Newstalk Breakfast

More than one in ten households cannot afford a warm home or their energy bills. That’s according to a new report from the Economic and Social Research Institute. To discuss the findings we heard from Dr Miguel Tovar Reaños, Senior Research Officer, ESRI. 

Police are treating the stabbing of two men in north London as terrorism, with the suspect described as hunting for anyone “visibly Jewish” to attack. For the latest on this Jonathan spoke to London Based Journalist Vincent McAviney .

Have you been noticing accounts posting AI covers of Irish folk songs? AI generated “artists” such as Sonara and Delta Ash have amassed hundreds of thousands of followers, and millions of streams.  But how do they work and are they making money? Are we looking at the future of music? Anton spoke with Fiachna Ó Braonáin of The Hothouse Flowers to find out .  

The European Commission has issued a finding against US Tech Giant Meta for allegedly failing to prevent children under 13 from using Instagram and Facebook. If these findings are confirmed, it could potentially lead to fines of up to 6% of its total worldwide turnover.  We get the latest with Adrian Weckler, Technology Editor with the Irish Independent. 

Nearly eight years since the Eighth Amendment was passed. The Social Democrats are seeking to reform reproductive rights in Ireland, including removing the mandatory three-day wait period before you get an abortion. To discuss further Anton spoke to Holly Cairns, Social Democrats Leader and Cork South-West TD. 

Later this morning, the Government is set to announce the details of its fuel support scheme, which was given cabinet approval yesterday.  Joining Anton ahead of this announcement was Andrew Brownlee CEO of the Construction Industry Federation and also Barra Roantree Assistant Professor of Economics at Trinity College .  

A ban should be introduced on fox hunting, greyhound racing, silky horses on all public roads, and horse drawn carriages in cities.   That’s the call from The National Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA), which is today launching its first-ever five-year strategy. Speaking to Anton was Pat Watt, NSPCA CEO. 

New CSO figures have shown that civil ceremonies are now more popular than church weddings.  Roman Catholic ceremonies used to hold the top spot in 2014, but have since fallen by more than 50%...  So, what could be the reasons behind this trend? and what does the future look like for the Catholic wedding? All to discuss with Wedding Planner Tara Fay. 

It’s time for "Did You See”. Where we take a closer look at some of the stories you may have missed in the news this morning. Joining Anton this morning was Ronan McGreevy, Irish Times journalist and Historian.

MEPs are due to vote on EU chemicals legislation today on whether they should ban PFAS in cosmetic products. Many common makeup products still contain toxic ‘forever chemicals', which do not dissolve, and instead stay in your body for years.  Speaking to Anton with more on this was Professor Caitriona Ryan, Consultant Dermatologist at the Institute of Dermatologists .  

Insurance firm Gallagher have today made calls to young drivers to get their full driving licence ahead of the changes being made later this year.  So, what are the changes coming, why is it important to get that full licence, and how difficult is that exactly? For more on this with Shane O’Donoghue, Editor of Completecar.ie. 

Later this morning, the Government is set to announce the details of its fuel support scheme, which was given cabinet approval yesterday. Speaking to Anton ahead of the announcement was Seán Defoe, Newstalk’s Political Correspondent. 

VHI, in partnership with the Irish Youth Foundation, is calling on youth organisations in Dublin, Cork, Kilkenny, Galway, Limerick and Donegal to apply for funding to support youth mental health and build resilience. Anton Savage was joined on the show by Jack Woolley, Two-time Olympic Taekwondo athlete and VHI Health and Wellbeing Fund Ambassador. You can find out more about grant...

Britain's parliament will vote tomorrow on a possible inquiry into Prime Minister Keir Starmer, looking at whether he misled the House of Commons over the appointment of former US ambassador Peter Mandelson. Stephen Pound Former Labour MP & Shadow Minister for Northern Ireland joined Anton Savage on the show to discuss.

A Palestinian flag has been attached to the Spire for the last seven months and would require a 300-tonne crane to remove it. This would be carried out during the night to minimize disruption to businesses and traffic. Mannix Flynn, Independent Councillor for Dublin City Council joined Anton Savage on the show to discuss.

The standard breath testing target should be equal to every licensed driver being tested once a year. That’s the call from Alcohol Action Ireland, who are today set to brief TDs and Senators at Leinster House on the impact of alcohol on road safety. Anton Savage was joined by Shelia Gilheaney, CEO of Alcohol Action Ireland to discuss.

A targeted package of measures to support people to move away from fossil fuels must be part of Government’s strategy to support households with energy affordability. That’s according to Social Justice Ireland, which is today launching its annual socio-economic review.    Michelle Murphy, Research and policy analyst at Social Justice Ireland and Muireann Lyn...

Last year Ireland imported nearly 41,000 tonnes of beef, valued at almost €288 million. This compares with under 31,000 tonnes imported ten years ago. That’s according to new figures released to Paul Lawless, Aontú TD for Mayo, who joined Anton Savage on the show this morning. 

It’s time for "Did You See”. Where we take a closer look at some of the stories you may have missed in the news this morning. Joining Anton this morning was Owen Reidy General Secretary of the Irish Congress of trade Unions.

More than eight in ten of us have come into unwanted contact with dog faeces in the last 12 months. That’s according to new survey from the Irish Blue Cross, who are today urging pet owners to pick up and dispose of their dogs’ waste. Dr Laura Mock Head of Veterinary Services at the Irish Blue Cross joined Anton Savage on the show.

Did you know... it is a common misconception that it is harder for women to build muscle than it is for men? That’s according to a physiology specialist at the University of Leicester, who claims men and women can follow the same resistance training principles and expect comparable progress. But is that true? Anton Savage was joined by Gillian Hynes, Fitness Expert and Per...

Efforts to bridge gaps between the US and Iran are continuing, despite the failure of face-to-face diplomacy after ‌US president Donald Trump called off a trip to Pakistan by his envoys over the weekend. Anton Savage was joined by Sean Bell Former Fighter Pilot, Military Analyst and Co-Host of the Red Matrix Podcast to discuss.

Nine out of ten consumers say higher energy costs will lead to cutbacks in other areas of household spending, according to the latest Consumer Sentiment Survey. One in three consumers expect to cut energy use a lot, but one in five consumers say they can’t cut back any further. Economist, Austin Hughes joined Anton Savage on the show to discuss.

The Government is to begin withdrawing State-provided accommodation from 16,000 Ukrainian refugees from August, as it prepares to wind down key supports ahead of an EU voluntary return scheme. Colm Brophy Minister of State for Migration and Fine Gael TD for Dublin South-West joined Anton Savage on the show to discuss.

Nearly 20,000 fines were paid by people committing fare evasion on Dublin’s Luas trams in 2025. Independent Motoring Expert with Carzone, Conor Faughnan joined Anton Savage on the show to discuss.