Newstalk Breakfast

Things are looking up for Ukraine as the European Council has agreed to begin accession negotiations     Donnacha Ó Beacháin, Professor of International Relations at DCU, joined us live from Brussels with an update of what took place.

‘Think carefully’ about letting children use Facebook, National Crime Agency in the UK warns. It comes in response to Meta’s decision to introduce encrypted messaging.    We heard from Alex Cooney CEO of CyberSafeKids.

Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee has received Cabinet approval to publish the draft legislation for garda use of facial recognition technology.    To discuss this further we spoke to Marc O Cathasaigh, Green Party TD and Spokesperson for Social Protection.

“The imposition of so-called `safe’ abortion zones will further silence the voice of the innocent unborn. The new legislation represents a disproportionate response with potentially wide implications for freedom of religion and speech,” those are the words of Catholic Primate Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh who spoke to Shane this morning on the show.

Domestic economy continues to grow despite contraction in GDP in 2023 - that’s according to ESRI Quarterly Economic Commentary released today  For more on this Newstalk Breakfast spoke to John Fitzgerald, Adjunct Professor in Economics at Trinity College Dublin.  

The Government is at risk of missing targets for delivering social and affordable homes for 2023 newly-released figures indicate   Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Hugh Wallace, Director at Douglas Wallace Architects .

Only one Irish hotel Cashel Palace in Co Tipperary has earned a spot on the prestigious Condé Nast 'Gold List' Noel Cunningham, TV Personality and Ambassador to Harvey's Point Hotel Donegal spoke to Jonathan on this great news.

As Luas faces overcrowding challenges, plans are in motion to address the issue.   Mark Gleeson, Spokesperson for Rail Users Ireland describes the Luas as “a victim of its own success” . Mark spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

New data shows that last week RSV case numbers reached the highest weekly total ever recorded in Ireland.  Doctors say that they’re expecting an additional increase in numbers    Speaking to Shane this morning was Dr. Ciara Martin, National Clinical Advisor and Group lead for Children and Young People with the HSE .

Now might be the right time “to look at having our own honours system which is fit for purpose for a republic” - those are the words of Green Party TD Patrick Costello who spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning .

Henry McKean visited the kids from St Laurence O’Toole’s Senior Boys School Dublin and found out what they love about Christmas plus there understanding of the nativity play.

The United Nations General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.  Newstalk Breakfast spoke to Sean Bell, former fighter pilot, now military analyst and host of The Red Matrix Podcast .

Zara have pulled an ad campaign criticised for using photos resembling images from the Israel-Gaza war which sparked outrage across social media   We ask are people too quick to politicise things and become outraged online? To discuss we spoke to Ella Whelan, Political Journalist, Author and Contributor to Spiked Online .

The Cop28 climate summit has approved a deal that would, for the first time, push nations to transition away from fossil fuels to avert the worst effects of climate change.   Environment Minister Eamon Ryan joined Jonathan this morning live from COP28.

“I’ll be voting to keep article 41.2 of the Irish constitution next March — primarily because it is uncomfortably honest and reflects the enduring reality of women’s lives.”      So wrote Brenda Power, Columnist with The Sunday Times who spoke to Jonathan this morning.

The FAI will tell the Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Sport and Media today that the association has "reformed significantly".    Alan Dillon, Fine Gael TD and member of the Committee spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

The SEAI have released their Energy in Ireland report. Margie McCarthy, Director of Research and Policy Insights at The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland spoke to us this morning. Also giving a reaction to the findings was Paul Deane, Senior lecturer in clean energy in UCC.

The Irish Times Feeder Schools 2023 Found that about 80% of students nationally progressed to third-level education   We speak with Carl O’Brien, Education Editor of the Irish Times about the findings of the Irish Times.

Ukrainian refugees will in the future only receive 90 days of accommodation from the State once they arrive.  Speaking to Shane this morning was Kira Rudik a Ukrainian MP with reaction to this proposed change.

Do we still have a bias on certain accents? Dr Stephen Lucek, Assistant Professor in Linguistics in UCD joined Shane to discuss.

The EU will walk away from these climate talks if the draft agreement doesn't change, according to Green Party Leader Eamon Ryan   With more on this, we heard from Ciaran Cuffe, Green Party MEP for Dublin.

All Things Considered: Are school league tables necessary? Shane and Jonathan discussed this morning first thing.

The INMO demands that the HSE take urgent action as 747 patients wait for a hospital bed Figures showed that 747 admitted patients, including 32 children, were waiting for a hospital bed yesterday morning.   Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast on the situation was Noeleen Moran, Clare Coordinator of the Midwest Hospitals Campaign .

Sinn Fein is set to bring legislation to reintroduce the eviction ban.   Eoin O’Broin, Sinn Fein’s spokesperson on housing explained to Jonathan why they have brought forward this bill. 

Ireland has joined Spain, Belgium, and Malta in demanding a humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza   Paul Rogers, Emeritus Professor of Peace Studies at Bradford University gave Shane an update on the call for a cease-fire.