Newstalk Breakfast

Now today is Poetry Day Ireland and to mark the day Poet John Cummins has sent us this special piece on why we all perhaps need to take a break.

Fianna Fáil Junior Minister, Niall Collins is expected to give his statement to the Dáil later today regarding his wife’s 2008 purchase of property from Limerick County Council. Pádraig McLochlainn, Sinn Féin Chief Whip, and Donegal TD explaned what he would like to hear from Niall Collins today.

All Things Considered: Sinn Féin attending coronation, should they stay or go? All up for discussion between Ciara and Shane this morning.

An FAI commissioned report has sought to highlight the disparity in funding to the horse and greyhound racing industries compared to other sports. The report from accountancy firm KHSK says that both industries have received 1.5 billion euro in the past 25 years, the vast majority of which comes from the betting tax. Daniel McDonnell an Irish Independent Football correspondent has been through the...

Sinn Féin’s Deputy Leader, Michelle O’Neill will attend King Charle’s Coronation on May 6th – saying the gesture demonstrates a commitment to building good relations and advancing peace. Gemma Brolly, Deputy Leader and Aontú Candidate for East Derry has criticised this move and explained why this morning on the show.

Almost 400,000 passengers are expected to travel through Dublin Airport this May Bank Holiday Weekend. Looking ahead to one of the busiest weekends at the airport was Graeme McQueen, DAA Media Relations Manager.

88 Irish citizens have been evactuated from Sudan but over a hundred Irish citizens remain in Sudan as evacuation efforts resume. The Irish Army Ranger Wing is working with counterparts in Spain and France to evacuate the remaining citizens. From Port Sudan having been evacuated from Khartoum, Concern's Country Director for Sudan, Musha gave Ciara an update on the situation there.

Funeral directors have raised concerns over how long families are having to wait to have their love ones bodies released by the Dublin city mortuary. Fintan Cooney manager of Fanagans funeral home in Dundrum and member of the board of the Irish Association of Funeral Directors says some families have had to wait up to two weeks. Fintan spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Prime Hydration drinks are being sold for up to €15 a bottle across the country. But why are the energy drinks so popular among young people? Speaking to Shane to explain was Saoirse Hanley, Features Writer for the Irish Independent.

Yesterday, Cabinet signed off on a package of housing measures to speed up the building of new homes across the country. The measures include waiving of development levies, increased grants for cost rental apartments, and a more generous grant for vacant and derelict properties Speaking to Ciara this morning was Connor O’Connell Housing Director of the Construction Industry Federation.

The Department of Health is set to publish a review of Ireland’s abortion legislation later this morning. Recommendations include making the current 3-day wait period optional, decriminalising medical practitioners, and extending the 12-week time limit to access abortion without condition, under certain circumstances. To discuss the review, Shane was joined on the show by Neasa Hourigan, Green Par...

All things considered:  Government is to unveil first-ever air quality plan today but should the plan be aiming to ban open fires? Shane and Ciara debate.

“This idea of minimising down contact with people when they irritate, infuriate, or bore you seems brutal to me. Acting as a sounding board and being an ear may feel a little thankless, but it can hugely help someone. At times, it’s even a lifeline.” Those are the words of Kirsty Blake Knox, Journalist with The Irish Independent – and Kirsty explained what she means by this to Newstalk Breakfast.

The government will today unveil their first ever Clean Air Strategy which will aim to cut down on air pollution in Ireland. The EPA estimate there are 1,300 premature deaths annually in Ireland due to poor air quality. John Sodeau Professor Emeritus of Chemistry at UCC who has specialised in air quality joined Ciara this morning to discuss what the plan may bring.

A new Cherry Orchard Implementation Board has been set up to focus on providing support for the community, after attacks on the Gardai, a garda car being rammed, and other anti-social behavior in the Dublin suburb. It will include the HSE, Gardai, TUSLA, local authorities, and the community. Henry McKean has visited Cherry Orchard and met the community and Sinn Fein Councillor Daithí Doolan, who w...

Graham Dwyer is set to seek a Supreme Court Appeal against his conviction for the murder of Elaine O’Hara. Shane Phelan, Legal Affairs Editor for the Irish Independent brought us the details of this appeal.

According to a new report from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Ireland has the lowest immunisation rates for measles in Western Europe – warning of a threat of outbreaks due to vaccination gaps. Speaking to Ciara this morning was Dr Lucy Jessop, HSE Immunisation Lead and Consultant in Public Health Medicine at the National Immunisation Office.

All things considered - The government's new proposal to tackle the housing crisis but does it go far enough? Shane and Ciara debate.

The cost of motor insurance has continued to fall with the average cost of a premium down 5% in the first half of 2022 compared to 2021. That’s according to a new report from the Central Bank released this morning. Speaking to Ciara this morning on the show was Jennifer Carroll MacNeill Minister of State with responsibility for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance.

The new junior cycle curriculum will ensure that all schools teach gender identity as part of a revised sexual education programme, along with consent and pornography. In reaction to this announcement, Newstalk Breakfast spoke to Alan Whelan, President of the Catholic Secondary Schools Parents Association, and also Jillian Brennan, CEO of the Humanist Association.

Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien is set to temporarily waive residential development levies to cut costs for developers in a bid to urgently increase housing supply. To debate Newstalk Breakfast spoke to David Duffy, from Property Industry Ireland, property trade association of IBEC, and also Dr. Rory Hearne, Lecturer in Social Policy at Maynooth University and Author of the book “Gaffs”.

Fianna Fáil TD Niall Collins has broken his silence over his local council's decision to put a property up for sale while he was a councillor which was ultimately bought by his wife, saying he has done nothing wrong and that no one objected to the decision. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Paul Murphy, People Before Profit TD for Dublin. Southwest

The Garda National Bureau of Investigation has launched an investigation into allegations that a Senior Investigator with GSOC attended a party with Gerry “The Monk” Hutch hours after his acquittal for the murder of David Byrne Aodhan Ó Ríordáin, Labour Justice Person spoke to Ciara this morning on the show.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that 50 Irish citizens have been evacuated from Sudan. The Army Ranger Wing of the Defence Forces has been assisting Spanish and French forces with the evacuation. Seán Fleming, Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs spoke to Shane this morning on the show.

This generation of daters can meet more people than ever - but they're also disappearing on potential matches like never before. So, what's it like to seek love in the graveyard of decency? Newstalk's Sarah Madden reports.