Behind The Story: Sally Rooney's stand

This week author Sally Rooney’s statement that her books will no longer be supplied to shops in the UK because of her support for the Palestine Action group has triggered commercial and cultural shockwaves.

On this episode, Behind The Story talks to international human rights lawyer Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC who explains the background to what has happened and the implications.

Rooney, 35, previously said she would donate earnings from her books and BBC adaptations of novels to Palestine Action, which has a stated goal of "ending global participation in Israel's genocidal and apartheid regime".

The UK ban, which began in July last year, made membership of, or support for, the direct-action group a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

In her statement, Rooney said further publication of her work could constitute a "serious criminal offence", so she had agreed with her publisher Faber not to continue supplying her books to UK retailers.

Gallagher - who has worked on significant international cases for almost three decades - describes the UK legislation "as a grossly disproportionate overreach."

She also says Sally Rooney’s decision has "very significant implications" for her in one of her largest markets. However, Gallagher says the move also highlights a predicament that smaller authors could find themselves in.

"It also makes me think about what about smaller authors as well … who may not have the resources to be able to do something like this and who could actually face being banned in that way".

"It's got serious consequences for Sally Rooney. It's also got very serious consequences for an audience who frankly are entitled to read, hear and see Sally Rooney's work and who are being blocked because of this piece of legislation and this grossly disproportionate overreach."

Palestine Action continues to challenge the UK court’s decision to class it a terror group, and next month, the group’s lawyers will ask the UK Supreme Court to quash the ban. The hearing - due to be heard on 4 and 5 November - is expected to attract significant attention.

Irish eyes are smiling as US morning show broadcasts from Kerry

America’s biggest morning TV show NBC’s 'Today’ is coming from Kerry and will be broadcast live from Kenmare and the Sheen Falls Hotel.

Our Arts and Media Correspondent Evelyn O’Rourke will on location in the Sheen Falls Hotel as presenters including Savannah Guthrie and Jenna Bush Hager get ready to roll.

It’s the first time the show, which has three million viewers in the US, will broadcast all four hours live from Ireland.

Evelyn takes us through the line-up which included Domhnall Gleeson, Sharon Horgan and Samantha Barry.

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