Drivetime

The New York Times has just released a visual investigation into the March 23rd attack by the Israeli Defence Forces on a convoy of Palestinian Red Crescent and Gaza civil defence employees. For more on this Malachy Browne, from the Visual Investigations unit of the New York Times.

It comes as Ukraine and the US finally signed the long-discussed minerals deal, which Ukranian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said had come about because the two countries now have an “an equal partnership”. For the latest Yuriy Sak , Adviser to Ukraine’s Ministry of Strategic Industries.

The group has highlighted how the statutory minimum wage increased by 38% since 2020, climbing from 9 euro 80 to 13.50. To discuss this, Jean McCabe, Chief Executive at Retail Excellence Ireland and Rose Conway Walsh, Sinn Fein TD for Mayo and Party Spokesperson on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment.

The Dail debated this morning the ongoing controversy surrouding the report into the Grace case. Forreaction to these latest developments Fianna Fail's John McGuinness, former Chair of the Public Accounts Committee who played a key role in uncovering the case almost a decade ago.

The parents of a young DJ beaten to death by a stranger are appealing to the Justice Minister to reverse a decision to allow the killer back on the streets just seven years after the attack. Richard McLaughlin was found not guilty by reason of insanity of the murder of Jimmy Laughlin in Sligo in 2018. Reporter Barry Lenihan has more.

No food, medical supplies or water have been allowed to enter Gaza since March 2nd and tomorrow marks two months of the total blockade of border crossings. Ghada Alhaddad, Gaza Media & Communications Officer with Oxfam International who is based in der el balah in central gaza.

If you are selling your home you might feel it is a waste of money to spruce it up - - that whoever buys your house will want to make their own. According to Clare Connolly at Clare Connolly Estate Agents in Dundrum that could ultimately cost you a lot. Clare joins Cormac and Sarah with tips to get your house ready for the market.

The government has given the Road Safety Authority two weeks to come back with a plan to ensure waiting times for driving tests be restored to a 10-week waiting time target as soon as possible. Latest figures for March of this year show the average waiting time was 24 weeks. For more on this Sean Canney Minister of State at Department of Transport.

More than a million illegal medicines were seized last year, a fourteen percent increase on the previous twelve months. Grainne Power, head of compliance, at the Health Products Regulatory Authority spoke about this. Also detention of anabolic steroids are on the rise, to discuss this Dr Brian Higgins GP Galway Primary Care and Galway Skin Clinic.

The Climate Change Advisory Council is calling on the Government to make the legal and regulatory changes needed so customers can easily access their smart meter data to help lower electricity bills & reduce peak electricity demand. Chair of the Council Marie Donnelly said the delay is disappointing. For more on this Darragh Cassidy of bonkers.ie.

To discuss this thechairperson of the Oireachtas Justice Committee, Sinn Fein TD Matt Carthy and Safeguarding Ireland's chairperson Patricia Rickard-Clarke.

Since 2022, All-Ireland finals have been played in July, with the calendar being rearranged around the split-season formula of reserved time for club and inter-county which wasn't met with widespread approval. To discuss this John Prenty, Chief Executive of Connacht GAA and former All-Ireland hurler with Wexford, Tom Dempsey.

The new 'Housing Activation Office', claiming it will mark a "step-change" in housing delivery and a way to quickly break down the kinds of barriers that have been slowing down development up to now. To discuss this Pat Davitt, Chief Executive of the Institute of Professional Auctioneers & Valuers & Ber Grogan, Simon Communities Executive Director.

The British government is considering extending its sugar tax to include milk and dairy substitute-based drinks. These have so far been exempt from the tax on fizzy drinks. To take us though what is taxed here, what isn't and what should be the Health Services Executive lead for obesity Professor Donal O'Shea.

The government is proposing to dramatically reduce the average time of the appeals process in draft legislation brought to Cabinet today by Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan. To discuss this Ben Grogan, Simon Communities Executive Director & Pat Davitt, Chief Executive of the Institute of Professional Auctioneers & Valuers.

A plan to afford domestic abuse survivors the chance to waive their anonymity and name their abusers in family law cases - has been recommended of the privacy rules. For reaction Maev McLoughlin Doyle, whose ex-husband was last year sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to abusing Maev and her two sons over a 12-year period.

Another delay to the long-awaited Pension Auto-Enrolment scheme – which will create a pension pot for more than 800,000 workers who dont have a retirement plan. Dara Calleary, the minister for Social Protection, has responsibility for auto-enrolment tells us why its been put back again.

Dr Paul D’Alton, Associate Professor of Psychology at UCD, is back with us today for the last of his three part series, helping us find ways to live with the global and local uncertainties. Today we looked into psychology of hope ‘grown-up hope’ and why ‘grown-up hope’ is essential for the times we are living in.

A senior Palestinian official has told the United Nations’ International Court of Justice: “starvation is here, humanitarian aid is being used as a weapon of war”, and warned that Israel is blocking aid from arriving into Gaza. To discuss this James Elder, UNICEF Spokesperson.

The Commission was established in 1999 following the Good Friday Agreement to locate & recover the remains of those abducted, murdered and secretly buried during the Troubles, known as the Disappeared. Mr. Hill has been with the Commission since 2006, but is now stepping down as lead investigator, he spoke with Cormac.