Newstalk Breakfast

The proposed increase of 12.4% to the minimum wage next year could add up to a 2.5% to grocery bills. So warned the Irish Small & Medium Enterprise association in a letter to the Taoiseach yesterday. Neil McDonnell, CEO of ISME spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

The Barbie movie has received huge success since its release, breaking box office records around the world with its predicted pink glitz and glam. But it hasn’t been well received by everybody though, particularly some people who believe it to be sexist. One such person is Sunday Independent columnist David Quinn who joined us this morning.

The HSE is to be split into six new health regions from February 2024 as part of long-promised Sláintecare reforms. Speaking to Shane this morning was Bernard Gloster Chief Executive Officer of the HSE and Co-Chair of the Sláintecare Programme Board.

World Breastfeeding Week 2023 begins today. Professor Louise Kenny, Executive Pro Vice-Chancellor at the University of Liverpool & Professor of Maternal and Foetal Health explained the benefits of breastfeeding.

Drinking water quality remains high but resilience of many supplies needs to improve - that's the warning from the Environmental protection agency this morning... Speaking to Shane this morning on the show was Noel Byrne is the EPA Programme Manager in the Office of Environmental Enforcement.

Two young people have died following a serious road traffic collision in County Monaghan. We get the latest on the tragic incident from Seoirse Mulgrew a Reporter with Independent.ie.

The state’s Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme for low-income households has come under fire for installing new oil and gas boilers For more on this, we were joined on the show by Muireann Lynch, Energy Economist at the ESRI.

Violence and anti-social behaviour continued to make headlines over the weekend, and several foreign embassies have followed the US by warning prospective visitors to the capital. Lucy Masterson, CEO of the Irish Youth Foundation, believes this violence has been brewing for years and she discussed this with Jonathan this morning.

There has been a 57 per cent increase in Airbnb properties available to let in Dublin in the last year. That’s according to new figures compiled by data analytics company AirDNA, which also revealed a similar rise in commuter towns surrounding the capital. With reaction, Ciara spoke to Eoin O’Broin, Sinn Fein’s spokesperson on housing, and also Wayne Stanley, Executive Director of the Simon Commun...

All Things Considered: Is Airbnb killing tourism? Ciara and Jonathan debate this morning.

French Ambassador to Ireland, Vincent Guérend, has encouraged Ireland to consider small modular nuclear reactors as part of its energy mix in the future. To debate we were joined by Neil McCann, Barrister, former Mayor of Dundalk, and Member of the Anti-Nuclear movement, and also William Reville, Emeritus professor of biochemistry at UCC and Irish Times Contributor.

“We might not see a cousin for years and years but the glimpse of their features across a room, a crowded bar perhaps, will be enough to jettison us back to a childhood ease and comfort that’s unattainable elsewhere.” So wrote Jennifer Horgan, Irish Examiner Columnist who spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Trinity College has privately warned that the “unfettered” use of AI or other “disruptive technology” by staff and students poses a significant risk to its operations in the coming year. Dr Ann Marcus Quinn Associate Professor UL joined Ciara this morning on the show.

A library in Cork was forced to close on Saturday after a banner was mounted by protesters across the entrance without permission. Cork Lord Mayor Kieran McCarthy, explained what exactly was this protest about?

‘A Colombian Rapper and a Potential ‘Online Swindler’ - Season 2 of 90 Day Fiancé UK has returned to our screens! And to tell us more about it Ciara spoke with ‘Made in Chelsea’ stars, podcasting duo and newlyweds, Jamie and Sophie Laing. Ciara began by asking Jamie to explain the concept of what happens on the show...

The UK Met Office has reported that sweltering 40-degree summers in Britain will be the norm by 2060 and “will be considered cool” by the turn of the century. John Sweeney, Climatologist and Professor Emeritus at Maynooth University spoke to Ciara this morning.

Now following Ireland’s 2-1 loss against Canada this means we will not be progressing to the knockout stages of the World Cup. We are hearing the success of this Irish team is inspiring more and more girls to get involved in sport. But exclusive Newstalk research carried out by Amárach shows we still have a long way to go. Our reporter, Josh Crosbie has been breaking down the figures for us...

Fine Gael TD Alan Dillon has called for Ticket tout legislation to be updated, describing the re-selling tickets at inflated value as 'immoral and completely wrong'. It’s reported that nobody has been prosecuted for the practice despite the passing of the Sale of Tickets Act two years ago. Dr. Steve Davies, Head of Education at the Institute of Economic Affairs joined Ciara on the show this mornin...

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the disappearance of Deirdre Jacob, who vanished from outside her house at the age of 18. Deirdre’s father, Michael Jacob joined us on Newstalk Breakfast.

Scrapping election posters would be ‘stymieing of democracy’ - that’s the view of Shelly Herterich Quinn, Fianna Fail Councillor who joined us on Newstalk Breakfast. This follows calls for a ban in the name of climate action at a Plenary Meeting for Galway County Council this week.

The Ukrainian army has recaptured a village on the southern front from Russian forces as it ramps up its counter-offensive, Paul Rogers, Emeritus Professor of Peace Studies at Bradford University joined Ciara on the show.

Mental Health Commission Chief Executive John Farrelly has said there needs to be "a root and branch rebuild" of Ireland's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. This comes after an independent review of CAMHS has said it can not currently provide an assurance to all parents or guardians in all parts of Ireland, that their children have access to a safe, effective and evidence-based service....

Tourists visiting Donegal have been caught out by the lack of public EV charging points. Motoring Expert, Geraldine Herbert, gave her view on the shortage of public EV charging points in a number of tourist towns on the show this morning.

Over 11,500 frontline gardaí are to be balloted on a vote of no confidence in Garda Commissioner Drew Harris as part of a deepening row over rosters. Brendan O'Connor, President of the GRA joined Jonathan Healy on the show this morning.

Tributes from around the world continue to pour in following the tragic announcement of the death of legendary Irish Singer Sinead O’Connor. Fiachna Ó Braonáin, Musician from Hothouse Flowers & Broadcaster and Paul Nolan, Hot Press Contributing Editor joined us on Newstalk Breakfast to pay tribute to the legendary singer.