Newstalk Breakfast

We need to break the cycle of getting our bodies ‘ready’ for special occasions. That’s the call from Edel Coffey, Irish Examiner Columnist who spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

How challenging do you find it organising your child's birthday party?    Our reporter, Josh Crosbie, has been meeting with parents, psychotherapists, and children themselves to hear about the politics of children's parties.

What was once a day of online deals is a multi-week push of promotions and deals before Christmas.   This Friday is ‘Black Friday’, but how can you find the best value and - most importantly - avoid scam websites? Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent, Jess Kelly joined us on the show to tell us more.

A transformative change is coming to the welfare system: For the first 9 months, unemployment benefits will now be calculated based on your previous earnings.   Joining Ciara to discuss further was Brid O'Brien, Head of Policy and Media for the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed.  

Is there a stigma around having or being an ‘only child’?  We discussed this with Barbara Neeson, Writer, and Commentator.  

Qatari and American mediators have indicated that Israel and Hamas were close to a deal that would see the release of a significant number of hostages held in Gaza, in return for a temporary ceasefire and other Israeli concessions.  IDF spokesperson Major Libby Weiss spoke to Newstalk Breakfast.

The festive season is almost upon us and with it the annual need for seasonal workers.  But staff shortages aren't making employers' jobs easy.  Newstalk Reporter Sarah Madden reports.

Irish society “hates” heroin users and does not value their lives.  That’s according to former Drugs Minister & Labour’s Justice and Education Spokesperson, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin who spoke to Shane this morning.

82% of college leavers in 2022 obtained employment within 9 months of graduating, that’s according to data gathered by the Higher Education Authority.   Brian Mooney, Guidance Counsellor and Editor of the Education Matters Yearbook gave us the details.

Ireland is on target to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040 according to Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly who spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Delivering for rural Ireland is the main focus of the Fine Gael’s Special Conference taking place this weekend but is enough being done?   To discuss further Newstalk Breakfast spoke to Pat McDonagh, CEO of Supermacs.

Amy Hanley, a mum of a teen battling anorexia, is to stage a protest outside the Department of Health today.      Amy explained to Ciara why she was marching to Leinster House today.

It’s International Fraud Awareness Week, and we’ve teamed up with Bank of Ireland to help educate and inform how to protect our online profiles and land the simple message: Stop Think. Check.    The Gardai are advising people to be extra vigilant of online fraud. Henry McKean spoke to Detective Superintendent Michael Cryan, of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau, abou...

Israeli forces have dropped leaflets warning Palestinians to flee parts of southern Gaza, according to residents.    Hannah McCarthy, a Journalist in Israel brought us the latest, and an update on talks of a short ceasefire for the release of hostages.

The final series of The Crown has been released on Netflix today. The programme delved into the lives of the royal family will come to an end after six seasons.    Ali Ryan Founder of Goss.ie joins me to give her insight into the series.

Also speaking to Newstalk Breakfast this morning was Irish citizen Khalid El-Estal is hoping his children will make the list of Irish citizens allowed to leave Gaza after his wife and mother were killed.   Israeli troops enter Gaza's Al Shifa hospital in a Hamas raid yesterday. Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, Israeli Defence Force Spokesperson gave us an update on the situation there.

Almost eight in ten (77%) Irish people are against new EU plans to allow children as young as 16 to get behind the wheel.  Michael Healy Rae, Independent TD for The County of Kerry spoke to Newstalk Breakfast and was asked if is there an argument to be made for letting young people start learning to drive a year earlier.

The Justice Committee today will launch its report on the Government’s plans to overhaul outdated licensing laws, which will change how long pubs and nightclubs open as well as how they apply for licences to operate.  Speaking to Shane with some reaction was Sheila Gilheany, Alcohol Action Ireland CEO .  

Newstalk has commissioned a survey, which has been carried out by Amárach Research, looking at a number of issues regarding trans rights.   The findings of five questions that the public was asked were revealed yesterday, while now Our Chief Reporter Barry Whyte joined us to run through the rest of the findings of this survey. 

A majority of TDs have rejected a Social Democrats' motion seeking the expulsion of the Israeli Ambassador with 85 TDs backing the Government and 55 voting against it.    Paul Rodgers, Emeritus Professor of Peace Studies at Bradford University discusses if this could the fact this vote was even held affects Ireland's International relations. 

Homes and businesses in Galway were devastated and thousands remain without power in the aftermath of storm Debi.  Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast this morning Michael White, Owner, Oran Decor and DIY explained how his business was badly affected.  and also Brian Tapley, Regional Manager with the ESB to explain how many people are without power currently.

Hundreds of patients, including dozens of babies, remain trapped inside Gaza’s largest hospital as Israeli troops and Hamas militants take part in heavy fighting outside it.  Speaking to Ciara on the situation there was Bushra Khalid, Oxfam Policy Leader Jerusalem Office.   

On this day in 2022, cervical cancer campaigner Vicky Phelan lost her life to cervical cancer.  Stephen Reap representative from the 221 patient support group and a friend of Vicky Phelan remembers Vicky.

The Environmental Protection Agency report on the environmental enforcement performance of local authorities in 2022 states that they must prioritize air and water quality and increase waste recycling.   For more on this, we heard from Valerie Doyle, Senior Inspector in the Waste and Local Authority Enforcement section of the EPA.

Overcrowding, sex-for-rent ads, and scams – these are just some of the issues being faced by International students coming to study here in Ireland    Executive Director of the Irish Council for International Students, Laura Harmon spoke to Newstalk Breakfast.