Newstalk Breakfast

Ice baths and cold water therapy have seen a burst in popularity in recent years for its so-called health benefits. But is there any actual science behind taking a plunge?   We ask Kieran O’Sullivan, Professor of Physiotherapy at University of Limerick. 

The rollout of the government’s free HRT scheme next month will be on the agenda at the Irish Pharmacy Union Conference today.    We heard from Tom Murray Irish Pharmacies Union President and Community Pharmacist from Donegal .

The white smoke appeared and a new pope was elected. Henry McKean was in St Peter's Square as Pope Leo XIV, American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, successor to Pope Francis appeared to the world.

If it's a while since you dropped into your local library, you might be surprised to hear what's now going on there.  Sarah Madden reports on the expanding role and resources of Ireland's libraries today.

43 per cent of Irish people do not believe their views are represented at EU level, while 26 per cent are dissatisfied with its direction – that's according to the annual European Movement Ireland Poll, conducted with Amárach Research   To discuss further was Ray Bassett, Former Senior Irish Diplomat and Regina Doherty, Fine Gael MEP for Dublin.  

Almost all schools inspected for a sample study had clauses in their admissions policies which could restrict the enrolment of children with autism and other learning difficulties.   The findings have prompted Minister for Education Helen McEntee to write to all school patron bodies requesting them to review their schools’ admission policies to ensure they adhere to legal requirements.&n...

It’s Day Two of the Conclave and after much anticipation, last night’s vote ended in black smoke. Today, how much closer are we to white smoke?  We speak to Colm Flynn, Vatican Correspondent for EWTN, a Global catholic television network.

Throwing your kids’ art away is not heartless, it’s necessary. That’s according to Kirsty Ketley, parenting consultant and freelance writer who explained why to Shane this morning on the show.

Sandymount beach in Dublin and Lady’s Bay in Donegal are the beaches with the worst water quality in Ireland. That’s according to a new report from the Environmental Protection Agency, which found the number of beaches with poor bathing water quality has decreased from five to two.    Shane discusses the report findings with Eimear Cotter, Director of the EPA’s Office of Evidence and Ass...

The Indian armed forces launched "Operation Sindoor," hitting nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the government said in a statement. We get the latest on this with Aakash Hassan, Independent Journalist based in Kashmir reporting for The Guardian .

After weeks of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, India have launched strikes on Pakistan. We get the latest on this with Saurav Das, journalist based in India.

Previous Eurovision winners have signed a letter demanding the European Broadcasting Union ban Israel from the song contest.  One of the signatories is Ireland’s own Charlie McGettigan, who won Eurovision in 1994. Charlie spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

India and Pakistan have exchanged missile, and artillery strikes in a major escalation of hostilities after a deadly attack in disputed Kashmir. |We get the latest on this with Professor Scott Lucas, Professor of US and International Politics, Clinton Institute, University College Dublin .  

Shops charging 15c for paper bags, is it justified? Shane and Ciara discussed.

The conclave will start behind the closed doors of the Sistine Chapel later today but how soon can the world expect white smoke? We heard from Colm Flynn, Vatican Correspondent for EWTN, a Global catholic television network .  

Penneys is the latest retailer to introduce a charge for paper bags. From next Monday, customers will pay 15 cent per bag but is the fee fair, or just another cost for consumers to shoulder? To debate this on Newstalk Breakfast was Sinead Ryan, Presenter of The Home Show on Newstalk and consumer columnist with the Irish Independent and Oisin Coughlan, Public Policy Advisor. 

The French government made headlines recently for seeking to take action against a TikTok group promoting extreme thinness.    Newstalk's Sarah Madden reports on the Irish people falling foul of the same sinister #skinnytok trend.   

The conclave begins later today. Our reporter Henry McKean is at St Peter's Square and has been getting a sense of what people think.

There are just over 200 CCTV cameras in Dublin operated by An Garda Síochána, making it one of the least surveilled capital cities in Europe. Ciara discusses this further with James Geoghegan, Fine Gael TD for Dublin Bay South .  

Today marks the beginning of the Irish Nurses and Midwives’ Organisation Conference, where nurses are expected to call for extreme weather compensation. Shane spoke to Edward Matthews, Deputy General Secretary of the INMO.

Last night’s Met Gala theme was “Tailored for You,” in connection with the Costume’s Institute’s landmark new exhibition, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,”    We wanted to take a look at how male fashion has changed through the years along with Rob Kenny, Founder and Director, Rob Kenny PR.

Anyone wearing a face mask, or any face covering, can be told to remove it once a garda “reasonably suspects” its use is intimidatory or intended to make it easier to commit a crime and avoid detection.    Under plans being brought to cabinet today, a person can be arrested and prosecuted if they refuse to remove their face covering. We discussed this further with Christy Galli...

Donald Trump says he will hit films made in foreign countries with 100% tariffs, as he ramps up trade disputes with nations around the world.   What impact could this have on our own film industry? Ciara discussed this with  Rebecca O’Flanagan, Producer with Treasure Entertainment.

The Israeli cabinet have approved plans to seize the Gaza Strip and hold the territory indefinitely, which could push hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to the southward.   Alistair Bunkall Sky News Middle East Correspondent brought us the latest. We also heard from Avi Mayer Editor of the Jerusalem Journal and Former Editor-In-Chief of The Jerusalem Post. 

The Camogie Association has been called to appear before the Oireachtas Committee on Sport, after the Leinster semi-final was almost cancelled this weekend when players from Dublin and Kilkenny refused to wear skorts.     Oireachtas Sports Committee Chair and Labour TD Alan Kelly spoke to Ciara this morning on the show.