Newstalk Breakfast

When “Bridget Jones’s Diary” hit U.S. shelves 25 years ago, the book was a phenomenon – but has the best-selling novel aged well? Tanya Sweeney, Irish Independent Columnist explained the cultural impact of Bridget.

“Economy is as dependent now on corporate taxes as it was on property taxes prior to 2008. Any budget giveaway will present huge risks to the economy, yet fiscal restraint will be unpopular for the government going into the next election” Those are the words of Columnist with the Business Post, John Walsh who spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Ciaran Cuffe, Green Party MEP has made calls for a rent increase ban for all buildings “F” energy rating or below. Ciaran explained to Newstalk Breakfast why he had made this call.

The Irish Examiner reports today that as part of October’s budget, there will be a significant cut to childcare costs at 25% and a deis style scheme. We asked Minster for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth, Roderic O’ Gorman what he wishes to achieve in October's budget.

All Things Considered: Has America lost its way, Ciara and Shane debate this morning on the show.

Remote working is like a dating app: isolating, joyless and bad for us. Yet still we stay home so wrote Martha Gill, Observer Columnist, and Political Journalist and Martha explained to Ciara what she meant by this article.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions will not tolerate declining incomes for workers and their families when resources are clearly available to avoid this. That’s according to the union’s President Kevin Callinan, who will later today address the Biennial Delegate Conference in Kilkenny

A minute's silence has been held in the Spanish coastal town of Salou last night as a mark of respect after the death of a 36-year-old Irish woman. Graham Keeley, Spain correspondent for the Independent gave Newstalk Breakfast the latest details.

Gogglebox Ireland will be returning to Virgin Media Television this Autumn and they are on the lookout for Ireland’s most witty and opinionated telly fanatics to join the new season. Gareth McGreevy, series producer spoke to Ciara this morning.

Elon Musk announced over the weekend that the company was limiting the number of tweets users can read in a day. While it could be a great solution to limit the amount of time you spend on the app, it will also massively impact those use who the service for work or to follow breaking news and live sport. Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent, Jess Kelly has the details.

RTÉ is set to remain in the political spotlight for some time. What has this week got in store for the national broadcaster? Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Hugh O'Connell, Deputy Political Editor of the Irish Independent.

Green Party Planning and Local Government Spokesman and Chair of the Oireachtas Housing Committee, Steven Matthewshas drafted a new exemption that would remove the need for planning permission for bike and e-scooter storage units (within certain limits). Steven explained what is the benefit of this and also speaking to Ciara this morning on the show was Jackie Cahil, Fianna Fail TD for Tipperary a...

All Things Considered: United Ireland in 10 years? Ciara discussed the prospect on the show this morning.

We often hear a lot of negative feedback about our capital city but Dublin has just been named the best destination for a weekend. US travel magazine Global Traveler has positioned Dublin as the Best destination in the world for a weekend with Rome coming second and Paris third. We sent our reporter Josh Crosbie out to meet with tourists and locals to see what they think of this recognition.

Exercise caution and remain aware of your surroundings, that's the advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs to Irish people travelling in France. This comes amid ongoing rioting across the country following the death of a teenager who was killed by a police officer last Tuesday in a suburb northwest of Paris. John Lichfield, Veteran Paris-based journalist spoke to Ciara this morning on the sh...

A quarter of people in the republic, and almost half of the people in Northern Ireland, believe there will be a United Ireland in the EU within the next ten years --- That’s according to a poll released today by European Movement Ireland. Speaking to Ciara this morning was Darragh Gannon, Head of Irish Studies at UCD and Fulbright Irish Scholar at Georgetown University.

Two Irish teenage boys have died on a post-Leaving Cert holiday on the Greek island of Ios. Speaking to Ciara this morning with more on this tragic story was Kitty Holland, Social Affairs correspondent with the Irish Times.

Today HMV will open their doors in Henry Street, marking a return for the music retailer to Ireland since they last opened their doors in Ireland almost 10 years ago. The shop will stock over 15,000 products across their three floors in the 6,000 sq. ft store. There will be 10,000 vinyl albums and CDs, as well as a wide range of music technology products. But is there an appetite for this kind of...

Friday has arrived and the children have finished school but it's just a standard weekend with work again on Monday. It got us thinking is there an appetite for a July Public Holiday? And would people be willing to swap the October Bank Holiday with this weekend?" Well, we sent our reporter Josh Crosbie to find out...

All Things Considered: New revelations from RTÉ was up for discussion with Ciara and Shane this morning.

Finland ranks first in the World Happiness Index. One discontented Brit travelled all the to the Nordic country to find out what their secret is, and if there is anything we can learn from the Finnish. Speaking to Shane this morning was Lucy Pearson, Book Blogger at The Literary Edit & Freelance Writer.

Thousands of police deployed across France as clashes continue after the fatal shooting of killing of 17-year-old Nahel M. Speaking to Ciara this morning with more on this was Elaine Cobb, CBS News Correspondent in Paris.

Giving kids prizes for good attendance in school is a flawed idea and sets up a harmful precedent So wrote Chrissie Russell, Freelance Writer with The Irish Independent and Christine explained what prompted her to write this piece.

Met Eireann has announced that this has been the hottest June on record in Ireland – breaking an 83-year-old record. Paul Moore, Met Eireann’s Climatologist gave us more detail on this record.

As RTÉ controversy continues over Ryan Tubridy’s pay, the board members and executives appeared before the Public Accounts Committee yesterday. Seamus Dooley, Irish Secretary of the National Union of Journalists spoke to Newstalk Breakfast and gave his reaction to the extraordinary scenes yesterday.