Newstalk Breakfast

UK prime minister Rishi Sunak has stunned Westminster by calling a snap election for July 4th, four months earlier than had been predicted.   We get reaction from Dominic Grieve, Former UK Attorney General and Conservative MP. 

Ireland, Norway and Spain recognise Palestine as independent state – what does this mean for diplomatic relations? As President Joe Biden has opposed 'unilateral recognition' of Palestine. Ciara was joined on the show this morning by Gershon Baskin, Middle East director of the International Communities Organisation .  

Ciara was joined this morning on the show by Education Minister Norma Foley as the battle on banning smartphone for kids rumbles on.

Denmark is considered the “good faith capital of the world,” with political scientist Gert Tingaard Svendsen claiming trust is the key to why Denmark is so wealthy and successful as a society. How does Ireland compare- are we a trusting society?    Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was freelance journalist Niamh O’Reilly.

Single use plastics have been banned in the EU since 2021, but three years since the introduction of the law, 45% of businesses report they are still offering at least one of the banned items for sale or use.    Joining Ciara this morning was Will Mitchell, spokesperson for MyWaste.ie.

Mick Mulvaney, former Chief of Staff for Donald Trump and Chair of Actum Global Consultants, shared his reaction on Ireland's recognition of Palestine during an interview with Kieran Cuddihy on The Hard Shoulder yesterday.  We ask this morning Could Ireland’s relationship with America be tarnished for recognising Palestine? Joining Ciara to discuss was Paul Rogers, Emeritus Professor of Peace...

Alcohol and socialising seem to be intrinsically linked in this country.  So how can we give up drink but still maintain our social life?  We ask writer and broadcaster Keith Walsh.

Ireland will join Norway and Spain in formally recognising the state of Palestine. Eamon Ryan, Green Party leader and Minister for the Environment, Climate, Communications and Transport, joined us to explain why the government has taken this decision.

Storm rainfall in Ireland and UK has been made 20% more intense by human-caused climate change – that’s according to a new study from the World Weather Attribution.  Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was John Sweeney, Climatologist and Professor Emeritus at Maynooth University. 

People before Profit are calling for price caps on essential food such as milk and bread.  Could this be the solution to tackling the cost-of-living crisis for households struggling to make ends meet?     Shane was joined on the show this morning by Dublin South-Central People Before Profit TD and Dublin MEP candidate Bríd Smith and Cormac Lucey, Economics Columnist with Sunday...

The Israeli foreign ministry posted a video that warned if the Irish government recognise the State of Palestine, it will be encourage terrorism and become “a pawn in the hands of Hamas”     Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast with reaction was Oliver Sears, Founder of Holocaust Awareness Ireland and Cathal Berry Independent TD.

Weddings are back to pre-pandemic numbers and beyond, but with cost risings and guests expecting ever more .Can you cut numbers without cutting yourself off socially? Newstalk's Sarah Madden reports.

One-in-five voters have changed their ballot choices based on social media posts. That’s according to a new survey from Pure Telecom. Speaking to Jonathan this morning with more on this was Stephen O'Leary, Founder of Olytico. 

Should your pet go vegan to reduce its carbon footprint? Sadbh O'Neill, climate researcher and lecturer wrote about this very topic in the Irish Times this morning.

Today is international tea day. Why is the drink is so deeply ingrained in our national identity? To tell us why Jonathan spoke to Dr Sharon Hall, Chief Executive from the UK Tea and Infusions association.

Workers that earn between 30,000 to 40,000 euro per Annum experience little of the budget gains each year and this is widening an income division in Ireland. That's according to Social Justice Ireland, and we spoke to research and policy analyst Michelle Murphy. 

“I’m sick of hearing the phrase ‘known to gardaí’ used as a dog-whistle".]So wrote Estelle Birdy, Author and journalist who joined Jonathan this morning on the show.

The chief prosecutor of the international criminal court has said he is seeking arrest warrants for senior Hamas and Israeli officials for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Shane was joined on the show to discuss further by Alan Shatter, Former Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence and also Sinn Fein’s spokesperson on Foreign Affairs Matt Carthy.  

A New “Fit 4 Life” pressure group has been formed to lobby Government for tax breaks for gym membership.    We discuss this with Irish Physical Activity Alliance Chairperson,  Darina Dunne .  

There exists a climate of uncertainty and instability for many children in Ireland.  That’s according to 2023’s annual report from the Ombudsman for Children’s Office.   We speak to Dr Niall Muldoon is Ombudsman for Children.

US President Joe Biden has denounced an "outrageous" application by the International Criminal Court's prosecutor for an arrest warrant for Israel's prime minister and defense minister.    We discuss with Scott Lucas, Professor of US and International Politics, Clinton Institute, University College Dublin. 

TEMU is one of the most popular apps in the world, but are the products it offers safe for users here in Europe?  Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly discusses this with Shane this morning. All with thanks to Bird & Bird.

Children aged under 16 are banned from using electric scooters in public spaces from this morning..  That’s just one of a number of regulations coming into force around the use of e-scooters.   Speaking to Ciara this morning was Sam Waide, CEO of the Road Safety Authority.

The Department of Housing has been accused of “sitting on” an explosive report into the alleged role of Dublin City Council in facilitating “protection payments” to criminals.    Damian O'Farrell, Independent Dublin Councillor, talks us through what happened on last Friday.

Parents, campaigners, and politicians have been calling for extra time to be given to pupils with dyslexia while sitting their exams. However, the State Examinations Commission said this would create an unfair advantage.  Speaking to Ciara this morning to discuss further Rosie Bissett, CEO, Dyslexia Association of Ireland..