Newstalk Breakfast

The Government has been accused in the Dáil of using rhetoric that is fueling anti-immigrant sentiment. This follows claims from Tánaiste Simon Harris that opponents are trying to ‘shut down’ debate on immigration  For more on this, we heard from Gary Gannon, Social Democrats TD and Spokesperson for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration & John Clendennen, Fine Gael TD for Offaly. 

Ireland’s housing crisis is likely to persist for at least another 15 years, according to the Department of Finance.  The grim analysis was contained in Future Forty: A Fiscal and Economic Outlook to 2065. Shane discusses these findings with Dr Emma Howard, Economist at TU Dublin.

Department of Finance predicts Ireland’s housing crisis could last another 15 years. Ciara and Shane discussed this further.

You might be bombarded with teeth whitening ads across your social media, but do the kits work or could they be potentially dangerous?    We discuss further with Dr Caroline Robbins, owner of Kiwi Dental. 

The Labour Party will today call for a health-led drugs policy and decriminalization of people who use drugs. Is this the way forward in the war against drugs. All to discuss with Dr Garrett McGovern, Medical Director at the Priority Medical Clinic in Dundrum and GP addiction specialist.

Zohran Mamdani has won the New York City mayoral race, capping a meteoric rise from a little-known state politician to one of the country's most visible Democratic figures.      So who is the New York mayor? To tell us was David Smith, Washington Bureau Chief, The Guardian . 

After the recent presidential election, which saw the highest-ever vote for a left-wing candidate in Irish history. Many supporters of Catherine Connolly met an event last night to discuss “What’s Next for the Left?” Joining Newstalk Breakfast talk about it is one of the event’s speakers, Paul Murphy, People Before Profit TD.

The Criminal Assets Bureau sold 20 properties which were found to be the proceeds of crime last year, the highest number sold in any one year. Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan is expected to bring the bureau's annual report to the Cabinet and publish it later.  We discuss further with Conor Lally, Irish Times Crime and Security Editor.

Uisce Éireann will be required to manage new privately built wastewater plants under proposals Minister for Housing James Browne will bring to Cabinet this morning. The move is aiming to speed up the delivery of homes in rural towns and villages that currently have inadequate water services.  Ciara discusses this further with Paul Davis, Lecturer in Public Procurement, DCU .  

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties is appearing before the Oireachtas Committee on Justice today, and it is calling for the age of criminal responsibility to be raised to 14. For more on this we heard from Sean Egan, Procedural Rights Fellow with Irish Council for Civil liberties and Practicing Criminal Barrister.

Sinn Fein is calling on the Government to support their legislation to cut school uniform costs. We discuss further with their Education Spokesperson Darren O’Rourke .

Young people across Ireland can apply for one of 40,000 free travel passes available through the European Commission’s DiscoverEU initiative. So, what exactly are they?  Eoghan Corry, Editor of Travel Extra.ie brings us the details.

Public hospitals have cancelled around one million patient appointments in the last four years.  That's according to analysis from the Irish Medical Times ahead of Patient Solutions, a new conference dedicated to finding solutions to enhance patient care and outcomes.  Ciara discusses this further with Professor Matthew Sadlier, Chair of the consultants committee of the Irish M...

‘It should be recognised that the theft of a dog is more akin to the theft of a family member rather than the theft of an object. That should be recognised by the law.’     That’s the view of Pete Wedderburn, Bray Based Vet.

It seems to be getting earlier every year, but the rush of Black Friday deals has already started, and many retailers are already pushing what they promise to be great deals.   Is there value to be had and what should you be wary of?  All to discuss with Newstalk's Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly . All with thanks to Renault .

The Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien has today announced the publication of the Interim Report of the National Energy Affordability Taskforce. Its work focused on energy affordability in the years ahead  All to discuss with Lisa Ryan, Professor in Energy Economics at University College Dublin.

A security review of all IPAS centres will take place speedily in the wake of an arson attack on a facility in Drogheda. Four children, including a baby, were among five people rescued from the top floor of a building housing International Protection applicants on Friday night.  We heard from John Lannon, CEO of migrants’ right organization Doras .

The Government should scrap Irish aviation’s “free pass” on climate by introducing an air travel tax and ensuring the sector pays its fair share for pollution, according to a new report from environmental law and policy group Opportunity Green.   Speaking to Ciara was their CEO, Aoife O’Leary .

This week, Ministers will discuss plans for emergency planning powers. They would enable the Government to bypass existing planning laws and requirements for critical national infrastructure projects.  It is expected that the package of reforms will include changes to the rules governing judicial review. All to discuss with Gavin Lawlor, President of Irish Planning Institute.

Most people don’t make it to the end of a voice note, according to a new poll by Talkmobile. Four in five listeners cut messages short after about three minutes, yet voice notes remain hugely popular, with seven billion sent worldwide every day.    Ciara discusses this further with Esther McCarthy, Weekend Columnist with The Irish Examiner.

Sinn Fein has accused Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe of ‘taking people for fools’ by claiming that most homeowners will not be pushed into higher local property tax bands. We heard from the party’s Finance Spokesperson Pearse Doherty.

‘Dublin by Night’ fest takes place tomorrow night and it’s one of over 200 events that’s been organised since Dublin City’s Night-Time Economy strategy was launched a year ago. To tell us more about what to expect we spoke to Ray O’Donoghue, Dublin City’s Night-time Economy Advisor Ray O’Donoghue, Dublin City’s Night-time Economy Advisor.

The Central Bank of Ireland has today published the NCID Annual Private Motor Report 2024 on motor insurance cover. It found that premiums had increased by 9% in the previous 12 months. What is driving this increase? All to discuss with Brian Hanley is the CEO of the Alliance for Insurance Reform .  

The King has initiated the "formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew as he moves out of Royal Lodge.    All to discuss with Vincent McAvinney, London based Journalist .  

While Halloween brings joy in the form of costumes and tricking or treating, it also carries risks like fireworks and bonfires.  Sean speaks to Brendan Flynn, Paramedic for 30 years and Chairperson of the National Ambulance Service Representative Association about the risks and advice on Halloween night.