Drivetime

Proposed legislation to increase the legal age for buying cigarettes and other tobacco products from 18 to 21 has been welcomed today. For more on this Director General of the Tobacco Free Research Institute Ireland, Professor Luke Clancy and Director of Forest [Freedom Organisation for the Right to Enjoy Smoking Tobacco] Simon Clark.

Time Magazine has just published its Health 100 list, which selected the top 100 individuals who are the most influential in the world of health right now and a behavioral scientist based in Dublin has made it into the final line-up. Dr. Dale Whelehan is CEO of 4 Day Week Global.

The UK goverment's Rwanda deportation policy should not apply in Northern Ireland because it undermines human rights protections guaranteed in the North, a court has ruled today. For reaction Colin Murray, Professor of Law & Democracy at the University of Newcastle and Stephen Farry, Alliance MP for North Down.

Novel research into Parkinson's Disease and how it can be diagnosed by scent will be presented on Wednesday evening in Maynooth University. Professor Perdita Barran who is is Chair of Mass Spectrometry in the Department of Chemistry at The University of Manchester, will explain the fascinating story of her research.

The Cabinet is set to approve a new enterprise support package tomorrow to help struggling retail and hospitality businesses. To discuss the new package I'm joined by Emer Higgins, Fine Gael TD for Dublin Mid West and Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail and by Labour Senator Marie Sherlock.

The Land Development Agency the State’s affordable housing delivery body - today launched 57 homes in Hollystown Dublin 15. The scheme is jointly run by the LDA and Fingal County Council for more on this John Coleman, Chief Executive of the LDA.

The housing market in this country is currently restraining the performance of Ireland's competitiveness, the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council has warned today. For some reaction to this Hubert Fitzpatrick, Director General of the Construction Industry Federation.

As people living in Gaza await a major military assault on the southern city of Rafah by the Israeli defense forces, aid agencies are warning that a ground assault would cause a humanitarian disaster in the region. We hear from Israel by one of Benjamin Netanyahu's predecessor's Ehud Olmert.

The Taoiseach Simon Harris has said he believes the GAA needs to revisit the decision to put certain championship games behind a paywall, saying the organisation have gotten this wrong on the streaming service GAA GO. To discuss this Fine Gael Senator Tim Lombard and Dr Declan Jordan, Senior Lecturer in the Centre for Sports, Economics & Law in UCC

With temperatures hitting up to 23 degrees in some parts - so get the shorts out - factor on the sunscreen - and get ready for a great weekend. Drivetime's John Cooke is one of many sun lovers getting in the mood for summer today with a trip to the sea in Lahinch.

Next month will mark 75 years since the publication of George Orwell's novel '1984' and to mark the occasion one Scottish sculptor is collecting one thousand nine hundred and eighty four copies of the book to be part of an exhibition which will be an interactive, “living” sculpture.

Adult film star Stormy Daniels is back on the stand in Donald Trumps New York hush money trial again today. Earlier in the week she told the jury she hated the former president and revealed details of their "brief" encounter in a hotel room. US based journalist Harriet Alexander has the latest.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has asked HIQA to carry out a review into urgent and emergency care capacity in the midwest region. Minister of State and Fianna Fail TD for Limerick Niall Collins , David Cullinane, Sinn Fein Spokesperson on Health & Marie McMahon, Mid West Hospital Campaign Group give their reactions .

It's been reported today that Ireland and Spain were prepared to recognise Palestinian statehood as early as 21 May. Rashid Khalidi is the founding co-director of the Center for Palestine Studies in Columbia University...and author of books including "The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine..."

Figures out today show that nationality has overtaken sexual orientation as a factor in hate based crimes in Ireland. The crime has increased over the past 2years & the Coalition Against Hate Crime group is calling on the Government to ensure the Hate Crime Bill is passed by the Oireachtas. Adam Long, Board Director at the National LGBT Federation.

A survey of the union's members published at its annual conference has found that 92% believe patient safety is at risk. Our reporter Una Kelly is at the conference in Croke Park and has been speaking to nurses.

At today's Oireachtas Transport Committee the Chief Executive of Dublin Bus warned that the private car is the "biggest barrier to faster and more reliable bus services". To discuss this Brian Caulfield, Professor in Transportation at Trinity College Dublin.

To discuss the Dublin Taskforce and the ongoing situation around Mount Street I'm joined by Lord Mayor of Dublin Daithi de Roiste of Fianna Fail and by Social Democrats TD for Dublin Central, Gary Gannon.

From the same breakfast and commute to work everyday, to our evening slump on the sofa in front of the telly – our daily routines may be driving us towards midlife boredom and maybe even crisis. so how do we go about challenging the comfort of our everyday routines? The Midlife Coach Alana Kirk tells us more.

The Media Minister Catherine Martin has published three reports this afternoon which involved a forensic examination of RTÉ. For some reaction to the reports Social Democrats TD and Leas-Chathaoirleach of the Public Accounts Committee Catherine Murphy and Irish secretary of the National Union of Journalists Seamus Dooley.