Newstalk Breakfast

London’s Heathrow Airport will be closed for 24 hours after a huge fire at a nearby electrical substation wiped out power. Editor of Travel Extra Eoghan Corry brought us up to speed on the situation there.

The Department of Education is using outdated assessments for students with Down Syndrome that could prevent them from reaching their full potential.  That’s according to Susan O’Brien, parent of Ciara, who has down syndrome who explained why to Ciara this morning.

One south Dublin secondary school has been plunged into acrimony, threats of protests from parents and a legal row after it was claimed online that one of its teachers is the woman behind the infamous “GAA Catfish” controversy.  We get the latest on this with Ellen Coyne, Special Correspondent with the Independent.ie.  

The ASTI has reiterated its call for a pause to plans to develop Synge Street CBS as a Gaelcholáiste. Shane spoke toASTI Deputy General Secretary Diarmaid de Paor to discuss further.

The Israeli military said its forces have resumed ground operations in central and southern Gaza, as a second day of airstrikes killed at least 38 Palestinians, according to local health workers. We the latest on the situation there with Alistair Bunkall, Sky News Middle East Correspondent   UN Humanitarian Affairs Spokesperson in Gaza, Olga Cherevko.

Have the politics of insult gone too far? Shane and Ciara discussed this morning.

We need to change how we deal with divorce in Ireland. That's the view of Michelle Brown, Divorce Consultant, Mediator and author of “Scars of Divorce” who spoke to Shane this morning.

Swift and decisive action is needed to combat the growing issue of retail theft and anti-social behaviour.  That’s the call this morning from Excel Recruitment, who says that retail crime in Ireland is reaching crisis levels. We speak to Michael Wall of Salvagem Antique shop in Cork on the anti social behaviour in the area.

The Union of Students in Ireland have strongly condemned Higher Education Minister James Lawless’ decision to halt further reductions in student fees, calling it a major setback for struggling students and families.    Speaking to Ciara this morning was Chris Clifford, President of Union of Students in Ireland. 

President Donald Trump said he had a "very good" call with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky stating that Ukraine truce bid is 'on track’. With more on this Shane spoke to John Everard, Former UK Ambassador to North Korea and Belarus.  

We’ve been talking about the trolley numbers and whether changes to staff rosters and getting consultants in over the weekend has really made a difference.  Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill joins us to discuss the drop in trolley figures last weekend.

“Adolescence” is the latest Netflix hit, exploring the internet rabbit holes young men can fall into and the impact it has in the real world. With Ciara to discuss more is Dr Richard Hogan, Family Psychotherapist and author of “Home Is Where The Start Is”. 

Leaving Cert students sitting the English exam could soon face oral tests at the end of fifth year where they will be quizzed on plays or books they have studied. The plans have been set out in a document produced by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. We get reaction to this proposal with Conor Murphy English teacher in Skibbereen Community School. 

Russia and Ukraine have both accused each other of launching air attacks that sparked fires and damaged infrastructure just hours after their leaders agreed to a limited ceasefire to halt attacks on energy infrastructure.    To discuss this further Shane spoke to Misha Glenny, Author and Broadcaster and Rector for the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna .  

All Things Considered: Solving the hospital trolley crisis. Ciara and Shane discussed this morning.

Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore landed back on earth last night, after their eight-day visit to the International Space Station became nine months. Speaking to Shane this morning was Dr Niamh Shaw, Science and Space Communicator.

The Dáil returns today after the St. Patrick’s Day break but the Government is already coming in for criticism from Sinn Fein as there is only 11 more sitting days until the next break at Easter.   We heard from the Sinn Féin Party Whip Padraig MacLochlainn and Fine Gael TD for Dun Laoghaire Barry Ward.

The Climate Change Advisory Council has said that Ireland must be much better prepared for the next major weather event. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Peter Thorne, Chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council’s Adaptation Committee.

Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israeli strikes across Gaza that killed over 400 people are ‘only the beginning’ and Israel will press ahead until it realises all its war goals.   Ciara spoke to Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, Israel's Foreign Ministry Special Envoy and Former Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem .

One in three Irish people are unaware that just one contaminated container can compromise an entire recycling bin. That’s according to new research from Repak, whose CEO Zoe Kavanagh spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Wearing nail polish could help solve toxic masculinity and men’s mental health crisis? That's according to social innovation expert and author of the Uncertainty toolkit Sam Conniff  whose project “Hard As Nails” brings men into nail salons to document their experiences outside of gender norms.  

A number of Government TDs are calling for the state-funded free schoolbooks scheme to be extended to fee-paying schools.     Among them is Fine Gael TD for Louth Paula Butterly who spoke to Newstalk Breakfast.

Gardaí are investigating an incident in which two women confronted an Israeli man at a bar in Dún Laoghaire during which one of the women spat at him.   Speaking to Shane this morning was Palestinian Activist Léna Seale.

The Kremlin has confirmed that President Vladimir Putin will have a call with Donald Trump later today.  This comes as Russia continues to resist a US-backed proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine.  Speaking to Ciara this morning was Sean Bell Former Fighter pilot and now Military Analyst. 

Over half of Ireland’s local authorities are failing to collect money from owners of derelict sites.   That’s according to new figures released to Social Democrats TD Rory Hearne, which suggest that councils are owed more than €20 million in unpaid levies. We discussed these figures with Rory.