Highlights from Newstalk Breakfast

 Waste collection companies have warned they may increase prices for recycling bin collections to make up for the loss of plastic bottles and drinks cans to the Deposit Return Scheme. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast with more on this was Kevin Swift, Regional Waste Co-ordinator Connacht Ulster.

The Far-right National Party leads in the first round of the French elections. Author and Paris-based journalist Lara Marlowe is with us for reaction. 

Elaine Burke, host of the For Tech’s Sake Podcast explains what has been happening in the world of AI.  All with thanks to Bird & Bird.

Our inheritance tax system is state-approved grave robbery” those are the words of Alan Shatter, Former Justice, Equality and Defence minister and is chairperson of the Inheritance Tax Reform Campaign. Alan spoke to Jonathan this morning on the calls for a reform.

Minister of State with responsibility for Business, Employment and Retail Emer Higgins has said she will ask Dublin City Council to pause the Dublin transport plan that is due to come into effect in August because of concerns about the impact it could have on jobs and retail sales in the city. We get reaction from Louis Copeland, Owner of Louis Copeland & Sons and also Michael Pigeon, Leader o...

From today women from the age of 17 to 35 will be eligible for free contraception. But does the scheme go far enough?  We speak to Monaghan based G.P. Dr. Illona Duffy.

Poor diets, inactivity, and air pollution as well as the lack of access to nature all negatively affect people’s health, Irish Doctors for the Environment has said in an open letter to all 949 councillors.  Dr Ola Løkken Nordrum, Operations Officer Irish Doctors for the Environment explained to Shane what exactly they are calling for?  

France's far right has made big gains in the first round of the parliamentary election. For an update from France Jonathan spoke to Cole Stangler , Independent journalist based in Marseille, France. And author of Paris Isn't Dead Yet: Surviving Gentrification in the City of Light. 

Taylor Swift brings her epic Eras Tour to Dublin this weekend, when over 150,000 Swifties will descend on Ireland's capital to witness the megastar journey through her almost 20-year career. Shane spoke to Pascal Donohue, Minister for Public Expenditure, President of the Eurogroup. Fine Gael TD for Dublin Central and Claire O’Malley, Taylor Swift superfan. 

The National Women’s Council has said that unduly lenient sentencing as seen in Cathal Crotty receiving a suspended sentence for violently attacking Natasha O’Brien, has exposed implementation deficits in the government’s Zero Tolerance Strategy on violence against women. Jonathan spoke to The National Womens Council’s Violence Against Women Coordinator Ivanna Youtchak.

The Irish Air Line Pilots' Association (IALPA) union’s disputes committee will meet this morning to consider further strike action by pilots at Aer Lingus. This comes as talks between them and Aer Lingus broke down yesterday. We speak to Michael Doherty, Professor in Employment Law at Maynooth University to get a reaction to a possible escalation. Also Clare Dunne, CEO of Irish Travel Agents Assoc...

‘Anyone who starts their day with highly processed sweet stuff, such as cereal or croissants, sets themselves up for a roller coaster of blood sugar peaks and troughs which make impulse control and concentration difficult.’ So says Dr Alex Richardson, Founder Director of Food and Behaviour Research, UK who spoke to Johnathan this morning on the show.

We return to presidential debate in the US and that rather disastrous performance by Joe Biden. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Patti Shields the chair of the Irish branch of Democrats Abroad.  

More than 650m passengers have travelled on the Luas since the launch of the Green line from Sandyford to St Stephen’s Green 20 years ago. We speak to Doireann Ni Bhriain, broadcaster and voice of the Luas and Olivia Kelly, Dublin Editor for the Irish Times.

Tragedy struck Waterford yesterday as two teenage boys lost their lives in a collision between a bus and an e-scooter. 15-year-old Gilbert Collins was pronounced dead at the scene, while a 17 year old Abuzwa Idris was taken to Waterford University Hospital but died yesterday evening.  We spoke to Fianna Fail Cllr and Mayor of Waterford City and County Jason Murphy on this awful tragedy.

It may still be 131 days until voters go to the polls in the US election but the two candidates locked horns overnight. President Joe Biden and Former President Donald Trump met in a TV debate on CNN in what was the first of only two scheduled debates this campaign.  We get reaction to the debate from David Smith Washington DC Bureau Chief of The Guardian.

This year marks 50 years of Pride . On June 27, 1974, the Sexual Liberation Movement, organised the first Gay Pride demonstration in Dublin. Micheal Kerrigan, playwright and one of the founders of that movement joins Ciara on the show this morning to look back on 50 years of Pride.

Ireland’s transport sector is not on target to achieve its EU emissions objectives. In fact our transport emissions actually rose last year. That’s according to a new report from the Climate Change Advisory Council and Marie Donnelly the Chair of the Council discussed the findings.

The Dáil has voted to opt in to the EU Migration Pact by 79 votes to 72. We speak to Aontú Leader, Peadar Toibin.

The Assisted Human Reproduction Bill, which includes a legal framework for both domestic and international surrogacy, has passed all stages in the Oireachtas. We speak to Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly.

Germany, a country renowned for its cleanliness and order has a German Toilet Organisation that aims to promote clean facilities for its population.  Is it time Ireland does the same, or do we shy away from talking frankly about toilets compared to our European Neighbours? We asked Carolyn Moore, Green party Councillor for Kimmage Rathmines.

A new poll from Ipsos has shown that Labour is maintaining its lead going into the final week of the UK general election campaign. Speaking to Ciara on the latest poll results was Lauren McEvatt, Former UK Government Special Advisor.

A bomb threat was made on the home of Taoiseach Simon Harris yesterday evening  Journalist with the Irish Independent Robin Schiller brought us up to speed on what happened.

Aer Lingus and IALPA will meet this morning in a fresh bid to resolve the ongoing pay dispute. Andrew Louth, Newstalk reporter brought us the latest.

Taylor Swift's eras tour will very soon sweep into Dublin. Excitement is high, but between ticket prices and Taylor trolls, the cost of being a Swiftie may be even higher. Newstalk Reporter Sarah Madden reports for us.