This week on MOTH News Live, we examine a series of stories raising difficult questions about the future of Ireland—North and South.
Following the discovery of military-grade Semtex near the border, the arrest of a trainee solicitor, and the political row over a decision to grant bail, Johnny Vedmore asks whether these are isolated events—or signs of deeper tensions that deserve closer attention.
Keith Walsh then explores whether Ireland's political landscape is changing. Could recent events reshape relationships between the major parties? How are politics evolving on both sides of the border?
We'll also bring you the latest developments in the Dundrum House Hotel/IPAS controversy and discuss what a new planning decision could mean for government accountability and the rule of law.
Join Keith Walsh, Johnny Vedmore and Al as they look beyond the headlines and ask the questions others aren't asking.

This week on MOTH News Live, we ask whether Britain and Ireland are quietly accepting a new housing reality. A century ago, Dublin's infamous tenements became a symbol of poverty, overcrowding and social inequality.

Today, as Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) continue to grow across Britain and shared accommodation becomes increasingly common in Ireland, are there uncomfortable parallels with the past?We'll explore what HMOs are, why they've become so popular with landlords and investors, and ask whether today's housing crisis is creating a generation of working people who can no longer afford a home of their own.Also on this week's programme:

💬 Cloudchatters & The Hidden Workforce Behind the Internet Millions of online conversations are happening every day,but who are people really talking to?

We investigate the rise of companies like Cloudchatters, the growth of digital labour, and what it means for consumers and workers in an increasingly online world.

💶 Google's €10 Billion Question

Google says it contributed €10 billion to the Irish economy last year. Johnny Vedmore examines where that figure comes from, what "economic contribution" actually means, and whether these headline numbers tell the full story.

💼 Does This Budget Really Deliver for Working People?

Simon Harris says this year's Budget must deliver for working people. We ask what that promise means in practice and whether government policy is making a meaningful difference to the lives of ordinary workers.Join Keith Walsh, Johnny Vedmore and Al as they look beyond the headlines and ask the questions others aren't asking.

10 Reasons Ireland Is Asking Questions📺 STOP PAYING YOUR TV LICENCE?10 Reasons Ireland Is Asking QuestionsThis week on MOTH News Live, we tackle one of the biggest questions facing Irish media.RTÉ says public service broadcasting needs sustainable funding—but after years of controversy, governance failures and declining licence fee income, has public confidence been lost?Keith Walsh presents 10 reasons why more people are questioning the future of the TV licence, while also asking the other side of the debate: if not the licence, how should Ireland fund public service broadcasting?Johnny Vedmore joins the discussion to compare Ireland's debate with the ongoing arguments surrounding the BBC licence fee in the UK.Also on this week's programme:🔎 Jeffrey Epstein's Forgotten Irish VisitJohnny Vedmore examines Epstein's little-known visit to Dublin and Waterford in 1996 with Johnson & Johnson heiress Elizabeth Johnson. What do we actually know about the trip, and why has it received so little attention compared with later visits to Ireland? We'll separate established facts from unanswered questions.🥊 Conor McGregor: One Last Fight?Following another injury and defeat inside the Octagon, Al asks whether Ireland's most famous MMA fighter should attempt one final comeback—or whether it's time to step away from the sport for good. We'll discuss McGregor's legacy, his recent controversies and whether fans still believe he can compete at the highest level.As always, we'll be looking beyond the headlines and asking the bigger questions.

This week on MOTH News Live, we ask whether Northern Ireland has entered a new political era.Sinn Féin has brought forward legislation calling for the Irish Government to begin preparing for a possible united Ireland through a Citizens' Assembly and a Green Paper on constitutional change. The Government has rejected the proposal—but has the debate already moved into the mainstream?🎙️ Keith Walsh sits down with Demi Laverty, who was born just before the Good Friday Agreement to a Catholic father and Protestant mother. In a thoughtful and deeply personal conversation, she reflects on identity, growing up between two communities, education, mental health and why understanding the "why" behind Northern Ireland's past is essential if lasting peace is to endure.⚖️ We'll also discuss the continuing political fallout from the Jeffrey Donaldson conviction and what it means for confidence in political leadership and institutions.🕵️ Investigative journalist Johnny Vedmore joins the programme to discuss his latest investigation into the Cardiff protests, and we ask how power, identity and public trust continue to shape politics across these islands.As the Twelfth approaches, we ask:Has the conversation about Irish unity already changed?Can Northern Ireland have honest conversations about its past?And what does the future really look like?

