Newstalk Breakfast

The State is dealing with “criminal lunatics” meaning the Portuguese model of decriminalising drugs would not work here   That's the view of Michael O’Sullivan, Former Garda Assistant Commissioner and former Head of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau who spoke to Shane this morning on the show.

All Things Considered: Do rebel songs glamourize the troubles? Shane and Ciara discuss.

We are looking for the best bookshop in Ireland this morning. The ‘An Post Bookshop of the Year’ is back for the third year at the An Post Irish Book Awards. The idea is to acknowledge the significant role played by bookshops in helping their local communities. Henry McKean went on a bookshop tour and sent us this report.

The Government has received a C+ grade for “moderate progress” on its own climate and environmental promises.  The grading was carried out by a team of independent experts who annually assess the Government’s implementation of its own climate and environmental commitments.  To discuss this further Shane was joined on the show by Dr Paul Deane is a leading energy expert from University Co...

Today is National Slow Down Day and this morning Ciara spoke to Paula Hillman, Assistant Commissioner for Roads Policing and Community Engagement. 

Johnny Logan, Irish Eurovision legend and songwriter joined us on Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

21% of households across Ireland had two or more spare bedrooms according to the latest census data.    Rory Hearne, Lecturer in Social Policy at Maynooth University joined Shane Coleman on the show this morning...

We need to get ‘very serious’ about smartphones in schools, says Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly who joined us on Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Trust broke down' - Those are the damning words from Vera Pauw in her first comments since the FAI confirmed on Tuesday night that they would not be offering her a new contract.  In a lengthy statement released last night she has accused the FAI of "major mistakes" by interfering in football matters during the 2023 Women's World Cup.  Valerie Mulcahy, a Former Irish footballer spoke...

Tomorrow will see cinemas across the country celebrate National Cinema Day with admission tickets at participating cinemas reduced to just €4.    Speaking to Ciara this morning was Deirdre Molumby is Audience Editor at Independent.ie and Pop Culture Expert. 

Did you go and fill up on fuel last night before the latest increase to excise duty kicked in?      Petrol prices have gone up by 7 cent per litre and diesel by 5 cent. The reduced 9 percent VAT rate for tourism, hospitality, and hairdressing has also returned to 13.5 percent.      Our reporter Josh Crosbie has been meeting with those who are trying to save in the cos...

The Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly has today announced the expansion of the free contraception scheme to include women aged 27 to 30 years.    Pauline O’Reilly, Chair of the Green Party and Galway Senator gave her reaction to this to Shane this morning.

Childcare is a constant worry for many parents and as children head back to school it doesn’t get any easier. 20% of those surveyed by Newstalk have to use creches or childminders for after-school care.   How can we make life better for parents and ease the childcare burden?  Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Deborah Byrne is a mother of 2.

“It’s time the power of the “Instagram look” and its unattainable standards, which Millennials have grown up with and which influence older women, was challenged.”    So wrote Mary McCarthy, a Journalist with the Irish Independent who spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

The Department of Housing’s new planning guidelines for local authorities may limit homes to one parking space & reduce the size of gardens to boost housing supply    Speaking to Ciara this morning was Gavin Lawlor, VP of the Irish Planning Institute. 

Almost six out of 10 CAO applicants have secured their first-choice college courses this year, an increase on last year when just over half did so.  Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris joined us on the show this morning.

Mervin Benn, Electric Picnic’s Festival Chief has spoken on the idea of having a 50/50 gender split in their line-up.  But is this necessary?  To discuss Ciara spoke to Linda, Coogan-Byrne from Why Not Her, and also Minnie Mooney a Freelance Journalist.

Parents of children with special educational needs say they still have no update on school transport. Earlier in the week, we heard from parents who were told only days before their children were due to return to school there was no bus for them. Bus Éireann says the driver shortages are affecting less than 1% of contracted transport. Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie went on the school run with pare...

Stop glamorising spray-paint vandalism by calling it art’ - that’s the call from Senator Michael McDowell.  Richard Guiney, CEO of Dublin Town gave his opinion on spray paint and also speaking to Shane Decoy, a Muralist based in Dublin.

Vera Pauw's reign as manager of the Republic of Ireland is over after the FAI decided not to offer her a new contract after six hours of deliberations among its board of directors last night    In reaction to this news, Newstalk Breakfast spoke to Méabh De Búrca, a Former Irish international with over 50 caps. 

Many students around the country are anxiously waiting for the release of the CAO points later today Carl O’Brien, Education editor with the Irish Times explained what can we expect.

Two adults and a young child have died in a single-vehicle collision in Cashel, Tipperary.  We heard from Sheila Naughton, Newstalk Reporter...    also, we heard the reaction from Cllr Declan Burgess, Cathaoirleach for the Cashel Area on this tragic accident.

The Electoral Commission is set to publish its review into the reshaping of constituencies later this morning. Malcolm Noonan, Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform spoke to Newstalk Breakfast.

All Things Considered: Teen girls dropping out of sport, Shane and Ciara discussed this morning.

Today Sport Ireland has launched the 2022 Irish Sports Monitor and Children’s Sport Participation and Physical Activity Study   Benny Cullen, Director of Research and Innovation, Sport Ireland joined Shane this morning on the show to discuss the findings of this study.