On Tuesday, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly brought plans to Cabinet for an urgent catch-up vaccination programme for young people at risk at contracting measles. Measles cases have soared across Europe since the start of 2023, while in England, 170 cases of measles were notified in an outbreak in the West Midlands between December 2023 and mid-January 2024. The HSE is now warning that the probability of an outbreak in Ireland high and falling rates of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine uptake in Ireland are also a cause for concern. How dangerous is measles and how many people used to die from it before a vaccine was introduced? Who is most at risk if they do contract this highly contagious virus? And why is the virus spreading again, particularly among people in their 20s?

Presented by Sorcha Pollak and produced by Aideen Finnegan

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The murder last February of Brianna Ghey, a 16-year-old transgender girl, shocked Britain. She had been stabbed 28 times, in a public park, in broad daylight.

In December, a jury at Manchester Crown Court found two teenagers, Girl X and Boy Y, guilty of the murder; they had lured Ghey to the park to satisfy an “obsession” with death.

The judge said she would impose a life sentence but would adjourn to February 2nd to decide a minimum tariff. In an highly unusual move she also said she would name Girl X and Boy Y. We now know they are Scarlet Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe. On Friday they received minimum terms of 22 and 20 years respectively.

Irish Times London correspondent Mark Paul explains why the naming of the two underage killers is highly unusual; and having spent time in Warrington he reports on the local reaction to this shocking killing. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It is now a criminal offence to have an XL Bully dog in England and Wales, although some exemptions do apply. New rules were brought in to stop serious and fatal attacks by the breed and the legislation makes four breeds of dog, originally bred for fighting, illegal including American Pitbull terriers, Japanese Tosas, Dogo Argentinos and Fila Brazileiro.

Scotland is to implement a similar ban following an influx of banned dogs from England and Wales as owners refused to have their dogs put down, choosing to rehome them across the border. Does the move by Scotland have implications for Ireland?

Dog trainer and behaviourist Nanci Creedon explains just why these dogs have become the subject of legislation and explains the Irish context. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Immigration has overtaken housing and the cost-of-living to become the main issue on the minds of voters, according to a new Irish Times and Ipsos Behaviour and Attitudes survey. The public sentiment research coincides with a study by Maynooth University of what protesters at migration-related rallies really want. Dr Barry Cannon and Shane Murphy have found locals cite security fears, a scarcity of resources, lack of government consultation and the suitability of accommodation sites, in that order. Although most sought to distance themselves from far-right agitators, they simultaneously engaged with racist tropes. Dr Barry says it's time to level with people about the pros and cons of immigration without allowing the far right to set the parameters of the debate. He explains how racism is so embedded we hardly see it, how middle-income earners benefit from migration while those from lower-income groups may not, and how a failure to hold a discourse in politics and the media is exacerbating the situation. In The News attempts to have that conversation today with Dr Cannon and Irish Times Political Correspondent, Jennifer Bray.

Presented by Sorcha Pollak and produced by Suzanne Brennan and Aideen Finnegan.

For full access to Irish Times journalism including all the latest breaking news on immigration, go to www.irishtimes.com/subscribe

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, Israeli authorities alleged that some employees of UNRWA, the Relief Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, were involved in the October 7th Hamas attacks.

In response, several countries pulled their funding for the UN agency, jeopardising the delivery of vital humanitarian aid to the desperate citizens of Gaza.

UNRWA, which was founded in 1949 and employs more than 30,000 people, works with Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank and other Middle Eastern countries such as Lebanon and Syria. So what will be the impact of these financial cuts for Palestinians on the ground?

Mark Weiss in Jerusalem talks to Sorcha Pollak about UNWRA, hostage negotiations and the risk of a wider war.

Produced by Suzanne Brennan and Declan Conlon.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan and Coventry City midfielder Kasey Palmer both paused their respective games last Saturday after they were subjected to racist gestures and shouts from the stands. Maignan and his team walked off the pitched before coming back and resuming the match. Football’s racism problem was again in the headlines.

In what seemed like a hardline solution, Gianni Infantino, the head of Fifa, the sports governing body, called for match forfeits after racist incidents.

Sports writer and Second Captains podcaster and Irish Times soccer columnist Ken Early explains why this idea is simply unworkable, for reasons that extend beyond the stands. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Toy Show: the musical lost €2.2m – that much was well known before Grant Thornton delivered its report on RTÉ’s 2022 ill-advised foray into live theatre.

What was not known until now was precisely how the RTÉ board allowed the broadcaster to risk public money on such a gamble.

Irish Times journalist Jack Power explains the sequence of events as revealed in the lengthy report, while culture columnist Hugh Linehan assesses its findings and whether it is now time for those still on the RTÉ board who failed in their duties to take responsibility.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The case against actor Alec Baldwin in the death by gunshot of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on a film set in 2021 collapsed. But why has he been indicted again - same charge, same tragic event? New York Times reporter Julia Jacobs teases out the legal issues and explores what might happen next for the actor.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.