This week on MOTH News Live:⚖️ The Noah Donohoe Inquest reaches its defining moment. After almost five months of evidence from 76 witnesses, expert testimony and detailed legal argument, the jury is considering its findings. If a verdict is returned before we go live, we'll break down exactly what it means. If deliberations continue, we'll explain what's happening, what the jury is being asked to decide, and what comes next for Noah's family.🚁 Manna, drones and the future of Irish innovation. Following Manna's decision to pause drone delivery operations in Ireland, Keith speaks exclusively to Seamus Doyle, Chair of Drone Action D15. We hear why residents fought back against drone deliveries, whether Ireland's planning system failed, and ask the bigger question: are we helping to build world-class companies only to watch them scale elsewhere?🤖 Oscar examines Meta, CPL and the hidden workforce behind AI. Reports about Irish-based contractors training artificial intelligence systems have raised serious questions about worker welfare, Big Tech and Ireland's growing role in the global AI industry.Throughout the programme we'll be asking one simple question:How do we balance innovation, accountability and public trust?

This week on MOTH News Live:
🚁 Manna was once held up as one of Ireland's great startup success stories. Backed by investors and supported through Ireland's innovation ecosystem, the company promised to revolutionise drone delivery. But with questions now being raised about revenues, jobs, expansion plans and the future location of its operations, we ask a simple question:
When Ireland helps build a company, who ultimately benefits?
Keith, Oscar and Al examine the latest developments surrounding Manna, Bobby Healy, Enterprise Ireland and the wider issue of taxpayer-funded innovation.
⚖️ Meanwhile, the Noah Donohoe Inquest is entering its final stage after five months of evidence. With the coroner now charging the jury, we discuss what happens next, what findings the jury can make, and whether the process has answered the questions that have surrounded Noah's death for more than six years.
🤖 Oscar looks at disturbing reports involving Irish-based Meta contractors, where workers were allegedly required to generate extreme prompts involving suicide, child exploitation and harmful content as part of AI safety testing. What are the human costs of training artificial intelligence, and who is responsible for protecting the workers doing that job?
💰 Plus, a wider discussion about Enterprise Ireland, Big Tech, AI, startup culture, public investment and whether Ireland is getting value from the companies it helps create.

The Noah Donohoe inquest has heard fresh evidence this week, raising new questions about events that continue to resonate across Northern Ireland almost six years later.At the same time, the Jeffrey Donaldson case continues to dominate headlines, with testimony bringing renewed focus not just on politics, but on the human impact of allegations of abuse and the people at the centre of the story.We’ll also examine Ireland’s push for tougher restrictions on children’s access to social media. Supporters argue the measures are necessary to protect young people online. Critics question whether such bans can work in practice and what they mean for personal freedoms.

This week’s programme looks beyond the headlines and asks a simple question:When some of the biggest stories in the news still leave unanswered questions, where do we look for answers?

This week on MOTH News Live, we examine the latest evidence from the Noah Donohoe Inquest, where repeated claims of "I can't recall" from police witnesses have raised fresh questions about CCTV evidence, investigative procedures and the crucial first hours after Noah disappeared.
We discuss:
🚲 CCTV operator evidence and the race to track Noah's movements across Belfast
📹 Questions around CCTV retrieval and investigative priorities
⚖️ The evidence of Detective Constable Nick Johnston and repeated memory gaps during questioning
🔍 Daryl Paul, Maria Nolan and what investigators were focused on while Noah was still missing
Plus:
🛡️ A separate Belfast safeguarding case involving a music tutor facing serious criminal charges currently before the courts, and what it tells us about safeguarding, institutions and positions of trust.
📱 Oscar examines the rise of the Manosphere, online influencers and the growing impact of digital communities on young men.
💻 Al looks at Pornhub, MindGeek's Irish operations, Grant Thornton's resignation as auditor, and the wider questions around corporate responsibility and accountability.
At the heart of today's programme is one question:
Who was paying attention?