyer working on the Jimmy Lai case, Caoilfhoinn Gallagher, says she won't be intimidated by threats to her. Katie and Paul do a deep dive with Caoilfhionn into the trial of the Hong Kong businessman, whose is in court this week as closing arguments are made against him by the authorities on varies charges including colluding with foreign forces. 

The 77-year-old has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is being held in solitary confinement. 

Katie and Paul also get Caoilfhoinn's view on the case again Kneecap's Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh.  She explains why she is concerned about the clampdown by UK authorities on certain protests. 

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As the main political parties are still deciding whether they will run a candidate in the Presidential Election, columnist and former Senior Advisor to the Labour Party, Fergus Finlay explains why he wanted to be the Labour nominee this time around and why that didn't work out. 

Katie and Paul also discuss with Fergus the low number of political candidates putting themselves forward and why it's important to have a contest when searching for a candidate. 

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With food prices increasing and even your bar of chocolate costing more, Fiona Mitchell and Louise Byrne speak to Dr Ciaran O’Carroll, Lecturer on Sustainability on the link between wildfires, climate change and your weekly shop. 

Fiona also looks forward to Oasis this weekend!   

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As the Trump-Putin summit approaches, presenters Carole Coleman and Louise Byrne speak to Keir Giles, senior consulting fellow of the Russia and Eurasia Programme at Chatham House.

Carole and Louise tease out the background to the meeting, why it is taking place in Alaska but also what could be the possible outcome for Ukraine and Europe. Mr Giles describes the meeting as a win for Putin "long before he sets foot on US soil" and he cautions Europe about Putin's long term aims for the continent.

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A new book coming out this week gives further insight into Britain’s Prince Andrew’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.

Journalist Laura Burns, who was working for BBC in 2019, is one of those mentioned in the new book as she was vital in getting the now infamous Newsnight interview with the British royal to air. Laura also worked on the BBC Panorama programme that focused on the victims of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

Laura spoke with Fiona Mitchell and Cian McCormack about how it all came about – and she told them why she believes pressure should be kept on for answers.

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As Israel's Security Cabinet approves a plan to take over Gaza City, Fran McNulty and Juliette Gash discuss what this means for the people of Gaza amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in the enclave.

They are joined by Dr Tahani Mustafa, Visiting Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

Also up for discussion is the possible impact of Ireland's Occupied Territories Bill on our relationship with the United States as it faces mounting criticism there.

A group of US Congress members has written to US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent asking him to consider adding Ireland to a list of countries which boycott Israel if the Bill is passed.

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James Brannigan, a retired detective, tells Fran how he hopes his new charity The Katie Trust will help families who fear their loved one's death was not investigated properly by authorities.

And a new report from the Coolmine Centre in Dublin confirms that cocaine use continues to rise in Ireland - RTÉ's Social Affairs & Religion Correspondent Ailbhe Conneely joins Fran to discuss this worrying trend.

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The damage to the seas around Ireland has been branded “alarming” by marine biologist Rebecca Hunter.

She joins Fran to outline why Ireland needs its own legislation to safeguard marine protection areas.

The latest reports on the condition of marine and coastal habitats within some of Ireland’s marine protected areas are in an unfavourable status.

Given the drop in the number of species in Irish waters, what can we do to safeguard their - and our - future?

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