Newstalk Breakfast

After days of intense anticipation throughout Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced overnight that the agreement for the return of hostages and implementation of a ceasefire has been officially signed   Shane discuss this and more with Sean Bell, Former Fighter Pilot, Military Analyst and Co-Host of the Red Matrix Podcast. 

Users accessing online pornography in the UK could soon be required to have their face scanned. This is under measures announced by Ofcom to stop children seeing the material.   Are these measures necessary? Ciara and Shane discussed this morning.

Today is "Ditch New Year's Resolution Day", when most people are thought to abandon their plans for self-improvement. Our reporter Hugh Keenan took to the streets to see whether the people of Dublin are sticking with their resolutions. Also to discuss this further was Dr Sabina Brennan, Health Psychologist, Neuroscientist and Author.

The draft programme for government commits to exploring restrictions on the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks, including a ban on their sale to children.    Is it something we should be introducing? We asked Donal O’Shea, the HSE Lead for Obesity.

Gardaí caught 266 drivers on their phones yesterday as part of a national day of action targeting mobile use behind the wheel. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast on these stark figures was Jane Humphries, Chief Superintendent from the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau. 

Fianna Fáil Leader, Micheál Martin is to be Taoiseach until late 2027 as the programme for government pledges 300,000 homes to be built by the end of 2030, a cut in childcare costs and new transport police. We get reaction to the ambitious programme for government with Thomas Byrne, Fianna Fáil TD & outgoing Minister of State at Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts,  Sport Gaeltacht.

Former Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams and 400 others could be in line for "a pay day from the taxpayer" under plans to repeal the Legacy Act, to change legislation barring compensation to those who were interned without trial during the Troubles in the 1970.   We got reaction from Austin Stack, Son of murdered prison officer Brian Stack & Author of Justice for My Father, which will be re...

Now, 900 million plastic bottles and cans have been brought back to machines and shops since the launch of the Deposit Return Scheme.  But as we approach the one-year anniversary of the scheme, many are asking whether it’s really a success or just a bit of a nuisance   Joining Shane to discuss this more is Larissa Nolan, Features Editor and Columnist with the Irish Mirror and John Gibbon...

The Israeli Cabinet is set to officially on a ceasefire deal with Hamas later this morning after over a year of conflict. Phase one of the ceasefire is set to begin on January 19th, and will include the release of 33 Israeli hostages   To discuss what this means is Sean Bell, Former Fighter Pilot, Military Analyst and Co-Host of the Red Matrix Podcast .  Also speaking to Newstalk Breakfa...

The price of a pint is set to increase again from next month.   Diageo has informed publicans that Guinness, Harp, Smithwicks, Hophouse 13 and Harp will go up by 6 cent per pint. Business owners and customers say they are frustrated at the continuous price hikes.   Our reporter, Josh Crosbie has been meeting with those on both sides of the counter.

The solution to the housing crisis may lie on the other side of the world. That’s according to Seán O’Neill McPartlin, Director of Housing Policy at the think tank Progress Ireland.

A Programme for Government has been agreed between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Regional Independents, in time for the Dáil’s return next week.    While a new Government is forming, Sinn Féin Deputy Leader Pearse Doherty has said the programme is a “a copy and paste job from five years ago”.

Irish people are the most optimistic citizens in Europe, according to a quality-of-life survey.  The survey also found Irish people are among those with the highest life satisfaction but we always knew we had the best craic!   To discuss the findings more was Pete Lunn, Founder and Head of ESRI's Behavioural Research Unit.

In the Middle East, Hamas has accepted a draft peace deal while Israel says a ceasefire in the region is close but not quite there yet. We get the latest with Sky’s Middle East Correspondent, Alistair Bunkall. 

Holyhead Port is set to reopen tomorrow after being closed for more than a month following storm Daragh. With its closure disrupting passengers and shipping, how can we avoid this happening again in the future?

Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Regional Independents and the Healy Raes have reached deal for government. Fianna Fáil are expected to have eight full ministers at Cabinet to Fine Gael’s seven ministers, with the Regional Independents gaining two minister positions   Jennifer Carroll McNeill, Fine Gael TD and outgoing Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence spoke to Newstalk Breakfast on t...

From today, ballot papers will be issued to the electorate for panel members of the Seanad, with the close of poll set for January 29th and 30th for the university panels and vocational panels respectively.   But who exactly has a Seanad vote? And how does it all work? We asked Claire McGing who is a political researcher who has conducted research on the Seanad.

The Jewish community in Ireland have objected to President Michael D Higgins giving the keynote speech at the Holocaust Memorial Day commemoration later this month. Shane discussed the objections with Oliver Sears, Founder of Holocaust Awareness Ireland. 

Regeneration delays have led to the loss of 576 public housing units in Dublin 8 and the non-delivery of over 1600 promised new homes – that's what a seminar on Regeneration projects will hear later today. Ciara discusses this with Manus Bree, Regeneration Coordinator for Dolphin House and Dolphin Park.

42 per cent of Irish people are more likely to attend female GAA games if there is a high profile player. But female players often remain less popular than their male counterparts   That’s according to new research from Lidl Ireland and the Ladies Gaelic Football Association. We discuss the findings further with Carla Rowe, Dublin Senior Captain and LGFA All-Star.

In Los Angeles, thousands have been forced to evacuate their homes many of which have now been destroyed by devastating wildfires. Others are preparing to evacuate including Irish model and TV host Tiffany Stanley .

With less than a week to go until the Inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th president of the United States – what will this mean for Irish trade?    We discuss further with Minister for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Dara Calleary. 

All things considered: Why female sports stars are less likely to consider themselves role models. Ciara and Jonathan discussed this morning.

Outgoing US President, Joe Biden has said both sides are on 'on the brink' of achieving a Gaza ceasefire deal. We get the latest on this with Fawaz Gerges, Professor of International Relations at the London School of Economics .

In Dublin, speed cameras will soon be introduced that automatically register number plates and award penalty points to anyone driving too fast.    In Cork, councillors are asking when Cork will receive the same technology to reduce speeding on roads. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast this morning on this was Independent councillor for West Cork Finbarr Harrington.