This Week

After bombarding Ukraine's energy network for months, Russian airstrikes knocked out power for over a million people amid subzero temperatures. Emannuelle Chaze, journalist in Ukraine.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our reporter Eithne Dodd visited two salt marshes recently - in Cork and Dublin

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BBC's Middle East Analyst, Sebastian Usher on the brutal crackdown by the authorities, which reportedly led to the death of thousands and has appeared to have crushed nationwide protests.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Uachtaráin Fianna Fáil, an Taoiseach Micheál Martin on Trumps move on Greenland, Homelessness and Grok's AI.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Suzanne Lynch, Brussels Bureau Chief at Bloomberg and Professor John McHale - Head of Economics at the University of Galway give an outlook ahead of this afternoons meeting of EU Ambassadors. The meeting is to assess how to respond to Donald Trump's threat to sanction 8 European countries for getting in his way to take over Greenland.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over 500 students in higher education institutions were found to have used AI illegally in their graded coursework last year. The responses do not include some of the country's biggest universities including UCD, UCC, Maynooth and UL, meaning the figure is likely to be higher. RTÉ reporter Eithne Dodd told us what the findings entail.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Dáil returns on Tuesday following its lengthy Christmas break. We were joined in studio by Sandra Hurley, RTÉ's Political Reporter, to find out what it will mean for the Government and Opposition.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The European Parliament is to consider whether to ratify the controversial Mercosur trade deal between EU and South America. We discussed the matter with Jorgen Warborn of the centre-right European Peoples Party grouping backing the deal and Sinn Féin's Agriculture spokesperson Martin Kenny, who stands in opposition to it.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The beginning of each year is when this programme interviews the leaders of the political parties in the Dáil. In 2026, we're starting with the Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín, who joined Paul in studio today.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Iran has been roiled by protests against rampant inflation and a slump in the currency. Dozens of protestors have reportedly been killed amid an ongoing government crackdown. We were joined by Roja Fazaeli who is Iranian and also Professor of Law and Islamic Studies at the Irish Centre for Human Rights in University of Galway.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.