Newstalk Breakfast

A National Crisis Management Team has been put in place to oversee the response to an expected surge in winter virus infections over the coming weeks, which the HSE says is likely to put the health service under the highest pressure it has ever experienced. Damien McCallion is Chief Operations Officer with the HSE and joined us on Newstalk Breakfast.

Thousands of Ukrainian children will be spending their first Christmas in Ireland this year. While they may have a new address, Santa will still be delivering toys to all boys and girls on Christmas eve. We spoke to Max, Liza & Maria, who are living here in Ireland, to hear what they are asking for, from the man in the red coat...

It won’t be a "White Christmas” this year but there could be snow on the horizon in the coming week after the big day. Michelle Dillon Met Eireann Forecaster joined us on the show.

The RSA is receiving thousands of queries from TDs over 'shocking' driving test delays. Independent TD Mattie McGrath joined Shane on the show this morning.

Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue has launched a new initiative to ask the public what they think should be done to control the nation’s spiralling deer population. But is culling the solution? John Tierney is Campaigns Director at the Association of Hunt Saboteurs and Tim Cullinane is President of the IFA both joined us on the show to discuss.

Christmas Dinner! – the best and most highly anticipated meal of the year. With such fanfare surrounding around it how can we ensure that everyone is happy? Ciara was joined by Chef, Author and founder of Ballymaloe Cookery School, Darina Allen

The festive season is the one time when the whole family can gather round and enjoy the best TV shows and movies together. To give us the guide to the best TV over the next week Sarina Bellisimo, Broadcaster & Presenter of The Bellissimo Files joined us on Newstalk Breakfast.

The annual Dublin Simon Busk will be coming to the city centre once again on Christmas Eve, and this year it’ll be livestreamed! Aisling Harmey is Head of Fundraising & Communications at Dublin Simon Community spoke to Shane this morning. 

As Christmas day approaches, Sean Moynihan, CEO of Alone joined us on Newstalk Breakfast to tell us how we can look out for our elderly relative neighbours this year.

Irish language film An Cailín Ciúin has just made history! It becomes the first Irish-language film to be shortlisted for the Best International Feature Oscar. Colm Bairéad, Writer and Director spoke to Shane this morning on the show.

Silly season is in full swing, and it is of course the time of year to – eat, drink and be merry. But how can we enjoy ourselves whilst also keeping an eye on our health? Ciara spoke to registered Dietitian, Richelle Flanagan.

Many of us are heading on the Christmas holidays from today but for homeless services, it will be an extremely busy period. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Pat Doyle CEO of the Peter McVerry.

Three girls were travelling from Galway to Kerry, but disaster struck when they missed their connecting trains. Tired, cold, and upset about the prospect of not getting home, an unlikely hero came and saved the day. Cara Ní Chofaigh told Newstalk Breakfast what happened.

Mr Justice Brian O’Moore ordered the release of Enoch Burke from Mountjoy Prison last night, where he has spent the last 108 days for contempt of court. The High Court Judge made the ruling saying he was ‘exploiting his imprisonment for his own ends’. Shane Phelan, Legal Affairs Correspondent for the Irish Independent gave us more details on this.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was in Washington last night and held a joint press conference with US president Joe Biden before addressing the US congress. It marks the first state visit for the Ukrainian President since the war started 300 days ago. Anthony Zurcher BBC North America Correspondent told us about the visit.

Chief Medical Officer Breda Smyth has appealed to people to stay at home if they have flu-like symptoms and to return to wearing masks on public transport. So how deeply is the uptick in the infection being felt? Illona Duffy is a Monaghan-based GP spoke to Newstalk Breakfast.

Ireland’s biggest supplier of school meals has warned that the system is no longer viable and thousands of pupils risk losing access to lunches and dinners. Ray Nangle, chief executive of Freshtoday spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

It was announced yesterday that the government were examining ways to cut transport carbon emissions. Among the proposals was to end free workplace parking. But what will this mean for workers? Labour Party Senator, Marie Sherlock spoke to Ciara this morning on the show.

There wasn’t much movement at the cabinet table but one move that was expected was the swapping of roles of Michael McGrath and Paschal Donohoe. Michael McGrath has been appointed Minister for Finance while Paschal Donohoe became Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery & Reform and he spoke to Shane this morning.

Belfast publican John Bittles has put down a marker- his pub is for drinkers only. A man took to twitter to exclaim “Just been kicked out of Bittles Bar in Belfast for… wait for it… not ordering an alcoholic drink. Ordered a pint of coke and was told it was drinkers only. Absolutely stunned. John from Bittles Bar spoke to Newstalk Breakfast to explain his rule.

Today, the 21st of December marks the Winter Solstice. It is known as the only day when the sun illuminates the inside of Newgrange. However, a new discovery begs to differ. Anthony Murphy, founder of Mythical Ireland and author spoke to Shane on this new discovery.

From Nollaig na mBan and the Wren Boys to Midnight Mass Ireland has its fair share of festive customs. Clodagh Doyle, Keeper of the Irish Folk Life collection based in the National Museum of Ireland spoke to Newstalk Breakfast about various Irish Christmas traditions.

RTÉ has reported a median gender pay gap of just over 13 percent and an average gap of 11.55 percent for 2022 as it admitted that “clearly, there is more to do” on gender equality at the organisation. Sonya Lennon, Founder of the WorkEqual campaign, told Shane what she made of those reports.

Minister for Education, Norma Foley retained her Education Portfolio in the Cabinet Reshuffle this weekend. Minister Foley spoke to Ciara this morning.

Regional discrimination is a form of discrimination that is based on the region in which a person lives or where a person was born. Is regional discrimination still alive in Dublin city in 2022?