Newstalk Breakfast

The HSE has confirmed that test and trace will be wound down and to give us more detail on how this will work, Shane spoke to Eileen Whelan, National lead for test and trace with the HSE.

With the rise of social media in the last decade, hostile discourse confronts us on our timelines every day. But what would happen if we began to listen, share our ideas, and communicate them in a constructive and civil way? To discuss further David Quinn, Columnist with the Sunday Times and Michael Nugent, Chair of Atheist Ireland to discuss..

After the success of the women’s Euros we ask are young girls getting enough access to PE in Ireland. To discuss this further Ciara spoke to Catherine Woods Professor of physical activity and Health at the University of Limerick.

As Ireland hits a 21 year low for unemployment, we ask why we are still experiencing a shortage of workers. For more on this Newstalk Breakfast spoke to Tony Foley Emeritus Associate Professor of Economics with the DCU Business School.

A man and a woman have died after a sea tragedy off the coast of Kerry. A major air-sea rescue operation was launched after it emerged two individuals in difficulty in the sea off Men’s Beach in Ballybunion. Robert Beasley is a Sinn Fein Cllr from the area spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Ireland’s finances look to be in a healthy position ahead of next month’s budget with Income tax receipts to the end of July are up almost 17 percent on the past 12 month. Overall there was a surplus of 5 billion euro at the end of last month. Seamus Coffey - Former Chair of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council and Economist at UCC spoke to Newstalk Breakfast with more on these returns.

New wide-ranging domestic violence and stalking legislation has been approved by the government. The law set to dramatically increase sentences for offenders, including the possibility of stalkers being jailed for 10 years. In reaction to this Newstalk Breakfast spoke to stalking victim Una Ring.

Is co-sleeping harmful to children and at what age is the ideal age for parents to make the switch to independent sleeping? Erica Hargadon, Certified Sleep Consultant and a member of the International Association of Child Sleep Consultants and spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Late night LUAS services have been ruled out for now by the National Transport Authority, who have said that essential maintenance must be carried out when trams are out of service. The LUAS currently doesn’t operate between 1am and 5am. Where does this leave late-night public transport options in the capital? Jim Waldron is a Spokesperson for the National Private Hire & Taxi Association spoke to...

A group of MP’s in Britain are calling for warning logos to be used on photoshopped commercial images This would include the use of a logo on images displaying digitally altered body proportions and skin tone. Should Ireland follow suit? Barry Murphy is Research and Policy Officer at Bodywhys - The Eating Disorders Association of Ireland spoke to Ciara this morning.

Mask-wearing for long-distance travel will return to Germany from October to early April in anticipation of rising virus cases during the winter older season. The mandatory presentation of a negative coronavirus test will also apply to hospitals, nursing homes, and similar institutions with vulnerable people as part of these plans. So should Ireland consider imposing similar measures for the winte...

The government has confirmed that electric bikes and e-scooters with a maximum speed below 25km an hour will be exempt from registration, tax, or insurance. The move will see e-scooters treated the same as push bikes. For more on this Ciara spoke to Charlie Gleeson, CEO of Zipp mobility.

Public sector workers in health, local authorities, education, and semi-state sectors are set to begin balloting for industrial action on August 29th if new pay talks with the government fail. Talks between union negotiators and government officials broke down in June. John King is SIPTU Deputy General Secretary spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

The President’s wife Sabina Higgins has said she strongly condemns the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine but that she was “dismayed” that people criticised her call for a ceasefire. In a statement Ms Higgins also said she posted the letter originally published in the Irish Times on her own dedicated section of the Áras website but that she removed it when she "saw it being presented as not being...

This week is world breastfeeding week and with low rates of breastfeeding in Ireland, is it still sexualised in our society? “Wouldn’t it be great if we could stop seeing women’s bodies — breasts in particular — as sexual things, and instead start celebrating what the female form can do?” That is the opinion of Chrissie Russell, Freelance Journalist with the Irish Independent who spoke to Ciara th...

Licences allowing coursing clubs to capture live hares for the winter season have been granted by the government despite renewed calls from animal welfare advocates for a ban on the sport. The Irish Council Against Blood Sports released a statement saying it was “shameful” that the practice of hare coursing would be permitted to continue into next year. To debate this Shane spoke to Aideen Yourell...

Irish homes switching their homes to heat pumps would lead to an increase in the electricity needed to run them, but there would be a decrease in transmission costs. That’s according to new research from the ESRI this morning. Murieann Lynch Energy Economist at the ESRI, carried out the research and joined Ciara this morning on the show.

After nearly 9,000 episodes stretched over 37 years – this Wednesday will mark the final episode of beloved Australian soap Neighbours on Irish TV. Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan and Margot Robbie are just some of the stars reprising their roles for the show’s finale. Lucinda Cowden who plays Melanie Pearson in Neighbours spoke to Ciara on the ending of the beloved soap.

The inflation crisis is having a disproportionate impact on Ireland’s women, and the government urgently needs to address the problem with income support and investment in public services. That’s according to the National Women’s Council of Ireland. Jennifer McCarthy Flynn is Head of Policy at the National Women's Council and spoke to Jonathan on the show this morning.

President Michael D Higgins has released a statement reiterating his condemnation of Russia’s ongoing war. However, the statement did not reference criticism of his wife Sabina for writing a letter on the conflict in last Friday’s Irish Times. The letter was also published on the Áras’s website but was subsequently removed. With reaction, Ciara spoke to Shane Ross Former Minister for Transport and...

State subsidies to private secondary schools increased last year to €121 million. That’s according to Department of Education figures released to Sinn Fein, which has vowed to end subsidies to fee-paying schools if it enters government. Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire is a Sinn Fein TD and party spokesperson on education and skills and Barbara Ennis is Principal of Alexandra College in Milltown in Dublin bo...

Ekin-Su and Davide have been crowned winners of Love Island 2022, while Irish contestants Dami Hope and Indiyah finished third. So how did this season of the hit show stack up against previous years? Joining Ciara was Orlaith Condon is a Journalist and host of the My Pod on Paper podcast.

The first ship carrying grain has left a Ukrainian port under a landmark deal with Russia. The ship which left Odesa is the first shipment of grain since the beginning of the war in February. Could the deal lead to other exports being allowed? For more on this Newstalk Breakfast spoke to John Everard Former UK Ambassador to North Korea and Belarus

The introduction of minimum pricing for alcohol in Scotland has driven some people to turn to cheap street drugs instead. That’s the warning from health experts from The Scottish Drugs Forum, after it emerged that the country remains the drug death capital of Europe. Given the introduction of minimum unit pricing earlier this year, should we be concerned about similar unintended consequences on ou...

Hannah Noonan, an 11-year-old girl from Limerick will be raising awareness across the month of September in memory of her grandfather who passed away from pulmonary fibrosis in March. Hannah will share a joke a day on social media every day in September Hannah and her mother Sharon Noonan joined Newstalk Breakfast tell us more about this campaign.