Show Notes
Kevin Bakhurst, RTÉ's Director General joins Fran and Paul for a wide ranging interview following the sudden withdrawal of €20 million from the broadcaster's budget for 2027. Mr Bakhurst discusses his shock at the funding cut but expresses confidence a solution will be reached. Fran and Paul quiz the DG on Ireland, Israel and the Eurovision, Ger Gilroy's new podcast, Fair City and license fee.
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More from Behind the Story
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Israel's general election takes place next week, the first since the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attacks on Israel. Our Deputy Foreign Editor Heaphy talks to us from Tel Aviv, on what many see as the most pivotal elections in Israel's history, with global implications. Later, RTÉ’s GAA correspondent Marty Morrissey takes Eamon Horan through the proposed rule changes in hurling.
Iarnród Eireann's scrapped IT project is back in the headlines, when it was revealed today that Indra, the company contracted to do the work, is seeking €30m as part of final accounts. Public Policy correspondent with the Irish Times, Martin Wall, joins Paul to explain the background to the failed project and what the plan is to rescue it. Later, Security analyst, Declan Power discusses the possible end of the Triple Lock and UNFIL mission in Lebanon.
Violent protests and looting spread across several cities in France over the weekend, as over a half a million people took to the streets on a wide variety of issues. The authorities plan to implement localised curfews in some areas to deal with the deteriorating situation. Senior lecturer in European Politics at UCC, Emmanuelle Schon Quinlivan joins Paul to explain the background to the crisis. Later, Adam Maguire discusses the popularity of Chinese EVs and why the EU has security concerns around the increasing level of tech available in the cars.