Newstalk Breakfast

Children’s anxiety about tests increases as they progress through primary school That’s according to a major new report in the Children’s School Lives study.  We discussed this with Jennifer Horgan Teacher and Irish Examiner Columnist .  

Sam Thompson, Radio Presenter and TV Personality was crowned King of the Jungle in the final of I’m a Celebrity 2023  Ali Ryan, Founder of Goss.ie , spoke to Shane this morning and was asked if Sam is a deserving winner. 

The Climate Change Advisory Council has asked the Government to reconsider plans for a levy on workplace parking spaces.   Sadhbh O'Neill, Senior Climate Advisor for Friends of the Earth gave her reaction to this.

Ministers are set to approve large reductions in benefits for refugees coming from Ukraine in the future as accommodation pressures for other nationalities claiming asylum here worsen. Weekly welfare rates for new arrivals from war-torn Ukraine will be cut under plans set to be approved by Ministers.  Eugene Quinn National Director of the Jesuit Refugee Service Ireland, gave his reaction...

Cooking, cleaning and ferrying children about. According to a recent survey by insurers, Royal London this kind of work done by stay-at-home parents is worth a salary of almost €55,000 a year.  Do stay-at-home-parents deserve to be remunerated for their work?  To discuss we spoke to Jen Hogan, Journalist, Columnist, and Mother of 7 .  

Considered: Cutting welfare for Ukrainian refugees. Jonathan and Shane discussed this morning on the show.

The Turkish embassy in Dublin has been assisting Istanbul authorities with malpractice claims from Irish citizens over cosmetic and weight loss procedures.  Professor Helen Heneghan, Consultant Surgeon at St Vincent’s Hospital explained how concerning is this.

Sinn Féin says UK Government negotiations with DUP on Windsor Framework have concluded however DUP Leader Jeffrey Donaldson suggests there is more work to do.  Speaking to Shane this morning on the show was Amanda Ferguson, a Freelance Journalist based in Belfast.

Several counties were battered by Storm Fergus over the weekend with a localised tornado damaging Leitrim  One business owner severely affected by this freak weather event is Seamus Gibbons Owner of electric bike trails who spoke to Newstalk Breakfast along with Gerry Murphy, Senior Forecaster with Met Eireann .

The second part of The Crown drops on Netflix next Thursday. Ciara caught up with Dominic West, who plays Prince Charles. 

The legendary Pogues frontman, Shane McGowan will be laid to rest in Tipperary today following a funeral procession through Dublin. Musician Sharon Shannon remembers Shane.

Despite the 16-year low in the value of claims paid out last year, motor insurance premiums have risen in the last year. That’s according to figures from the Central Statistics Office. To discuss this further we spoke to Brian Hanley, CEO of Alliance for Insurance Reform. 

Today, December 8th, is ‘Culchie Christmas’!  A day which marks the beginning of the festive season and traditionally sees people from the country flocking to Dublin for Christmas shopping – But will that be the case this year?  We heard from Louis Copeland, owner of Louis Copeland & Sons.

€28 million spent on school prefabs in 2022, with the same cost expected by the government for next year. But are prefabs suitable for learning environments? We discussed this with Aodhan O’Riordan, the Labour Party’s Education spokesperson.  

The Irish Refugee Council has launched its Christmas appeal ‘Stand with hope and dignity this winter’  Joining Shane to chat about their campaign was Nick Henderson, CEO of the Irish Refugee Council.

UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guiterres has invoked Article 99 of the UN Charter, urging the UN Security Council to act on the war in Gaza.  Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Walt Kilroy, Lecturer in international relations at Dublin City University and Associate Director of its conflict resolution institute.

From our earliest years, we hear ideas about “our soul mate”. But how true to life are these notions? And is it possible to look at love through the lens of science?  We speak to Dr Anna Machin an evolutionary anthropologist and author of the new book, "Why We Love."

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the Official Covid Inquiry he was "deeply sorry for the pain and loss and suffering" caused throughout the pandemic   Lauren McEvatt, Former UK Government Special Advisor gave us an update on what happened at the inquiry.

The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council has accused the Government of 'fiscal gimmickry' and ‘poor budgeting’ in its formal response to October’s Budget. Professor Michael McMahon, Acting Chairperson of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council explained their response.

Eamon Ryan, Green Party Leader & Minister for Environment. Climate, Communications and Transport spoke to Shane this mornigh live from COP 28 in Dubai .

Christmas tree sales are now in full swing and many families are decorating their homes. Do you go all out with the festive decor or are your neighbours the ones with the flashy lights? Our reporter, Josh Crosbie, has been on the search for Ireland's most lit-up house this Christmas.

SIPTU has called on the Government to hold a referendum on the public ownership of water services on the 8th of March – to coincide with the referendum on the definition of the family and women in the home.  Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Karan O’Loughlin, SIPTU Organiser for the Public Administration and Community Division.

Irish savers are missing out on up to €3.5 billion in interest a year. That’s according to Bonkers.ie , whose Founder and CEO David Kerr who spoke to Shane this morning on the show.

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee will be going before the Justice Committee later today.  Speaking to Ciara this morning was Robbie Gallagher a Fianna Fail Senator and member of the Committee .  

“Two referendums on 'women in the home' reference and wider definition of family to be held next March.    Louise Crowley, Professor of Law at the School of Law, University College Cork gave her reaction to the Government's decision.