Highlights from Newstalk Breakfast

Is Ireland’s policy for defence working? One opinion is that Ireland is totally defenceless, unable to protect critical infrastructure or even pretend to secure its own borders.  That’s according to Eoin Drea, Senior research officer at the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies who spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

The Climate Change Advisory Council is urging Government to take immediate action to implement sustainable construction methods to reduce emissions in the sector. Speaking to Ciara this morning was it's Chair Marie Donnelly.

Thirteen-year-olds have better relationships with their parents, but fewer friends than they did a decade ago, according to a report released by the ESRI this morning. We get reaction to these findings with Brendan Kelly Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin.

Most of us will be heading to a beauty spot this summer, but are we treating the great outdoors with the respect it deserves?   The 2024 Love this Place campaign has launched today and is asking the public to respect Ireland’s outdoor spaces. We spoke to Maura Kiely, CEO of Leave No Trace Ireland. 

Ireland is on course to fall short of its carbon emissions targets – That's according to The Environmental Protection Agency’s latest findings. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Mary Frances Rochford, spokesperson for the EPA.  

Gordon Ramsay's flagship Chelsea restaurant has reminded patrons of the dress code on its website: “Feel free to express your style, but please avoid shorts, tracksuits, and hoodies."  Should restaurants always have a dress code? We asked Noel Cunningham, TV Personality and ambassador to Harvey's Point Hotel Donegal. 

Finance Minister Michael McGrath hosted the National Economic Dialogue yesterday. Minister McGrath joined Shane this morning on the show and was asked will we see another big giveaway budget?

1,224 vacant or derelict properties have been approved under The Urban Regeneration and Development Fund. That's according to an update that will be brought to cabinet later today.   We speak to Claire McManus, Director of JFOC Architects and Housing Spokesperson for the Royal Institute of Architects.

Is it time for the GAA to introduce VAR the video assistant referee to help settle match disputes? Speaking to Shane this morning was Brian Gavin, former all-Ireland referee, and Liam O’Neill, former GAA President.

Ireland will recognise the State of Palestine, effective today. For reaction to this, Clare spoke to Dr Jilan Abdalmajid, Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland.

Lack of action on water charges seven years after special committee is ‘beyond disappointing’. That’s the view of Former Independent Senator Pádraig Ó Céidigh who spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning

If you’re a Facebook or Instagram user, you may have noticed posts in recent days claiming that the parent company Meta is using your photos to train its AI models. Is this true and should we be concerned? For more on this we heard from Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent, Jess Kelly. With thanks to Bird & Bird.

An Israeli Airstrike on Rafah has reportedly killed 35 people. This comes as Hamas launched rocket attacks towards Tel Aviv for the first time in months Speaking to Shane this morning on the show was Sean Bell, Retired former fighter Pilot, current Defence Consultant and Co-Host of the Red Matrix podcast and also Bushra Khalid, Oxfam OPT Country Office Lead in Jerusalem. 

Taoiseach Simon Harris will signal today that cost-of-living measures need to be an intrinsic part of Budget 2025. He will make the announcement at the National Economic Dialogue conference this morning, saying he believes Ireland's strong economic performance has yet to translate into tangible benefits for some people. What meaningful difference could the budget make to the cost-of-living crisis?...

Fianna Fáil and the Green Party are seeking to improve the DiscoverEU pass, offering a free interrail ticket for all 18-year-olds on an annual basis. Should all 18-year-olds be given a free interrailing pass? We asked Sinead Kennedy, Author and Travel Writer.

A new scientific review has found that a third of women who give birth in a year struggle with long-term health complications – that’s at least 40 million women globally. Should postnatal care be extended in Ireland? We discuss with Professor Maeve Eogan, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Rotunda Hospital. 

Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan will today launch new measures for the delivery of the electric vehicle charging network across Ireland. We speak to  Brian Caulfield, Associate Professor School of Engineering at Trinity College Dublin. 

Eight passengers were taken to hospital after a flight from Doha to Dublin experienced turbulence. Are we seeing an increase in turbulence on flights? Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Media relations Manager with the DAA Graeme McQueen. 

A recent report suggesting that a United Ireland would cost 400 billion euro is ‘widely inaccurate’ according to DCU’s Vice President of Research, John Doyle. We discuss with Edgar Morgenroth, Economics Professor at DCU who co-authored the original report.

Laptop squatters are the scurge of cafe culture - or at least that's what anti-screen policies in Europe would have you believe.  So should Irish cafe's follow suit and ban the use of laptops on their premises, or is working-from-cafe good for workers and businesses too? Newstalk's Sarah Madden reports.

Transport Minister, Eamon Ryan will today announce A landmark €50m contract for the design of eight Cork commuter rail stations later today. We got the details from Jane Cregan, Deputy Corporate Communications Manager, Irish Rail.

The Association of Higher and Civil Public Servants is calling for stronger policy around the Right to Disconnect, as 83% of members who responded to their survey reported to receive emails and text messages outside of working hours.   Speaking to Ciara this morning was Ciaran Rohan is General Secretary of the Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants.  

Minister Helen McEntee has this morning commenced the Criminal Justice Act 2024, which makes it an offence for an adult to either force or encourage children to engage in any criminal activity.  Minister McEntee joined Shane this morning on the show.   

Whether it’s to avoid partners who steal the covers and toss and turn all night, or those who snoring, new research reveals more than one-third of people say they occasionally or consistently sleep in another room than their partner.  Can this make or break your relationship? We discussed this with Dr. Neil Stanley, Coauthor of A Sleep Divorce: How to Sleep Apart, Not Fall Apart. 

Plans to expand Dublin Airport have been met with resistance by climate groups.  It’s reported that if the expansion went ahead, it would increase emissions by 750 thousand Tonnes.  Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Louise O’ Leary, Spokesperson, One Future Dublin Bay South who is protesting this issue tomorrow.