Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

Midlands Today July 7th 2026

Midlands Today July 6th 2026

A review of HIQA's regulation of nursing homes recommends greater transparency, stronger oversight and a stronger focus on the lived experiences of residents following high-profile care failings.

New consumer protection laws mean people buying financial products online will have the right to speak to a real person instead of dealing solely with chatbots, while also cracking down on manipulative online sales tactics.

Calls are growing for a dedicated national response to drink spiking, with concerns that inconsistent reporting and a lack of clear medical protocols are leaving victims without adequate support.

The Government announces tougher anti-litter measures, including increasing on-the-spot fines to €250 and introducing new funding for dog waste bins and cleaner public spaces.

Concerns are raised that parents are being pressured into buying laptops and tablets for secondary school students, with calls for greater choice and affordability.

Former teacher Enoch Burke is released from prison after almost six months, with the High Court stressing he remains subject to a permanent injunction preventing him from entering Wilson’s Hospital School.

WhatsApp is introducing usernames, allowing users to keep their phone numbers private while raising new concerns about scams and impersonation.

Households across Ireland face higher energy bills from today, with renewed calls for greater Government supports ahead of the next Budget.

A doctor pleads guilty to careless driving causing the death of his six-year-old daughter following a crash on the M6 in Westmeath, while a man also admits the manslaughter of Offaly man Paul "Babs" Connolly.

Minister Kevin "Boxer" Moran shares his own experience of surviving a suicide attempt as the Government launches a new national strategy aimed at reducing suicide and self-harm.

The Midlands continues to mourn following the tragic deaths of three people from Mullingar in a road crash while on holiday in Spain.

Residents in Glasson renew calls for a village bypass, citing growing traffic congestion and the need to protect the area's quality of life as the Community News Spotlights initiative visits the village.

Three people from the Midlands lose their lives in a tragic road crash in Spain, with another seriously injured, prompting an outpouring of support for the families involved.

Communities in Rhode discuss the opportunities and challenges of becoming a major renewable energy hub, including investment, community benefits and local infrastructure concerns.

A major air accident investigation concludes that a fatal helicopter crash in Westmeath was most likely caused by a loss of control during a training exercise simulating engine failure.

Midlands Today with Will Faulkner & David Hollywood

Childminding Ireland warns the new childminding system could drive thousands of childminders out of the profession, putting flexible childcare places at risk nationwide.

The family of an Offaly woman who died from sepsis says delays in treatment at University Hospital Galway contributed to her death, following an inquest verdict of medical misadventure.

Growing Media Ireland warns 18,000 horticulture jobs could be at risk unless the Government introduces a workable system for the sustainable harvesting of horticultural peat.