Newstalk Breakfast

With a fertility rate just short of 1.5 per woman, Ireland is in the eye of the storm of a near fertility crisis.   Professor Rhona Mahony Holles Street, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and former Master of National Maternity Hospital Joined Anton today to understand why people are having less children.

EU's energy chief Dan Jorgensen called on member states to help consumers and businesses by lowering taxes on energy where possible, as war in the Middle East saw oil and gas prices surge. To discuss further Anton spoke to Daragh Cassidy, Head of Communications at Bonkers.ie. 

Experts from across the spectrum will gather in Kerry today for a conference on the issue of road safety. Among those speaking is Moyagh Murdock Chief executive of Insurance Ireland, Former CEO of the RSA .     

The European Parliament has passed the first EU-wide housing plan, aimed at making it easier to build homes, boosting funding for local councils, and discouraging the surge in short-term lets in tourist hotspots.   But not everyone is happy about it. Joining Anton to discuss further was Regina Doherty, Dublin Fine Gael MEP snf Lynn Boylan ,Sinn Fein MEP for Dublin.     

It’s time for "Did You See”. Where we take a closer look at some of the stories you may have missed in the news this morning. Joining Anton this morning was Craig Hughes Political Editor Irish Daily Mail.

Despite resolving an issue over permanent contracts for graduate paramedics, SIPTU have warned industrial action over pay and conditions remains “inevitable”.  All to discuss with John McCamley, Siptu Health Organiser .  

After seeing the developments in AI in recent years, it’s worth wondering what AI can’t do?  Could it turn us into something we’re not? An athlete perhaps?  For Ukrainian paralympic biathlete, AI was the key to turning his seventh place into second. Joining Anton on the show was Tal Adler who completed a marathon with the help of ChatGPT’s very own training plan.

A public consultation on the proposed redesign of College Green closes at midnight tonight, and Dublin City Council is calling on people to have their say. Anton spoke to Claire Byrne, Green Party Councillor for the Southeast Inner City .  

US Defence secretary Pete Hegseth announced the US is planning its "most intense day of strikes inside Iran". For the latest on the war on Iran Anton spoke to Borzou Daragahi, Iranian Journalist and Analyst .  

Ireland is significantly behind its targets for decarbonising home heating, according to the latest report from the ESRI. In 2024, deep retrofits reached just 11.5 per cent of its 2030 goal, while heat pump installation targets reached just 3.5 per cent.  Anton discusses these findings with Muireann Lynch, Energy Economist, ESRI.

The government must take urgent steps to mitigate an emerging energy affordability crisis. That’s according to business representative group IBEC. All to discuss with Fergal O’Brien the Executive Director of Lobbying and Influence with IBEC. 

One download from a smart meter told a householder they had consumed close to €9,000 worth of electricity in the first week of March. Except it wasn’t true. What is this expensive mix up about? We asked Charlie Weston, Personal Finance Editor with the Irish Independent

Dublin mother Jackie Fox will speak before European politicians today as she campaigns to change European laws on cyberbullying. Jackie spoke to Anton about her campaign to bring Coco's Law to Europe.

US president Donald Trump has predicted the war in the Middle East could be over soon. It’s now the 11th day of the war engulfing the region.    Alistair Bunkall, Sky News foreign correspondent brought us the latest.  

There has been a 6.5% increase in CAO applications for third level places so far this year. That’s according to new figures published this morning. We discuss these figures and get advice for students with Gemma Lawlor Guidance Counsellor at Tyndall College Carlow.    

Local authorities should have more power to clamp down on the establishment of vape shops. That’s the call from Ciarán Fisher, Independent Councillor for Dundalk and Carlingford who spoke to Anton this morning.

It’s time for "Did You See”. Where we take a closer look at some of the stories you may have missed in the news this morning. Joining Anton this morning was Fionnan Sheahan Ireland Editor Irish Independent.

The war between generations rages on a new battlefield the workplace. Specifically, in how to dress appropriately. Joining Anton in studio was Moira Grassick, COO of Peninsula Ireland, HR Group.

The Central Bank of Ireland must end its facilitation of sale of Israeli war bonds. That’s the call being made at a protest set to take place at the Central Bank headquarters on North Wall Quay later today.  Among those speaking at the protest is Stephen Bowen, Executive Director, Amnesty International Ireland.

The number of prescriptions for ADHD medication has increased by 87 per cent in the five years to 2024, according to the HSE.  With a growing number of young people being diagnosed with anxiety and depression-like symptoms, should we be concerned about overmedication?   Joining Anton to discuss is Consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist, Dr Patricia Byrne.

US president Donald Trump has predicted the war in the Middle East could be over soon, even as Iran's hardliners staged a show of loyalty to new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei in a sign that it was not prepared to back down any time soon.   It’s now the 11th day of the war engulfing the region. We get the latest on the war with Bel Trew, The Independent's Chief International Correspondent, i...

A new mobile payment service called Zippay launches this week, bringing traditional banks somewhat up to speed with Revolut and other digital banks. Newstalk's Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly explains all.

Australians must prove they are over 18 before they can access adult content such as porn, R-rated video games and sexually explicit AI chatbots under new laws. We discuss these new laws with Dr Danielle Einstein, Sydney-based clinical psychologist and expert on the connection between device use and wellbeing. 

A young couple are leaving their jobs and city life to become the new caretakers of the Great Blasket Island. They will have no hot water, full-time mobile phone coverage or wifi.  We hear about life on the Blasket Island with Billy O'Connor, who runs the Blasket Island experience.

The war with Iran has entered its 10th day, and yesterday US President Donald Trump had a phone call with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss military cooperation. We get the latest on the war with Duncan Bullivant, CEO of Henderson Risk Group, Former British Army Officer & Former UK Diplomat .