Newstalk Breakfast

On his first visit to Northern Ireland as Prime Minister, Andy Burnham has said a referendum on a united Ireland "is off the table".  Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald had some strong words for him following a meeting with Burnham. For more on this Anton spoke to Amanda Ferguson, Freelance Journalist based in Belfast.

British actor Tim Curry, best known for his iconic role in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, has died aged 80.   The cult classic holds a special place in Dublin too, having been screened every Friday night for more than 20 years at the Classic Cinema in Harold’s Cross. To tell us more was Brian Merriman,   Founder of International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival. 

After a summer of holidays and late nights, it's time to set those back-to-school alarms. How do you get your children back into a proper sleep routine?  With some advice for was Erica Hardagen, Sleep Consultant and Founder of Babogue. 

Meta has settled its landmark case with US States in territories leading it to pay a maximum of eighteen billion dollars, or 15 billion euros  to the states. Also agreeing to make changes to its platform. Our Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly brought us the details.

Cuts to excise duty on petrol and diesel are set to be phased out over a period from November to the end of February. This comes under proposals that will go to Cabinet this morning.    Anton gets reaction from Kevin McPartland, Chief Executive of Fuels for Ireland and Pearse Doherty, Sinn Fein Deputy Leader, Finance spokesperson, TD for Donegal. 

We take a closer look at some of the stories you may have missed in the news this morning. Joining Anton this morning was Owen Reidy, General Secretary, ICTU. 

Andy Burnham has come under fire for his increasingly casual dress sense, with critics questioning whether his relaxed style is appropriate for the UK Prime Minister.  Anton asked Noel Cunningham, Hotelier, TV personality if he agreed with the casual dress sense.

Conservationists are celebrating the birth of a "bounty of barn owl chicks" in Northern Ireland.  Two barn owl pairs were discovered to have bred successfully on farm visits in Co Fermanagh this summer by Ulster Wildlife, each raising five chicks. Speaking to Anton Éanna Ní Lamhna, Biologist and Environmental and Wildlife Consultant. 

Insurance Ireland has proposed a national plan to close Ireland’s flood insurance gap. Warning that around 1 in 20 properties currently struggle to obtain cover, which can make homes difficult to mortgage or sell.     To discuss this further was Michael Horan Manager of Regulation and Policy Development at Insurance Ireland.

The Green Party has called on the Minister for Public Expenditure to make provision for a once-off Fossil Fuel Inflation Fund. This fund would be as part of Budget 2027 to protect households from ongoing/renewed energy inflation.  Roderic O’Gorman, Leader of the Green Party and TD for Dublin West spoke to Anton with more on this.   

At least 160 are dead following a devastating landslide and flash floods in Nepal. Two Irish nationals are among the hundreds of missing tourists.   For an update on the situation there Anton spoke to Rachel Clayton is South Asia Correspondent for the ABC.  

The Government will fail to meet its recruitment targets for An Garda Síochána once more this year according to figures released to Sinn Féin TD Mark Ward. To discuss these finding was John Joe O’Connell, Vice President of the GRA.

Tom Dunne joined Anton to chat further about the legacy of Dolly Parton who passed away at the age of 80.

Today, CAO applicants across the country will receive their offers for third-level education.  With us to give advice on how to prepare, and what to do once you get your offer was Gemma Lawlor, Guidance Counsellor at Tyndall College Carlow .  

Dolly Parton died on August 25, 2026, aged 80, in Nashville, Tennessee.  Her family announced her death, with her nephew Bryan Seaver sharing the news publicly.  Looking back on her legacy was Priest and broadcaster Fr Brian D’Arcy and country music star Lisa McHugh.

Commercial unit vacancy fell slightly in the second quarter of the year for the first time. This is since GeoDirectory began reporting the data in 2013. To bring us through the details was Dara Keogh the CEO of GeoDirectory.

We take a closer look at some of the stories you may have missed in the news this morning. Joining Anton this morning was Frances Fitzgerald, Former Tanaiste and currently a member of G7 Equality Advisory Council. 

A Dublin civil servant accused of leaking sensitive government information to a hostile foreign power now faces extra charges. Charges including breaking the Official Secrets Act.    We get the details from Court Reporter Tom Tuite. 

New research from the NTA has shown that every one euro invested in active travel this decade generates almost four euro in benefits to society. We get the details from Conor Geraghty is Head of Active Travel with the NTA. 

The Teachers Union of Ireland has announced that it will ballot its members for industrial action. This is over the lack of implementation of a one percent salary increase as part of an agreement on the new senior cycle. Speaking to Anton was Michael Gillespie, the General Secretary of the TUI.

Dolly Parton died on August 25, 2026, aged 80, in Nashville, Tennessee.  Her family announced her death, with her nephew Bryan Seaver sharing the news publicly announcing in a video posted on social media.  Speaking to Anton was Baylen Leonard, Country Music Broadcaster and Native Tennessean. 

Climate change and supply chain threats to our import-dependent food system should impel us to stockpile food, just as we do with oil That is the thoughts of  Environmental Journalist and Commentator John Gibbons who joined Anton this morning to explain why.

A motorist is fined on average every 45 minutes for non-compliant car licence plates. The revelation came as new figures revealed a whopping €502,440 in fines have been issued since October 2025 for motorists who insist on using non-compliant licence plates on Irish roads.  The peak month for fines was November when gardaí issued 1,451 fines for illegal number plates. Ger Herbert Motoring Edi...

Members of the Fórsa trade union employed at the Oberstown Children Detention Campus in Dublin will engage in a 12-hour strike later today and a 48-hour strike from Monday 31 August.   The industrial action is the fourth in a series of planned weekly work stoppages, which began earlier this month in a dispute over resourcing and staffing levels.  Niall Shana...

Uisce Eireann has extended the hosepipe ban for 13 counties until September 30th, while 13 other counties will see the ban lifted today.    Joining Anton to explore this further was Member of the DCU Water Institute, an expert in water and environmental technologies, Dr Jenny Lawler.