Newstalk Breakfast

Police are continuing to search for a shooter who killed 18 people and wounded 13 more at a bowling alley and a bar in Maine on Wednesday Night.     Martin Wall, Irish Times Washington correspondent brought us the latest on the situation in Maine. 

“In a world of card payments, the days of dropping coins into a tip jar are gone. On-screen digital options can sometimes increase gratuities, but at what cost?” - that’s a title of an article this week from BBC news.  Brendan Kelly, Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin and Author of “Asylum: Inside Grangegorman spoke to Newstalk Breakfast with more on this.

“While there is no limit on the compassion of the Irish Government and the Irish people, there is a limit on our capacity and we are very much at that,” - so said Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in the Dáil yesterday.  Nick Henderson, CEO of the Irish Refugee Council gave his reaction to these comments. 

Danny Healy-Rae has called on the Government to conduct a serious cull of deer in Ireland, which he said are causing collisions on roads and damaging farms.    Is a national cull program needed? Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Tim Cullinane, President of the Irish Farmers Association, and  John Tierney Campaigns Director at the Association of Hunt Saboteurs. 

 Israel aims fire at southern Gaza as world leaders seek pause in fighting. Speaking to Shane this morning was Ireland’s EU Commissioner, Mairead McGuinness. 

Over half of Ireland’s wastewater discharges are not meeting EU standards. That’s outlined in the latest EPA’s Urban Waste Water Treatment report.  Speaking to Shane this morning to explain the findings was Noel Byrne, Programme Manager of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Enforcement.

The number of pedestrians killed on Irish roads this year is on course to be the highest level in 15 years, if the current trend continues.  Speaking to Shane this morning was Minister of State with Special Responsibilities for Road Safety, Jack Chambers to shed light on the situation.

At least 22 people have been killed in a shooting in Maine in the US. A police hunt for a suspect is underway   Ciara spoke to US based Journalist Harriet Alexander and she explained what they know so far.

A study finds that humour on a first date doesn’t influence attractiveness, challenging the belief that women prefer funny men.   For some solid first-date tips is Relationship Expert, Jennifer Haskins from Two’s Company.

Modular Housing is urgently needed to address the housing shortage, a major conference will be held today.  We speak to Eoin O’Broin, Sinn Fein Spokesperson for Housing.

Artificial Intelligence has been a key theme of 2023, with academics, actors and average citizens all expressing concerns about the disruption it will cause in the future.   The EU, however, is on the cusp of introducing the first laws in the world to regulate its use.  With more details on this we spoke to Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent.

Hospitals in Gaza are ceasing to function because they are running out of water and fuel for generators while being overwhelmed by huge numbers of casualties and civilians seeking shelter from Israeli bombing.  Ciara spoke to Hannah McCarthy, a Freelance Journalist reporting from the Middle East.

Halloween is only a few days away when the children of Ireland will be out and about trick-or-treating. But what is the right age for children to go alone?  Speaking to Shane this morning was Gill Hines, Education and Parenting Consultant and Author of “It’s not Fair!”

Making a false insurance claim should become as “socially unacceptable as smoking indoors”, according to Brian Hanley, CEO of Alliance for Insurance Reform who spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning,

If you fancy a bit of Nirvana memorabilia then get yourself along to The Museum of Style Icons at Newbridge Silverware in Co Kildare.  Some of front frontman Kirt Cobain’s music equipment will be on display including his Skystang I Fender Mustang Electric Guitar which is valued between an eye-watering $1 and $2 million dollars.  Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast this morning was Martin Nola...

Partners micro-cheat in many ways. If you’re OK with it, then fine. If not, speak up”   That’s the title of an article from yesterday’s Irish Independent by Screenwriter and Host of the Basically Podcast , Stefanie Priessner.   But what is microcheating? To explain we spoke to  Helen Vaughan, Therapist at Maynooth Counselling and Psychotherapy. 

Count Kaz Balinski and his wife Sophie Anderton of Glendalough House are among the residents who are objecting to plans to house 950 refugees at Glendalough Estate and Count Kaz Balinski spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning. 

As the nights become longer and the weather gets colder – is it time to think about keeping costs down?    Our reporter Henry McKean got the tips and tricks for keeping energy costs low.  

Cork City Council is seeking the public’s views on new proposed regulations for Cork’s Street performers   Speaking to Ciara this morning was Ken O’Flynn, Cork City Councillor and Former Deputy Lord Mayor.

The country has been battling weather alerts over recent days but are they freak events or our new normal due to Climate change?     Speaking to Shane this morning was John Sweeney, Climatologist and Professor Emeritus at Maynooth University a little earlier and started by asking him if thinks climate change is playing a part in our extreme weather.

The organisers of Web Summit say the event in Lisbon will go ahead next month, despite the controversy over its former CEO’s comments last week. Paddy Cosgrave stood down from his position on Saturday.  Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent, Jess Kelly brought us the details.

Trigger warnings aren’t just for snowflakes so says Professor John Sutherland from University College London  who spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

‘Worrying work culture’ as bullying and burnout ‘rife’ within the Gardaí, that’s according to a Garda Representative Association survey of 40 former members  Tara McManus, Assistant to the General Secretary of the GRA gave a reaction to these findings.

Israel has carried out a series of strikes overnight in Lebanon targeting Hezbollah.  It comes as rockets continue to hit Gaza and approximately 26 trucks carrying aid have entered the area.   Speaking to Newstalk Breakfsat was Bel Trew, International correspondent for The Independent, and also Ghassan Abu-Sittah plastic and reconstruction surgeon with Doctors Without Borders c...

Does Ireland’s economy need more working mothers?   OECD Statistics indicate that Ireland has very low participation rates for mothers, particularly for those from a low educational background.  Speaking to Ciara this morning on the show was Dr Mary McAuliffe, Lecturer in Gender Studies at UCD .