Highlights from Newstalk Breakfast

More than 700 of the 949 seats on the State’s county and city councils have been filled, with Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil battling it out to be the largest party in local government. Adrian Kavanagh, Lecturer at the Maynooth University Department of Geography breaks it down for Shane.

Ciara caught up with Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton to talk all things Bridgerton.

The Road Safety Authority is seeking an increase in the fees charged to motorists for the National Car Test (NCT), the driving test and a range of other services it provides. We get reaction with Shane O'Donoghue, Editor with completecar.ie.

Killers will get tougher sentences in the UK as Rishi Sunak is set to pledge the biggest overhaul of homicide laws in a generation. So, should Ireland toughen up on sentencing for murderers? Speaking to Ciara this morning was John Whelan, Member of Sentencing and Victim Equality Group, SAVE and John Lonergan, Former Mountjoy Governor.

A Hamas official has said 40 people, including women and children, were killed after an Israeli air strike hit a school in Gaza. Speaking to Shane this morning was Dr. Einat Wilf is a Former Member of Israeli parliament and co-author of “The War of Return”. 

Is the stag do an important rite of passage before a man enters marital bliss, or is the whole tradition just a nuisance? With cities like Amsterdam and Prague looking to crackdown on stag dos, is it time we did away with the ritual altogether? Newstalk Breakfast spoke to Joe O’Shea, Editor of Cork Beo. 

We’re only a few days into summer and already a popular beach spot in Cork has been destroyed with rubbish.  So how do we stop people from spoiling scenic spots and local outdoor amenities? Speaking to Shane this morning was Ian Davis, Pure Manager, Pure (Protecting Uplands & Rural Environments).

TV doctor Michael Mosley remains missing while disappearing while on a hike on the Greek island of Symi. We get the latest from Helena Smith is the Guardian’s Correspondent in Greece.

Today marks the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings which led to the liberation of Europe and the end of the Second World War. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast with a fascinating story was Ted Sweeney, the son of Maureen Sweeney who gave D-Day the go-ahead from Blacksod Lighthouse in County Mayo.

 Polling stations open across the country tomorrow morning for the local and European elections. Limerick will also vote on a directly elected mayor. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast this morning was Ivan Yates, Former Fine Gael Minister and broadcaster, and Co Host of the weekly podcast “Path to Power”.

Researchers have discovered a major cause of inflammatory bowel disease and have found that existing drugs could be used to treat the condition. The news could be a breakthrough for 40,000 people in Ireland living with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or other forms of IBD. We got more details from Dr Brendan O’Shea Kildare GP & assistant professor in public health and primary care at Trin...

The consultation process on the first major revamp of the primary school curriculum in 25 years closes tomorrow. But are parents getting a big enough say in what we’re teaching their kids? We discuss with David Quinn, Columnist with the Sunday Independent and Head of the Iona Institute.

The world is likely to exceed the critical threshold of 1.5 degrees of warming in at least one of the next five years, according to the UN’s climate monitoring body. We speak to Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan. 

 The Department of Health is holding off developing a new national drugs strategy despite calls by the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use for it to be published “as a matter of urgency”. Ciara discussed this with Labour Senator, Marie Sherlock, is a member of the newly formed Committee on Drug Use, which met for the first-time last week.

Should Dublin take inspiration from Copenhagen and look at setting up swap centres across the city for people to leave things they don’t need any more in a bid to reduce waste?  One councillor who thinks so is Vincent Jackson, Local Election Candidate, Independent Councillor for Ballyfermot and he joined Ciara this morning.

Tom and Molly Martens, the father and daughter jailed for voluntary manslaughter of Limerick man Jason Corbett, are set to be released from prison today. Speaking to Shane this morning with more on this was Ralph Riegel, Southern Correspondent for the Irish Independent. 

Irish TV host Laura Whitmore will make her return to the Irish stage alongside EastEnders actor Shona McGarty and The Tudors star Colin O'Donoghue when West End hit 2:22: A Ghost Story comes to Dublin at the end of this month. Laura spoke to Ciara ahead of the show.

Canvassing in the upcoming local elections has become “intimidating” and “demoralising”.  So says Supriya Singh,  Fine Gael candidate for the Donaghmede Electoral Area who spoke to Ciara this morning.

Building firm BAM Ireland, which was strongly criticised in the Dáil last week by Tánaiste Micheál Martin over its involvement in the National Children’s Hospital, is the main contractor on the new €100 million Narrow Water Bridge in County Louth which was launched by senior Ministers yesterday.   Speaking to Shane this morning was Brian Stanley, Sinn Féin TD and Chair of the Public Accounts Commi...

The government’s current budgetary policy is not appropriate for the economy or the public finances. That’s according to a new report from the Fiscal Council, whose Acting Chair Michael McMahon spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

A woman in her 20s has died following a dog attack in Limerick. We hear from Green Party Cllr and Limerick City East candidate Sean Hartigan. 

Traffic is as good as back to pre-pandemic levels, and with more types of vehicles using them, our roads are rowdier than ever. But does more movement have to mean more aggression, or have we normalised rage on Irish roads?   Newstalk Reporter Sarah Madden finds out.

A Government Digital Wallet, which could hold important documents like a birth certificate and driver's license, could be rolled out by the end of the year. That’s according to plans before cabinet today. Jenny Darmody, Editor of Silicon Republic brought us further details.

It’s a nervous morning in thousands of households across the country as the Leaving Cert gets under way. We speak to Carl O’Brien is Education Editor for The Irish Times.

The Junior and Leaving Cert exams begin tomorrow and due to the pandemic, we are in the unique situation that for some students, this will be the first time they have ever taken a state exam.  Brian Mooney, Guidance Counsellor and Irish Times Columnist  gave advice for students and parents alike.