Newstalk Breakfast

Watch out Microsoft Teams users. Hackers are spreading a dangerous new phishing scam. Newstalk's Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly brought us the details.

From today, the threshold for the Income-Assessed subsidies through the National Childcare Scheme has expanded to include families on higher incomes.  The Department of Children has said this will benefit a further 47,000 children in Ireland access childcare.  Elaine Dunne, Chair of the Federation of Early Childhood Providers spoke to Anton this morning. 

Up to 1,000 children have been classed as "prolific offenders" as the Government plans more youth diversion projects. Some Fianna Fáil TDs say parents should be financially penalised for their children’s crimes.  Speaking to Anton this morning was Seámus McGrath, Fianna Fáil TD for Cork South-Central. 

New personal investment accounts will be announced today by Simon Harris. It will let savers invest in shares, bonds and ETFs without deemed disposal tax, aiming to unlock some of the €157bn held in low-interest deposits.  Anton got the details with Patricia Callan, Financial Services Ireland Director. 

We take a closer look at some of the stories you may have missed in the news this morning. Joining Anton this morning was Harry Browne Media Lecturer in TUD and Host of the Ditch podcast.

Electric Picnic boss Melvin Benn has strongly defended the festival’s organisation and crowd safety provisions following a crowd collapse at a too-small venue on Friday night.  One festival goer who was there told The Journal it was “like a silent bomb blast, the most terrifying thing ever”. Speaking to Anton was Valerie Flynn, Journalist with the Journal.ie.  

Pressure is growing on the Government to stop wealthy investors from exploiting inheritance tax rules. Which they buy large areas of farmland and passing them on to their children with little or no tax to pay.  With more on this Anton spoke to Francie Gorman, President of the Irish Farmers Association.

The newly released show “Adults” which has been described as the Gen Z version of Friends. But unlike Friends with 24 episodes per season, Adults has 8 episodes which took about 18 months to make.  Why are TV shows shorter but seem to take longer to make? Anton asked Brian Lloyd, Entertainment Journalist. 

Iceland has voted against resuming talks on joining the European Union 13 years after they were broken off.  With more on this Anton spoke to Ray Bassett, Former Senior Irish Diplomat.

At least eight people are dead, with 17 still missing and 237 rescued after a passenger vessel capsized off northern Cyprus.   We get the latest on this with Borzou Daragahi, Journalist and Founder of Badlands Newsletter. 

Bring your tents, bring your friends and bring your wellies! People with early access to Electric Picnic yesterday were met with torrential rain, but will it clear up over the weekend?  Alan O'Reilly from Carlow Weather brings us a weather update for the Electric Picnic. 

Treachery, backstabbing and bare-faced lies are all back on our TVs this weekend. The Traitors Ireland returns for its second season.  With Anton discuss what might lie ahead is Vanessa Ogbonna, Presenter and the winner of season 1.

Most of the town of Killarney in Co Kerry was hit by the" worst flooding in a lifetime" last night, according to its mayor.   We get an update on the situation there with Mayor of Killarney Councillor John O'Donoghue.

Women applying to work for An Garda Síochána have a consistently higher failure rate in the physical competency test they have to pass before joining the force.  That’s according to information obtained by the Irish Examiner. Speaking to Anton to discuss these finding was , Irish Examiner Reporter Neil Michael.

A Border poll on a united Ireland is “off the table”, Andy Burnham has said on his first visit to Northern Ireland as UK prime minister.  With reaction to this Anton spoke to DUP MP Gregory Campbell and also John Finucane, Sinn Féin MP for North Belfast.

Electric Picnic returns to Stradbally Hall in Co Laois from Friday 28 to Sunday 30 August, with 80,000 festival-goers expected to attend.  More than 800 performances are planned across 50 stages, with Lewis Capaldi, Gorillaz and Fontaines D.C. taking the headline slots on the Main Stage. Dave Fanning told Anton what is looking forward to seeing on stage this weekend.

There has been a big jump in the number of homeowners planning to switch their mortgage, according to new data.  Close to 900 homeowners got the all-clear to switch mortgage provider last month, according to the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland. We get the details from Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor, Irish Independent .  

We take a closer look at some of the stories you may have missed in the news this morning. Joining Anton this morning was David McRedmond, Former CEO, An Post .  

Sixty six mostly gold bronze age artefacts have been stolen from museum in Spain in an overnight heist. For more details on this Anton heard from Stephe Burgen, Freelance Journalist in Barcelona.

Parents are being asked to avail of free immunisation to protect babies against Respiratory Syncytial Virus as it is rolled out from next Tuesday.   We get the details of the roll out with Dr Patrick Kelly, Clinical lead for immunisations in Primary care, Irish College of General Practitioners.

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.