Newstalk Breakfast

A new planning hearing into an underground rail line for Dublin gets underway this morning. Costing nine and a half billion euro is it worth the money? We ask Economist Colm McCarthy and Green Party TD for Dublin Central Neasa Hourigan.

“Sack the entire RTÉ board. After all, it wouldn't be the first time” so says Journalist and Author, Shane Ross who joined us on Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Hundreds of thousands of young people leaving school every year without money skills, according to a new report by the Money and Pensions Service in the UK. We ask should teens be taught about money management in schools? We discuss with Santis O’Garro, owner of the Budget Mindset Club.

Thousands more children will become eligible for free school transport under plans being finalised by Minister for Education Norma Foley. We get reaction from Jennifer Whitmore, Social Democrats TD for Wicklow & Spokesperson for the Climate and children 

Disabilities minister, Anne Rabbitte said she is “incredibly disappointed” at a decision by St John of God to withdraw from the disability and mental health services it provides to 8,000 children and adults and transfer them to the HSE. Minister Rabbitte spoke to Shane on Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin has announced €20 million in support for the UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA). Shane spoke to the Tánaiste this morning.

All Things Considered: Average speed cameras. Shane and Ciara discussed this morning.

Ryanair have called on Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan to remove the Dublin Airport traffic cap, or resign. Eddie Wilson, Chief Executive of Ryanair, DAC spoke to Ciara this morning with more on this.

Time-over-distance speed cameras are to be extended nationally, the Chief Executive of Transport Infrastructure Ireland has said.  Michael Healy Rae, Independent TD gave his opinion on this move.

Reading fiction builds emotional literacy and empathy and if men are not reading it we have a problem. So wrote Jennifer Horgan in this morning’s Examiner. For more reaction we spoke to the best selling author Sheila O'Flanagan.

The policing body representing around 11,000 frontline gardaí has voted not to invite Commissioner Drew Harris to its delegate conference this year.  We get reaction to this news from Patrick Horan, solicitor and former Garda.

‘My Uni Life’ returns to our screens this evening for a second season as cameras capture life across a busy year on campus    This season features Dr Aviva Cohen, founder of the SeamlessCARE app, helping carers and parents communicate more easily with loved ones in their care. Dr Aviva spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

An Irish study from University of Galway and Mercy University Hospital Cork, has linked legal, readily available semi-synthetic cannabis to psychosis.  Speaking about these findings was Bobby Smyth, Child Psychiatrist working in adolescent addiction services in Dublin .    

Hezbollah has launched a retaliatory attack over the border into Israel after IDF strikes killed 10 people in the south of Lebanon on Wednesday.  Speaking to Ciara this morning was Ghazi Hamad, Hamas spokesperson and former Deputy Foreign Minister for the Government in Gaza.

“From corsets and writing ink to avocados and e-cigarettes, the typical items in an average Irish shopping basket or “Basket of Goods” have changed drastically over the decades..”  Ellen O’ Regan, Business journalist with Irish times explained to us what the ‘basket of goods’ is? 

 Councillors in Drogheda are due to hold a meeting later today to discuss the news that Drogheda's largest hotel is to be used as accommodation for people seeking international protection.  Kevin Callan, Deputy Mayor of Drogheda and Independent Councillor soke to Shane this morning on the show with more on this.

From fillers to Botox, Gen Z have a major preoccupation with aesthetic treatments and staving off the visible signs of ageing   But just how prevalent is it?  We speak to Eavanna Breen, owner of the Eavanna Breen Skin & Laser Clinic .

The Israeli Ambassador to Ireland Dana Erlich, has been called by Leas Ceann Comhairle Catherine Connolly, to appear before politicians to be "made account" for the (alleged) "propaganda" that she is spreading.    We asked Paul Murphy, People Before Profit TD – is it time for the ambassador to be expelled? 

Former financial officer Breda O’Keeffe should pay back the €450,000 exit payment from RTÉ, according to the Sinn Fein TD and Chair of the Public Accounts Committee Brian Stanley who spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

A new €21 million grant scheme to boost electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure on motorway and dual carriageway networks across Ireland, has been announced by the Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan.    Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast this morning was Brian Caulfield, Associate Professor School of Engineering at Trinity College .

Dublin City Council are set to explore a switch from bags to bins in a bid to reduce litter on the streets. We get more details from  Donna Cooney, Green Party Councillor for Clontarf.

Concerns of local parents have been “overlooked” when it comes to secondary school places. That’s according to Dublin Mother Jane Toolan who spoke Ciara this morning on the show.

Flowers – the go to gift for Valentines Day but is it the right gift or just the easy way out?  You might be wondering what you should, hastily, get your partner on the way home from work today  We asked Lulu O'Sullivan, Founder of Giftsdirect.com are flowers a good gift? 

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has told the Dáil that €2.2billion is the maximum allocation for the completion of the National Children's Hospital, adding that the Government "will not be allocating any more".  Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast this morning was Dr Brian Turner, Health Economist with Cork University Business School, UCC. 

Bad news for chocolate lovers! The cocoa has reached a record high, meaning the price of your favourite chocolate bars may take a serious hike..  We spoke to Tara Gartland, Owner of Tara Gartland Chocolate and Pastry Chef.