Newstalk Breakfast

The National Economic Dialogue takes place at Dublin Castle today. Among the proposals that will be heard is an adjustment to how social welfare payments are increased by Social Justice Ireland. Their Research and Policy Analyst, Susanne Rogers explained to Anton what they are proposing today.

Pakistan's prime minister says a peace deal has been reached between the US and Iran which will end "military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon". Anton discusses this all with Borzou Daragahi Long time Foreign Correspondent and Founder of Badlands Newsletter.    

Over 40,000 tickets have been sold for the final fight of Katie Taylor's professional boxing career at Croke Park and the remaining tickets go on sale today.   The Clones Cyclone, Former World Champion Barry McGugian chatted to Anton this morning.

Jeffrey Donaldson has said the two women who made allegations of sexual abuse against him are lying. The former DUP leader- who took to the stand yesterday for the first time- Our reporter Jamie O Hara gave us the latest from Newry Crown Court.

You will be glad to hear we have a sunnier and warmer weekend ahead of us. Alan O Reilly of Carlow Weather brought us the weekend weather update. 

President Donald Trump has said the United States and Iran could sign a peace deal as soon as this weekend that ⁠would reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping, but Iran countered that it had not reached a final decision on an agreement.  Speaking to Anton was Nicholas Hopton, Former UK Ambassador to Iran and Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council.

The long-awaited and much-debated EU Migration and Asylum Pact is at last coming into effect today.  But what exactly are we in store for as a result of this? And did Ireland make the right move by opting in? To debate this further was Barry Andrews Fianna Fail MEP for Dublin and Michael McNamara Independent MEP for Ireland South .

Most people think of cycling injuries as cuts, bruises or perhaps a broken wrist. However, surgeons around the world are warning that they have seen a rising number of serious injuries specifically related to e-bikes.  Anton discusses this further with Dr Jerry Tsang, Senior Clinical Lecturer in Trauma and Orthopedic Surgery at Queen Mary University .

Recent energy price increases are placing a disproportionate burden on low-income households, with government supports only partly offsetting the impact.  That’s according to new research from the Economic and Social Research Institute.     Joining Anton to discuss these findings was Dr Claire Keane, Associate Research Professor at the ESRI.

You’ll be all too familiar with cosmetic products claiming nine out of ten people found their product did this why dermatologists said it did that. But just how accurate are these claims and how cautious do you have to be of them? For advice on this Anton spoke to Dr Rosemary Coleman is a Consultant Dermatologist at the Blackrock Clinic.

We take a closer look at some of the stories you may have missed in the news this morning. Joining Anton this morning was Harry Browne, Media Lecturer at TU Dublin and Host of The Ditch Podcast.

“GAA football and hurling fans cannot be subjected to another season of not being able to watch their county teams compete in the provincial and All-Ireland championships on TV”. So says Fine Gael Senator Mike Kennelly who spoke to Anton this morning.

Last night saw disruption in Belfast of a much smaller scale, following two previous nights of unrest after Monday’s stabbing in the city.  Our Chief Reporter Barry Whyte is in Belfast and brought us the latest. 

US President Donald Trump has said the United States and Iran could sign a peace deal as soon as this weekend that ⁠would reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping, but Iran countered that it had not reached a final decision on an agreement.  Joining Anton with the latest on this was David Smith Washington Bureau Chief, The Guardian .

Thousands of visitors are set to descend on Merrion Square from this morning for the return of Taste of Dublin. Among the foods that can be sampled is that of Eva Pau, TV Chef and Managing Director of Asia Market who joined Anton live from the festival to tell us all about it.

Irish children became less accomplished in reading and mathematics after the Covid-19 pandemic, with children from poorer backgrounds falling further behind their better-off peers. That is according to new research from UCD’s Children’s School Lives study. Professor Dympna Devine, Principal Investigator for Children’s Student Lives at UCD and Professor of Education, Society and Critical Childhood...

Following threats from Donald Trump, U.S Central Command says American forces have begun attacking Iran. They called them "self-defence strikes" on multiple targets. Fawaz Gerges, Professor of International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science, joined Anton with the latest.

Following the stabbing of a man in the city on Monday, riots occurred in Belfast on Monday and Tuestday night. Hadi Alodid, a Sudanese national, with an address at Duncairn Avenue in the city, was charged with attempted murder on Wednesday.  There have been calls to examine the open border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, with DUP Leader Gavin Robinson going so far as to...

Yesterday the trial of fifty-two-year-old Riad Bouchaker, of no fixed abode, for the attempted murder of three children at Parnell Square East on 23rd November 2023, got underway following jury selection on Monday.   Our reporter Emily Keegan was at the Central Criminal Court and joined Anton to bring us up to date on day one of proceedings

We take a closer look at some of the stories you may have missed in the news this morning. Joining Anton this morning was Former Tánaiste, Currently a Member of G7 Equality Advisory Council and Ambassador for Anti-Trafficking Organisation ‘Ruhama’  

A Sligo representative is calling for targeted tax breaks to help businesses hire students, as young people are struggling to find part time work. She says the proposal is based on a simple principle — support companies that give our young people work opportunities. The calls are being made by Fianna Fáil Sligo County Councillor, Edel McSharry, who joined Anton to explain her proposal.

The Just Transition Commission says Budget 2027 must cut Ireland’s reliance on fossil fuels while protecting households facing rising energy and transport costs. The advisory body is calling for investment in retrofitting, renewable energy and public transport to ensure a fair transition to a climate-neutral economy. For more on this, Anton was joined  by Oisin Coghlan of the JTC.

While no major protests developed in Belfast city, police used water cannons on a group of protestors who were throwing bricks just outside the city at a "flash point" on the Antrim Road. Barry Whyte, Chief Newstalk Reporter has been in Belfast since yesterday afternoon and he joined Anton with the latest from the city.

Nasa names the four astronauts who will blast off as part of the Artemis III mission in 2027. This is the next step for humans to return to the Moon.  Speaking to Anton with more on this was Helen Sharman, first British astronaut.

The jury at the trial of Jeffrey Donaldson has heard the final segment of his police interview from March 2024 and four interviews with Eleanor Donaldson.  We get the latest from the trial with Jamie O’Hara who was at Newry Crown Court.