Newstalk Breakfast

The government has made progress on environmental commitments but much stronger action is needed.   That is the assessment of a new report from Friends of the Earth examining the government’s handling of climate issues.  The report awards the government a B minus overall grade.   Professor of Environmental Policy at University College Dublin & Member of the Climat...

An Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheal Martin joined Shane this morning on the show to discuss the Irish troop situated in the Middle East.

A ban on private vehicles travelling on sections of the north and south quays in Dublin city centre came into effect yesterday.  Jean McCabe, Chief Executive of Retail Excellence joined Newstalk Breakfast to discuss what this might mean for Dublin businesses .

Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed that Israeli air raids targeting Hezbollah rockets in southern Lebanon in the early hours of Sunday morning were “not the end of the story”  Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Alistair Bunkall, Sky's Middle East Correspondent and alsoSean Bell, Former Fighter Pilot, Military Analyst and Co-Host of the Red Matrix Podcast for analysis to...

Raygun, representing Australia in breaking at the Paris Olympics, included a kangaroo hopping routine. She has sent shockwaves across the hiphop world. The fallout has divided and disappointed the global breaking community, but there is support from the scene here in Ireland. Henry McKean met some of them including the dance company Luail and breakers Leon Dwyer and Tobi Omoteso.

Do you ever take the mick out of your more ‘follically challenged’ friends with comments like ‘Baldy?’  Chris Wasser a freelance Arts Journalist felt the impact of such a phrase at one point in his mid-20s and, in his own words, it ‘devastated’ him. Chris explained why to Shane this morning on the show.

Ireland is facing an epidemic in the amount of young people vaping. That’s according to The Irish Heart Foundation who are calling for the government’s support in helping young people get off nicotine   Speaking to Shane this morning was Chris Macey, Irish Heart Foundation’s Director of Advocacy. 

The average rent nationwide in the second quarter of the year is up over 7% year-on-year. That’s according to the latest Rental Report by Daft.ie   Ciara discusses the findings with Ronan Lyons Economist at Trinity College Dublin and author of the report.

Paralympians have taken to social media to announce that they are not ‘participating’ in the upcoming Paralympics.  Instead, they want people to acknowledge they are ‘competing’ in the Games and that their athletic career is as serious as the Olympics.  With us now to discuss this campaign is Irish Paralympic cyclist Richael Tierney. 

More than 25,000 people are visiting Ireland for the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in the Aviva on Saturday. It’s estimated that spending surrounding the event will bring in around 115 million euro to the country.   Georgia Tech will take on Florida State University to a sold-out crowd of over 47,000 people. Our reporter Josh Crosbie has been meeting with some of those involved:&nb...

  Kamala Harris formally accepted the Democratic nomination to run in this November’s election.  She took to the stage at the party’s national convention. To discuss the last day of the convention and her speech was Patti Shields, Chair of the Irish branch of Democrats Abroad .  

 It’s a huge day for almost 60 thousand students as they nervously await their Leaving Cert Results.  This year is expected to be the final year of “gradeflation” due to Covid.  We speak to Norma Foley Minister for Education.

As thousands receive their leaving cert results many children are beginning their journey into secondary school.   However, for some it's not plain sailing. We speak to one mother whose child still has no secondary school place. Ellen Arbuthnot, from Lucan told us about her son Charlie’s situation.

A decision is due next month on plans to convert the property known as the setting for James Joyce’s The Dead into 10 apartments. Does Ireland have a problem with preserving our heritage and cultural history? We discuss this with Roisin Murphy, Architect, Conservation Activist and Lecturer in Griffith College Dublin.

The number of Gardaí policing our roads has fallen by 41% in just 15 years. That’s according to this morning’s Irish Independent. We got reaction to this with Susan Gray is the founder of the PARC Road Safety Group.

Students across the country will today receive their leaving cert results. We hear from Carl O’Brien, Education editor with the Irish Times.

A phone ban could be on the way for secondary schools. Education Minister Norma Foley has said she wants to extend the voluntary ban beyond primary schools.   Portlaw National School in County Waterford is one school that has implemented a ban, their principal is Brian Barron spoke to Newstalk Breakfast.

It was another star studded day at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago yesterday.   Tonight Kamala Harris will close the convention as she formally accepts the nomination to run for the presidency but last night it was the turn of her vice-presidential selection Tim Walz. We hear from David Smith, Washington Bureau Chief of The Guardian.

The National Women’s Council has called for a public system of Early Childhood Education and Care, which they believe is the only common-sense solution to the current childcare crisis facing parents across the county.   Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Eilish Balfe Care officer from The National Women’s Council .

Budget 2025 must be framed around infrastructure delivery rather than ‘handouts’ That's the view of Employers group IBEC.   We discuss this and more with Kevin Timoney, Chief Economist with Davy.

Five of the six missing persons on board the luxury yacht that sank off the coast of Sicily on Monday have been recovered. We get the latest on this with Nick Squires, Rome Correspondent for the Telegraph.

Zara has pulled a children’s T-shirt from sale, after mothers on TikTok called it out for being sexually “suggestive”.  To discuss this more with Ciara was  Mary McCarthy Irish Independent Columnist.

Ireland’s first-ever National Swimming Strategy will launch later today. Ciara spoke to the Minister of State for Sport Thomas Byrne ahead of the launch.

Journalist, author and trailblazing feminist Nell McCafferty has died a the age of 80. Her family confirmed her death this morning at a nursing home in Co Donegal. We hear from Mary Kenny, author and columnist with the Irish Independent and founded the Irish Women’s Liberation Movement with Nell in 1970. 

US secretary of state Antony Blinken is visiting fellow mediators Egypt and Qatar as Hamas and Israel signal that challenges remain in efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza.    Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Sean Bell, Retired former fighter Pilot, current Defence Consultant and Co-Host of the Red Matrix Podcast.