Newstalk Breakfast

All Things Considered: Mary Lou critical of Robbie Keane. Jonathan and Shane discussed.

Gardaí will be given new powers to allow suspected drug-driving motorists to be detained while waiting for drug test results.  Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Michael Healy Rae, Independent TD for The County of Kerry. 

A UN Security Council vote on a resolution meant to spur more humanitarian aid into Gaza has been delayed again and is now expected today.  Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Bushra Khalid, Oxfam Policy Leader Jerusalem Office .  

This year has been the worst ever for hospital overcrowding according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation. However, the HSE has hit back at these claims and defended its record in 2023.  David Cullinane, Sinn Fein Spokesperson for Health spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Mercury retrograde is a term that is all too common nowadays used by people to explain when something goes askew in their lives.    However, Journalist Olivia Petter says it's all nonsense and maybe people need to just start taking more accountability when things go wrong.

"This is a quiet an d friendly community and people look out for each other” those are the words of Afshin Samali, a former refugee who has been in Ireland for 38 years following the arson attack on a Galway hotel earmarked for asylum seekers.  Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Afshin is a Professor of Cancer Biology at University of Galway,

Should there be harsher punishments for illegal dumping?   We asked Fianna Fáil Senator, Malcolm Byrne how bad the issue is and also spoke to Colin O Byrne, from Environmental Charity VOICE Ireland. 

Central Bank have released their final quarterly bulletin of the year and to talk us through it was Economist  Austin Hughes.

If you're parking in Dublin city this Christmas have your wits about you because the clampers are out in greater force than ever before.    Newstalk's Sarah Madden reports. 

Dr. Mike Ryan, Executive Director of World Health Organisation is in Dublin for the discussions on strengthening Ireland’s partnership with WHO on global health and Dr Mike Ryan spoke to Jonathan this morning on the show.

Dubliners are being urged by Dublin City Council to stop paving gardens for parking due to negative environmental impacts   With more on this we heard from John Gibbons, Environmental Journalist and Commentator.

The countdown to Christmas is officially on and Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent, Jess Kelly joined us now with the tech checklist for the coming days. 

The cost of sending a child to a fee-charging school has risen by nearly 17 per cent this year, amid criticism from principals over the “exclusion” of the private sector from a growing number of State grants.   Barbara Ennis, Principal of Alexandra College in Milltown gave her reaction.

All Things Considered: Fire at Galway Hotel. Jonathan and Shane discussed this incident this morning.

"There is no justification for violence, arson or vandalism in our Republic. Ever" - those are the words from Taoiseach Leo Varadkar condemning the fire which broke out at the Ross Lake House hotel in Co Galway over the weekend.     The hotel, which has not been in use for several years, was due to accommodate 70 asylum seekers this week.  Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast wa...

I’m embarrassed I can’t speak Irish, but shame is no way to get people talking that’s the view of Irish Independent Journalist Mary McCarthy who spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

The arrival of a menstrual period can be a cause of celebration for some women, relief for others, but for those trying to conceive, it can feel a whole lot different.    Sarah Madden reports on the pain of unwanted periods and those trying to conceive at this time of year.

Some NCT centres are falsely claiming waiting times of two weeks on their website – only for motorists to discover they have to wait up to six months for a test.   Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Fianna Fáil Transport Spokesman James O’Connor.

Israel and Hamas are both open to a renewed ceasefire and hostage release, Egyptian security sources have told Reuters.  Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast this morning was James Marlow, Broadcast Journalist with focus on Foreign Affairs, Israel and Middle East .  

Christmas dinner is overwhelmingly the favourite  Christmas tradition of the nation!    That’s according to a Newstalk poll carried out by Amárach, where 53% of respondents confirmed the festive supper as their favourite ritual of the season.  Our Reporter Breda Forrest took to the streets of Cork to ask what you think are the best Christmas traditions  and...

The two most experienced clinicians involved in transgender healthcare in Ireland have made a formal complaint to the Health Information and Quality Authority about the Health Service Executive's treatment of children with gender identity issue.   Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Dr Paul Moran of the National Gender Service .  

As Christmas nears, Singer Kiera Dignam, who lost her father Christy Dignam to cancer, encourages people to support the Irish Cancer Society who provide various services to comfort and care for many families during this time.  Kiera joined us on the show this morning.

European leaders have agreed to open EU membership talks with Ukraine, in a move hailed as a “victory” by the country’s President Volodymyr Zelensky.    Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence Peter Burke joins me live from Brussels .  

Today marks the 30th anniversary of the Downing Street Declaration that paved the way for the Good Friday Agreement.    We look back on this with Fergus Finlay, Former CEO of Barnardos and Irish Examiner Columnist .

Environmental Activist, George Monbiot, challenges livestock farmers to “call him all the names that you want but he won’t stop telling the truth about livestock farming.”    George says that the impact the industry has on our planet must be acknowledged and he explained why this morning on the show.