One of the country’s biggest teaching unions voted against Leaving Cert reform at the weekend citing resources and capacity.  

But another concern is a lack of guidance on the use of AI by students.  While the Department of Education is working on guidelines here, Estonia is putting AI into the classrooms for 16 years from September.  

Fran and David speak to Estonia’s Education Minister Kristina Kallas and she explains how teachers and students are embracing it.  

One of the country’s biggest teaching unions voted against Leaving Cert reform at the weekend citing resources and capacity. But another concern is a lack of guidance on the use of AI by students. While the Department of Education is working on guidelines here, Estonia is putting AI into the classrooms for 16 years from September. Fran and David speak to Estonia’s Education Minister Kristina Kallas and she explains how teachers and students are embracing it.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Tune in for insightful and informed conversation as three of RTÉ’s top journalists, David McCullagh, Katie Hannon and Fran McNulty digest some of the news stories of the day. Expect deep dives, analysis, interesting guests and maybe even some laughs along the way. 

Email: behindthestory@rte.ie

New episodes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Tune in for insightful and informed conversation as three of RTÉ’s top journalists, David McCullagh, Katie Hannon and Fran McNulty digest some of the news stories of the day. Expect deep dives, analysis, interesting guests and maybe even some laughs along the way.&nbsp;Email: <a class="relay-http-link" href="mailto:behindthestory@rte.ie">behindthestory@rte.ie</a>New episodes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Behind the Story

Leaving Cert uncertainty over classroom chatbots 

When she was a small child, Sinn Féin Senator Nicole Ryan lived in a home where domestic abuse was commonplace. On one particular night, her mother's former partner threatened to kill them and her mother risked her life to save the children. 

Recently, Nicole spoke in the Seanad and was sucessful in getting an amendment added to the revised domestic abuse laws, if the amendment suceeds, the presence of children will be considered an aggravating factor when it comes to sentencing an abuser. 

Katie and Fran speak to Nicole about her life as a young child and how years later the impact of domestic abuse still affects her. 

When she was a small child, Sinn Féin Senator Nicole Ryan lived in a home where domestic abuse was commonplace. On one particular night, her mother's former partner threatened to kill them and her mother risked her life to save the children. Recently, Nicole spoke in the Seanad and was sucessful in getting an amendment added to the revised domestic abuse laws, if the amendment suceeds, the presence of children will be considered an aggravating factor when it comes to sentencing an abuser. Katie and Fran speak to Nicole about her life as a young child and how years later the impact of domestic abuse still affects her.

"There was a lot of blood"

In an unexpected turn of events at the Court of Appeal, Conor McGregor withdrew the so called new evidence.  McGregor is appealing the finding of a civil case where a jury found he had raped Nikita Hand in a hotel in 2018.  

Orla O’Donnell, RTÉ's Legal Affairs Correspondent, was in the appeal court this week and she joins Fran and Katie to tease out the details of the appeal and where the case might go now.   

In an unexpected turn of events at the Court of Appeal, Conor McGregor withdrew the so called new evidence.&nbsp; McGregor is appealing the finding of a civil case where a jury found he had raped Nikita Hand in a hotel in 2018. Orla O’Donnell, RTÉ's Legal Affairs Correspondent, was in the appeal court this week and she joins Fran and Katie to tease out the details of the appeal and where the case might go now.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Inside the McGregor appeal

David, Katie and Fran take a look at the politics behind the row over college fees. Earlier this week, Minister for Higher Education James Lawless confirmed there are no cost of living measures to support the continued reduction in fees but that Budget 26 negotiations were ongoing. The opposition isn't happy with that position and wants clarity. 

The trio also discuss UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves tough time during Prime Ministers questions in the House of Commons today. 

David, Katie and Fran take a look at the politics behind the row over college fees. Earlier this week, Minister for Higher Education James Lawless confirmed there are no cost of living measures to support the continued reduction in fees but that Budget 26 negotiations were ongoing. The opposition isn't happy with that position and wants clarity.&nbsp;The trio also discuss UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves tough time during Prime Ministers questions in the House of Commons today.&nbsp;

Leaving Cert uncertainty over classroom chatbots

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