The Explainer

For years, the conversation around problem drug use in Ireland centred on heroin. But on the streets of Dublin and beyond, a different drug has taken hold. Treatment demand for crack cocaine rose by 31% in a single year - and by more than 900% over the last decade - according to the latest figures from the Health Research Board. Those working on the frontline say the drug's cheap price and sheer availability are driving the increase, with a single rock selling for as little as €10. But behind the statistics are people, and the question of how someone caught in the grip of one of the most addictive drugs out there finds their way back out. Dawn Russell, chief executive of Ana Liffey, one of Ireland's leading harm reduction organisations, joins us to explain what's driving the surge, and what recovery actually looks like.

Alumina is the fine white powder needed to make aluminium, and Ireland is home to Europe's largest producer of it. Aughinish Alumina's ownership by Russian giant Rusal has put the Limerick plant under intense scrutiny, with a recent investigation tracing its product all the way to the Russian military. Niall O'Connor, News Correspondent with The Journal, joins us to explain who owns the refinery, how its alumina allegedly ends up in Russian weapons, and what it all means for the hundreds of people who work there.

Even if you've never watched an episode of Love Island in your life, it has become almost impossible to escape the drama. This season, with Galway footballer Seán Fitzgerald swapping the GAA pitch for Majorca, viewers in Ireland are once again deeply invested in the villa's antics. But away from the poolside chats, the series faces heavy scrutiny over its intense production schedules and a shift from genuine matchmaking to becoming an influencer pipeline. We're joined by Kate Demolder, arts and culture journalist, to examine the growing criticisms aimed at the franchise and how its modern duty of care measures up against a deeply controversial reality TV legacy.

An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda has just been declared a global health emergency, sparking alarm worldwide. It is driven by the rare Bundibugyo strain, a variant of the virus for which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment. Complicating matters further, the epicentre lies in a war-torn region where medical workers face rebel checkpoints, depleted supplies, and widespread public suspicion. We’re joined by Dr Gabriel Fitzpatrick, a consultant in public health medicine who is director of the International Clinic in Dublin, and who has worked on the frontline of previous Ebola outbreaks.

New figures suggest the rental market could be experiencing historic levels of strain. Rents surged by 4.4% between December and March, marking the largest quarterly increase on record for the Daft.ie series. We’re joined by Michael Byrne, Associate Professor at the School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice at University College Dublin, and author of Beyond Generation Rent, to examine how tied this rise is to recent rent reforms - and what, if anything, could help to reverse the situation.

The 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest is playing out this week, in the shadow of unprecedented controversy. Five traditionally participating countries, including Ireland, are boycotting this year's competition in Vienna over Israel's inclusion in protest over the country’s wars in Gaza and Lebanon. The Journal’s News Editor and resident Eurovision expert Daragh Brophy joins us to examine the impact on the song contest.

For decades, nuclear power has been the ultimate taboo in Irish energy policy, with proposals dating back to the late 1960s ultimately defeated by massive public opposition. But as energy bills soar and climate targets loom, some politicians are asking if it's time to rethink the nuclear option. Has modern technology answered the long-standing concerns over nuclear safety, and is it a realistic solution for a country of our size? We’re joined by Dr Pádraig Lyons, head of the International Energy Research Centre, based at UCC’s Tyndall National Institute.

The government has announced plans to let homeowners build habitable units of up to 45 sq metres in their back gardens without planning permission, and to rent them out under the Rent-a-Room scheme. It says the move will ease the housing crisis, but critics warn it could create a wave of unregulated rentals where tenants have almost no rights. We're joined by Robin Mandal, former president of the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland and vice chair of the Dublin Democratic Planning Alliance.

The recent release of the 1926 census has sparked a huge wave of interest in Irish family history. It was the first census taken after the foundation of the State, capturing a snapshot of the country after a period of massive upheaval. But between missing records, complex transcription errors, and endless name variations, building your family tree can quickly become a daunting puzzle. Jennifer McLachlan Doherty, a Donegal-based genealogist and family history expert from IrishAncestral.com, tells us where to start.