Newstalk Breakfast

One man was arrested after protesters clashed with Gardaí outside a Roscrea hotel as asylum-seekers were being brought inside.  Allison O’Reilly, Journalist with The Irish Examiner who was at the scene last night spoke to Ciara this morning .

How would you like to save a few quid not only this January - but throughout 2024? Simple steps in your digital life could add up to hundreds of euro in savings.  Newstalk’s Tech Correspondent, Jess Kelly brings us the details.

Concerns were raised by the ESRI on Friday about the impact full employment is having on the Irish economy. But what does the long term future hold for us? And could we sustain an island of ten million people? We discussed with Danny McCoy CEO of IBEC. 

The rural US state of Iowa is holding the first nominating contest - known as the caucus, later tonight, to kickstart the race for November’s US Presidential election.      Johnathan caught up with Stephen Moore, Economist at The Heritage Foundation and Economic Adviser to the Trump 2020 Campaign.

Ireland´s richest two billionaires have more wealth than the bottom half of the population, while the richest 1% hold 35.4% of financial wealth in the country. So found a new report from Oxfam published this morning.  Is a ‘wealth tax’ the solution? We debated this with People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy and Barry Ward Fine Gael Senator . 

All Things Considered Iowa Caucus  - how will this shape the US elections? Ciara and Jonathan discussed this morning.

Today is Blue Monday. It's apparently the most depressing day of the year. Henry McKean took to the streets, and asked how are you feeling this morning? 

There are increasing fears in the surge of young people abusing the drug Ketamine. It comes as new figures show that five deaths were recorded between 2018 and 2020. The drug has also been linked to a rise in admissions to Irish drug-treatment facilities.   Speaking to Ciara with more on this was Dr. Garrett McGovern, GP specialising in addiction medicine and Medical Director of Pri...

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will today join the great and the good of the world’s elite as he attends the World Economic Forum in Davos in Switzerland.  Suzanne Lynch, Chief Brussels Correspondent for POLITICO gave us an update from Davos.

It’s set to be a very cold week this week, and Andrew Doran-Sherlock, Met Eireann Forecaster spoke to Ciara with details of what the week will bring weatherwise.

The Notting Hill Bookstore, synonymous with the film starring Hugh Grant & Julia Roberts has seen a doubling in the sale of books since the pandemic due to TikTok’s ‘booktok’ trend  We head from Joan Lucey, Owner of Vibes and Scribes Bookshop in Cork City.

While January blues may be beginning to take hold for some, it’s important to remember there’s light at the end of the tunnel!    We’re three weeks out from the first bank holiday of the year, and to talk us through the best holiday deals is Travel Writer and Broadcaster Joan Scales.

British and US forces have launched an attack on Houthi targets in Yemen after the Iranian-backed group defied a warning to stop targeting ships in the Red Sea.  Sean Bell, Former Fighter Pilot and Military Analyst spoke to Newstalk Breakfast with more on this.

Israel will present its defence today against accusations of genocide against Palestinian civilians put forward by South Africa to the International Court of Justice    Ciara spoke to Dr Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland.

A symposium on the impact of leadership in schools has heard calls for a citizen’s assembly on the future of education   Paul Crone, Director of the National Association of Principals and Deputies spoke to Newstalk Breakfast to discuss.

Irish actor Andrew Scott has said that we should get "rid of the expression openly gay". Scott was in conversation with a number of other actors for The Hollywood Reporter’s actors roundtable.  We discuss with Brian Merriman, Founder of the International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival. 

Donald Trump complained to a New York judge that he "did nothing wrong" as a civil fraud trial that could hobble the former US president's business empire drew to a close yesterday.  David Smith, Washington Bureau Chief of The Guardian gave an update to Ciara on the trial.

More investment needed but the economy is at full employment that's the call from the ESRI’s new report examining the National Development Plan.  Alan Barrett, ESRI Director joined Shane on the show this morning to explain his findings of his analysis of the NDP? 

The last of Cork's old phone boxes to be replaced with sleek new kiosk-style digital payphones.  We get reaction with Hugh Wallace Director at Douglas Wallace Architects .

An Post will raise the price of a standard postage stamp again next month, the fourth such price hike rolled out in less than three years.  Anna McHugh Head of Communications at An Post explained the increase.

The Government should consider introducing a tax credit to encourage volunteerism that is the view of independent councillor and Former lord mayor of Cork Mick Finn who spoke to Shane this morning.

Almost one in 10 adolescent girls have taken diet pills in the past year, that’s according to an international study in JAMA Network Open  Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Sarah Keogh, Dietician at Eatwell.ie .

Shane spoke to Minister for Justice Helen McEntee to discuss the plans in relation to new reception centres and more.

An elderly patient in the South-West of the country waited over four hours with a broken hip for an ambulance as high patient numbers led to delays.  Speaking to Shane this morning was Greg Lyons, Siptu Ambulance Sector President .

The Government has done a u-turn on housing 50 male asylum seekers at a premises in Carlow and said families will be offered shelter there instead.  Protesters began gathering outside the former Capuchin Friary building yesterday morning.  Speaking to Ciara this morning was Lucky Khambule , Co-founder of the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland.