Newstalk Breakfast

Do you have a communion coming up and are hoping to hire a bouncy castle to entertain the kids? You might want to think again as a shortage is leaving many party planning parents deflated  Arina Lewkowski who runs the family business Magic Bouncy Castle spoke to Aideen on the show this morning. Listen and subscribe to Newstalk Breakfast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.     Download, listen and subscr...

Ireland could be allowed cap gas prices due to it’s isolated location. That’s the welcome news coming from the European Commission which is looking for ways to cut reliance on Russian fuel supplies and insulate consumers from soaring prices. Lisa Ryan, Professor in Energy Economics at UCD School of Economics and UCD Energy Institute joined Aideen on the show this morning. Listen and subscribe to N...

The Green Party has suspended two TDs – Neasa Hourigan and Patrick Costello  who voted in favour of a Sinn Féin motion which calls for the new National Maternity Hospital to be fully public and located on publicly owned land. Senator Pippa Hackett, Minister of State of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning. Listen and subscribe to Newstalk Brea...

Keith Duffy says he won’t go out in Dublin for fear of getting ‘a dig’.  The “Boyslife” singer and bandmate Brian McFadden say they don’t do interviews or even gigs here because while they’re championed in the UK, the response they get at home is negative and begrudging. So, is Keith right? Is Ireland a nation of begrudgers? For his take on this Ian O’Doherty, Columnist at the Irish Independent sp...

Myopia, better known as shortsightedness, is on the increase globally.  Experts predict that half the world will be short-sighted by 2050. So, is screentime the cause of this? Joining Aideen to discuss was Lynda McGivney-Nolan, Optometric Advisor at the Association of Optometrists Ireland. Listen and subscribe to Newstalk Breakfast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.     Download, listen and subscribe o...

Irish tourists heading to Spain this week are being warned to prepare for “extreme” heat as “exceptionally high” temperatures take hold. What destinations are affected, and what should you do if you’ve booked a holiday during a heatwave? Eoghan Corry Editor of Air and Travel Magazine has some tips and advice. Listen and subscribe to Newstalk Breakfast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.     Download, li...

Yes, the group is staging a post-box protest outside the Dáil today to demand the government to do more to shield the public against spiraling price increases. TD Bríd Smith is a member of People before Profit one of the parties involved in this movement spoke to Aideen on the show this morning. Listen and subscribe to Newstalk Breakfast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.     Download, listen and subsc...

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has said she intends to introduce legislation in the coming weeks to "make changes" to the Northern Ireland Protocol.  Tánaiste Leo Varadkar joined us on Newstalk Breakfast with his reaction to these plans by the UK Government. Listen and subscribe to Newstalk Breakfast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.     Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.    You...

The Dail will hear statements today on Ireland’s progress towards a Just Transition. Just transition refers to the need to move away from fossil fuels in order to meet its energy and emissions targets while also protecting and creating jobs.  Kieran Mulvey, Just Transition Commissioner spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning with more on this. Listen and subscribe to Newstalk Breakfast on Apple P...

The UK government has announced plans to override the Northern Ireland protocol, despite warnings from Brussels that it will breach the UK’s international legal obligations and a plea from the Bank of England not to spark a damaging trade war with Europe. Dominic Grieve Former UK Attorney General and Conservative MP spoke to Shane on the show this morning. Listen and subscribe to Newstalk Breakfas...

Ditch the ensuites to make student flats cheaper. That’s the view of the technological university chief and former provost of Trinity College Dublin, Dr Patrick Prendergast. Why has high spec student accommodation become the norm and would it help or harm the rental market to change that?  Tom Philips is Managing Director of Tom Philips Associates and Adjunct Associate Professor of Architecture an...

One in 10 people contacting Bodywhys for help is a man or the loved one of a man struggling with an eating disorder. To meet this growing male demand, a men-only support group is to be established next month by Bodywhys, the Eating Disorders Association of Ireland. Stella O’Malley , Psychotherapist and Author spoke to Shane on the show this morning.   Listen and subscribe to Newstalk Breakfas...

As Government approved plans for a €400 monthly payment for households accommodating refugees from Ukraine, a Co Clare TD is asking why we are ‘funneling refugees through Irish beauty spots’.  Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe spoke to Ciara this morning on the show. Listen and subscribe to Newstalk Breakfast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.     Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.    You ca...

Outdoor dining looks set to stay as the cabinet is seeking approval to extend it for pubs and restaurants. Minister Helen McEntee is today seeking cabinet approval to extend outdoor seating areas for pubs and restaurants by 6 months as the hospitality industry enters the summer season. Adrian Cummins, CEO of the Restaurants Association of Irelands spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning. Listen a...

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said the Government will not be making any changes to the proposed deal on the new National Maternity Hospital which is expected to get Cabinet approval today  Tony O’Brien is Former Director General of the HSE and Columnist with the Business Post and he spoke to Ciara on the show this morning. Listen and subscribe to Newstalk Breakfast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.   ...

UK Foreign Secretary Liss Truss will today set out plans for legislation to rewrite the Northern Ireland Protocol.  Speaking to broadcasters during a visit to Northern Ireland yesterday Boris Johnson said the UK needs to "proceed with a legislative solution" to the protocol as an "insurance" in case a deal is not reached with Brussels. Peter Cardwell Former Special advisor to James Brokenshire, Ta...

Today marks the centenary of the handing over of Cathal Brugha Barracks from British to Irish Forces.  As 100 years pass, are city barracks still fit for purpose or would the land be better suited to housing developments?  To discuss this Ciara was joined on the show this morning by  Green Party TD and spokesperson for Housing, Francis Noel Duffy, and Independent Senator Gerard Craughwell. Listen...

Since the pandemic we’ve seen hordes of young healthcare workers jumping on the next flight to Sydney or Vancouver for better pay and working conditions... but could introducing a four-day working week entice them to stay?  To discuss this option Dr Catherine Conlon, Senior Medical Officer in the Department of Public Health, St Finbarr’s Hospital Cork spoke to Shane on the show this morning. Liste...

More than 260 childcare providers are getting ready to close their doors next year. That’s according to new research from the Federation of Early Childhood Providers who say the government’s ‘core funding’ promise is not enough to keep many firms afloat. Chairperson of the group, Elaine Dunne spoke to Shane this morning to discuss these report findings. Listen and subscribe to Newstalk Breakfast o...

The Technological Higher Education Association has joined in calls on Government to clarify when Leaving Certificate students will receive their results. Dr Joseph Ryan, CEO of The Technological Higher Education Association spoke to Ciara on the show this morning. Listen and subscribe to Newstalk Breakfast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.     Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.    You...

A rare and life-limiting mitochondrial disease affects just three people in Ireland.  Two of them are Liz Dickson’s children.  Lis spoke to Ciar about her children Tommy and Grace. Listen and subscribe to Newstalk Breakfast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.     Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.    You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstal...

Apple is reportedly getting ready to ditch their stand-alone chargers and build in those used by Android devices. Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent, Jess Kelly spoke to Newstalk Breakfast with all the details. Listen and subscribe to Newstalk Breakfast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.     Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.    You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or...

The Government is planning to extend the current grant scheme for electric cars to e-scooters and e-bikes.  While it might mean good news for consumers, some stakeholders worry that the government is promoting further e-scooter use before legislation is in place to protect vulnerable pedestrians. Dr Frank Lyons is an Orthopedic surgeon at the Mater Hospital spoke to Shane this morning on the show....

The Taoiseach has called for the British Government to engage professionally and sincerely with the European Commission in relation to resolving issues around the operation of the Northern Ireland Protocol.  Meanwhile British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is travelling to northern Ireland today for crisis talks. For more on this situation, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McCon...

Our children's brains are being wired to gamble online. That’s the view of Richard Hogan, Clinical Director of Therapy Institute and Columnist with the Irish Examiner who says laws that would protect our children are too slow in the making. Richard spoke to Ciara on the show this morning. Listen and subscribe to Newstalk Breakfast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.     Download, listen and subscribe on...