Newstalk Breakfast

Has Irish neutrality passed its sell by date? Shane and Jonathan discussed and debated this morning on the show.

Senior American and Russian officials will hold talks in Saudi Arabia today on improving their ties and negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine, but Kyiv has not been invited to participate in the talks.   We discuss this and more with Bobby McDonagh, Former Irish Ambassador to the UK and EU. 

Being a house husband is much more tiring than being a mechanic. So wrote Stay at Home Dad David Hitchcock in the Daily Telegraph and David explained why to Jonathan this morning on the show.

We should retrofit our streets in the interest of road safety. That’s the call from Dr. Catherine Conlon, Public Health Doctor and former director of human health and nutrition with safe food. Dr Conlon discussed this further with Shane this morning on the show. 

Any further delays to Leaving Cert reform would put children in a position to miss out on the best possible opportunities. That’s according to the Ombudsman for Children. For more on this Jonathan spoke to Michael Gillespie, General Secretary of Teachers Union of Ireland. 

Negotiations between US and Russian officials to end the war in Ukraine get underway in Saudi Arabia today although no officials from Kyiv have been invited to peace talks. Shane discussed this further with Sean Bell, Former Fighter Pilot, Military Analyst and Co-Host of the Red Matrix Podcast .  

We get all the news from last night's BAFTA awards. Henry McKean was on the red carpet and he told us about the winners, losers and surprises from the awards evening.

French President Emmanuel Macron will host European leaders today for an emergency summit on the Ukraine war after U.S. officials suggested Europe would have no role in any talks on ending the conflict.    We discuss further with Patrick Bury, Senior Security lecturer at the University of Bath, Former NATO Analyst and Army officer. 

The killing of 34-year-old Quam Babatunde last Friday on South Anne Street in Dublin city centre has come a huge shock and has raised already present concerns over the safety and security of our capital. But is enough being done to police our capital? Shane discusses this with Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Labour MEP and Dublin Spokesperson and also Trina O’Connor, Criminologist and Lecturer in Criminol...

The chief inspector of the school's watchdog in England, Martyn Oliver has said that widespread change in working habits among parents is worsening school attendance  But with the growth of hybrid working, does our education system need to catch up ? All to discuss with  Dr Richard Hogan, Family Psychotherapist and author of “Home Is Where The Start Is”.

Officials at the Department of Finance have warned the Minister for Finance that major structural changes to the tax system will be required to support growing spending pressures on the state and to address the “serious vulnerability” of Ireland’s narrow tax base.  To discuss further Shane spoke to Seamus Coffey, Chair of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council and Lecturer in Economics in UCC . &n...

Drivers could face being sent on re-educational courses instead of accumulating penalty points. With the department of transport reportedly considering such a measure. Is it a good idea?   Shane discusses this with Brenda Bolger of Bolger School of Motoring .  

The man killed in the weekend stabbing in Dublin city has been named as 34-year-old Quam Babatunde, an asylum seeker from Nigeria. For more on this Shane spoke to Kitty Holland, Social Affairs Correspondent with the Irish Times .  

“This Valentine’s Day, can we dismantle the antiquated relationship we have with flowers? Why not get someone who is special to you, a man, a little bunch of beautifully scented blossoms” So wrote Simon Tierney, Newstalk’s Own in today’s Irish Independent..

Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan said yesterday Ireland is going to see more deportation orders issued this year, signaling a tougher approach to immigration. Shane get reaction to this with John Lannon, CEO of Migrants’ Right Organisation Doras. 

What will President Trumps tariffs mean to Ireland and Europe? Ciara and Shane discussed this morning.

The Government has indicated that a dedicated police force on public transport will need the power to arrest people if it is going to work.  We discuss this further with Christy Galligan, Former Garda Sergeant. 

US President Donald Trump signed a memorandum this afternoon calling for “fair and reciprocal” trade tariffs on all major US trading partners, including longtime allies.  So what could this mean for Ireland? We discussed this further with Dan Mulhall former Irish Ambassador to Berlin, London and Washington.

Cork City council must commit to opening new public toilets. That’s the call from People Before Profit/Solidarity councillor Brian McCarthy who explained why to Newstalk Breakfast.

Hamas has recommitted to freeing three Israeli hostages on a Saturday in a bid to save the fragile ceasefire deal with Israel. Athough US President Donald Trump has demanded that all hostages be released as soon as possible.    Speaking to Ciara this morning was Alistair Bunkall, Sky Middle East Correspondent.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he will not accept any negotiations about Ukraine that do not include his country in the talks. European governments are also demanding a seat at the table. We get the latest on this with Emmanuelle Chaze Ukraine correspondent for Radio France Internationale and France24 .  

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is released in Irish cinemas today.  So, why is Bridget Jones beloved by so many? We asked Bethany Minnelle, Sky Arts and Entertainment Reporter .

The Government has ordered an external review of governance and culture at The Arts Council following a finding that over €6 million was spent by the body on an unsuccessful IT system. With more on this, we heard from the Minister for Arts, Culture, Communications, Media and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan.

Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin have agreed to start negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.  President Zelensky said he also had a “meaningful conversation” with Trump to bring peace in the country after nearly three years.   Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast this morning was Inna Sovsun, a Member of Parliament in Ukraine.

Yet another survey has found that young people are drinking less alcohol and they’re much more accepting of drugs than generations before them, according to the Times UK.   But is the normalisation of drug use a slippery slope? We discuss further with Saoirse Hanley, Columnist for the Irish Independent .