Newstalk Breakfast

Record-breaking woodlice have scientists rethinking their role in conservation. We get more on this with Eanna Ní Lamhna , Wildlife expert and author of Children's book “Wonders Of The Wild”.

Nurses and midwives are concerned patient safety is being negatively impacted by staffing shortfalls, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation’s Work and Wellbeing Survey.   Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Tony Fitzpatrick, Director of Professional Services with the INMO.

An Operation to remove tents from Grand Canal is under way this morning.  Our reporter Stephanie Rohan was at the scene and also talking to Newstalk Breakfast was Barry Ward, Fine Gael Senator and Co-chair of the Oireachtas Justice Committee and Michael McNamara, Independent TD for Clare. 

 People Before Profit MEP candidate Bríd Smith TD has written to Ceann Comhairle requesting the Palestine flag be flown at Leinster House on Nakba Day next Wednesday.  It comes after a number of other EU member states are considering 21 May as the date on which they will jointly recognise the State of Palestine. To discuss Shane was joined on the show by Brid and also Oliver Sears, Found...

Lowering the voting age to 16 is a “discussion worth having”, Education Minister Norma Foley has said. We discuss with Cailum Hedderman, Social Activist. 

Some 45% of septic tanks failed inspections last year. The EPA is warning that failure to fix faulty septic tanks is a risk to human health and the environment.  Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Noel Byrne, Programme Manager in the Waste Water Enforcement area of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Enforcement. 

25% of children in 2023 raked in more than €800 for their Holy Communion. Is it right to give children so much money? We discussed with Rachel O’ Dwyer, writer and a lecturer in Digital Cultures in the National College of Art and Design, Dublin. 

Adult Film Star Stormy Daniels took to the stand in Donald Trump’s Hush Money Trial. Harriet Alexander, US Based Journalist gave us the details 

There has been a 12% increase in the number of hate crimes and hate related incidents reported to An Garda Síochána in 2023 in comparison to 2022   With the most prevalent discriminatory motive being anti-race. We speak to Dr Ebun Joseph, Founder of the Institute of Antiracism and of Black Studies in Dublin.

Just 48% of people in Ireland believe the EU is moving in the right direction. That’s according to new research published this morning, which also found an overwhelming majority of people both North and South believe Ireland should remain a member of the European Union.    Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Ray Bassett, Former Senior Irish Diplomat and Fergus Finlay, Irish Examiner...

 Payments made to former RTÉ presenter Ryan Tubridy had “no valid basis” to be paid through barter accounts.  That’s one of the findings of three reports examining governance, human resources and finances at RTÉ, which have now been published after being considered by the Cabinet.  Fionnán Sheahan, Ireland Editor with the Irish Independent, ran us through the key details. We also got rea...

Henry McKean joins us live from the Eurovision in Malmo where Bambie Thug has brought Ireland to the finals!

UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres has called on Israel to stop escalation of tanks into Rafah saying a full invasion would be a ‘humanitarian nightmare’  Alistair Bunkall, Sky Middle East News Correspondent gave us an update.

Sinn Fein claim they are the only party that has a plan to deliver homes that workers and families can afford. Today they are tabling a motion that plans to deliver homes at prices under €300,000 in their Affordable Housing Schemes.   Speaking to Shane this morning was Sinn Fein Housing Spokesperson, Deputy Eoin O’Broin .  

Bambie Thug is set to grace the stage of the Eurovision main stage in Malmo this evening. Joining us to get a preview of tonight’s performance is Frank Dermody, President Eurovision Fan Club.

The Cabinet is expected to approve the establishment of a new taskforce charged with rejuvenating Dublin City centre when it meets at Government Buildings. What changes will this taskforce hope to bring? We speak to Richard Guiney, CEO of Dublin Town.      

More accommodation is expected to become available this week to assist asylum seekers who currently do not have a place to stay. This comes as about 70 tents have been pitched along the Grand Canal bank in Dublin, not far from the International Protection Office.  Speaking to Shane this morning was Peadar Toibín, Aontú leader.

An Israeli official has said no ceasefire had been agreed in Gaza after Hamas announced that it had accepted a ceasefire proposal from Egypt and Qatar.  Newstalk Breakfast spoke to Alistair Bunkall, Sky Middle East News Correspondent and Dr Jilan Abdalmajid, Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland.

A significant minority of Irish people say they believe in conspiracy theories about a secret world government and scientists deceiving the public. So found new research carried out for the Electoral Commission.  Dr Ruth Freeman Director of Science for Society at Science Foundation Ireland spoke to Newstalk Breakfast to discuss further.

‘If we don't want loneliness to grow in society, we all have to take the chance of saying hello and being blanked and perhaps it has to be the older generation who needs to show the way and model behaviour.’  So says Writer, Nuala Woulfe who’s determined to keep the ‘Irish Hello’ and Nuala joined Ciara on the show.

Three reports offering recommendations for changes at RTE are set to be published this week and brought before cabinet.   One of those recommendations is a “hybrid model” which will see RTE funded by a reduced and reformed licence fee with a top-up from an exchequer-funded media fund. We get reaction from Larry Bass, CEO of ShinAwiL.

Gardaí conducting a murder investigation into a shooting in Drimnagh have arrested three men and seized a number of vehicles.  Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Irish Times Crime & Security Editor, Conor Lally.

A pub in Phibsborough has offered free pints to Leinster fans tomorrow, with one caveat only if they arrive with a Brown Thomas bag.  Chris Raymond, Head of Marketing for Body Tonic, which owns The Back Page Pub told us about their offer.

Many secondary schools were forced to rely on parental contributions and charges to avoid running deficits last year that's according to an analysis of schools’ end-of-year accounts.   The Joint managerial board has called this reliance degrading” for schools and families. We get reaction from Paul Crone, Director of The National Association of Principals and Deputies .  

Ireland has a ‘disposable attitude to waste’ so says Claire Byrne, Green Party Councillor for Dublin Southeast Inner City who spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.