Newstalk Breakfast

The prosecution case against Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has been set out for the jury at Newry Crown Court.  The former MP is accused of rape and several counts of gross indecency and of indecent assault. He has pleaded not guilty to the 18 alleged offences.  We get the latest with Emily Keegan Newstalk Reporter.

The newly launched Coalition Against Sunbeds has called for a total ban on sunbeds, which directly cause 5% of all melanoma skin cancers in Ireland.  Speaking to Anton to discuss further was Professor Anne-Marie Tobin, member of the Coalition Against Sunbeds.

Gen Z, the generation born from the late 90s through the early two thousands. The generation that doesn’t drink or go out much, has AI stealing their jobs and doesn’t know how to communicate in person But is it time we just shut up and let Gen Z get on with their lives instead of saying they are all of these things or none? Our reporter Alex Rowley certainly thinks so and explained why to Ant...

One million euro has been given to grassroot music venues around Ireland to support the growth of emerging musicians around the country.  We speak toJohn Burton from the Grand Social in Dublin City.

Why has RTÉ spent more than €230,000 on luxury chauffeur services since 2021? Independent's Political Reporter Aisling Moloney joined Anton on Newstalk Breakfast to discuss.

Today Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science of Ireland, James Lawless hosts a construction roundtable where nine out of ten industry figures warn that skills shortages are slowing housing output. Minister Lawless joined Anton ahead of this meeting.

When it comes to parenting, honesty is not always the best policy! That’s according to Kirsty Ketley, Parenting consultant and freelance writer, who regularly indulges in a little fib with her own kids. 

We take a closer look at some of the stories you may have missed in the news this morning. Joining Anton this morning was Frances Fitzgerald, Member of G7 equality advisory council and Ambassador for anti trafficking organisation Ruhuma and Former Tanaiste .  

Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions could achieve a reduction of up to 25 per cent by 2030, despite the national target being 51 per cent, and the EU target being 42 per cent.  That’s according to the latest report from the Environmental Protection Agency and to discuss these findings was Roni Hawe, Director of the EPA’s Office of Evidence and Assessment. 

Dublin Airport has revealed its busiest day of the upcoming June bank holiday weekend, and said it could become the “busiest ever day” seen at the airport.  Speaking to Anton was Graeme McQueen, Head of Media Relations at DAA.

The Oireachtas Health Committee will meet with representatives from the HSE and the Rotunda Hospital to discuss the future of maternity services. Speaking to Anton ahead of the meeting was Professor Jennifer Donnelly, Consultant Obstetrician in the Rotunda Hospital .  

The provisional May temperature record has been broken again yesterday, with 30.5C at Shannon Airport in Co Clare, marking the first time 30C was exceeded in May. But what can we expect weather wise today?  To tell us all was Andrew Doran Sherlock, MET Eireann Forecaster.

If you couldn't tell by the weather, the Leaving cert is creeping up faster than we think. So how can you prepare with just over a week to go?  Dan Sheedy, Principal of The Tuition Centre is here to tell us. 

Pope Leo XIV has called for artificial intelligence to be "disarmed" and made "human-friendly" in a major text on the ethical challenges raised by the boom of the new technology.  Anton discusses this further with Charlie Taylor, Technology and Innovation Editor of The Business Post.

Ireland needs a “resilience-focused” Budget to allow the economy to deal with energy shocks and the growing threat of AI in the workplace. That’s the warning from IBEC, who are launching their pre-Budget submission today.  Anton discusses this further with Gerard Brady, Chief Economist and Head of National Policy of IBEC. 

From sustainably harvested crab to the revival of poitín, Ireland’s top food producers were honoured at the 2026 Euro-Toques food awards last night.  Gary O’Hanlon, Executive Chef at the K club and member of Euro-Toques Ireland spoke to Anton about these awards.

Former DUP Leader Jeffery Donaldson is at Newry Crown Court after being charged with 18 historical sexual offences, including one count of rape.  Speaking to Anton this morning with more on this was James McCarthy, Political Reporter with Belfast Live and The Daily Mirror Northern Ireland. 

Clare County Council has passed a motion to make high-vis jackets mandatory for pedestrians and cyclists. The local authority will now write to Minister for Transport requesting that it be enshrined in law.  The motion was proposed by Fine Gael Councillor for Whitegate Pat Burke who spoke to Anton this morning.

We take a closer look at some of the stories you may have missed in the news this morning. Joining Anton this morning was Owen Reidy, General Secretary, ICTU.

A delegation of 9 MEPs will undertake a three-day fact-finding mission in Dublin to examine challenges linked to access to housing and to review policy responses at local and national levels. With more on this fact finding mission Anton spoke to Aodhán Ó Ríordaín, Labour Party MEP for Dublin.

Temperatures are notably hotter on the continent with temperatures in Portugal and Spain approaching forty degrees. That is unlikely to break any May temperature records, but a little further north in France, temperatures are heading north of thirty degrees and highly likely to break May records. Elaine Cobbe is a Paris Based Correspondent and joined us with the latest. 

The Occupied Territories Bill is set to be put before Cabinet today as Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee aims to enact the bill before the Summer recess. For more on this Anton spoke to Karol Balfe, CEO of Action Aid. 

The trial of former DUP leader, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and ‘trial of facts’ of his wife Lady Eleanor will begin today in Newry Crown Court. Both trials will run alongside each other.  To discuss further Anton was Emily Keegan, Newstalk Reporter. 

John Carney, the director of Once and Sing Street, is back with his new film “Power Ballad”. Coming out May 29th, the film stars the great Paul Rudd as a wedding singer in Ireland who has one of his songs stolen by a fading popstar, played by Nick Jonas.  Both Paul Rudd and John Carney chatted to Anton about the new movie.

Google's search has changed dramatically over the last few days, with Gemini taking control.  Newstalk's Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly brought us the details.