Newstalk Breakfast

Representatives from RTÉ, including director general Kevin Bakhurst, spoke at a Joint Committee on Arts, Media, Communications and Sport yesterday. Bakhurst said in his opening remarks it is “regrettable” that a “sincere attempt” by the national broadcaster to be more transparent has been categorised as another scandal.  Fionnan Sheehan, Ireland Editor of Irish Independent gave...

The Taoiseach says he is appalled and shocked by the way activists on board an aid flotilla to Gaza were treated by the Israeli authorities.  We get more reaction from Paul Murphy, People Before Profit TD .  

Republican organisation Lasair Dhearg recently “renamed” Dublin’s Drury Street to “Bobby Sands Street”. In a video online they said Irish streets should not be named after the likes of William Drury, a British soldier who was Lord Justice of Ireland in the 16th century.  Should we reconsider the names of streets we walk along each day? Ciara asked Dáithí Doolan, Sinn Fein Councillor...

Where we take a closer look at some of the stories you may have missed in the news this morning. Joining Ciara this morning was Iarla Mongey from QR PR .

As soon as next week we could be seeing a major reversal of 2026’s gloomy weather, with a mini heatwave expected to bring temperatures as high as 26 degrees. Weather expert Alan O’Reilly explained what is ahead for us.

Talks at the Labour Court regarding National Ambulance Service will resume today in hopes of resolving pay disputes. Speaking to Ciara this morning was SIPTU Ambulance Sector Organiser, John McCamley.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin is raise the matter of Israel's treatment of EU citizens from the Sumud Flotilla with French President Emmanuel Macron during a meeting in Paris.  There are at least 12 Irish citizens on board the flotilla that were detained by Israel, according to organisers. We get the latest on this with Mark Weiss, Israel Correspondent with the Irish Times.    &nbsp...

Dublin City Councillor, Philip Sutcliffe posted a video to his Whatsapp status on Monday, with the video calling for a “real final solution” against “satanic” Jewish people. For more details on this was Conor Gallagher, Irish Times Crime and Security Correspondent. 

Australian popstar Kylie Minogue is sharing her life behind the scenes in a new three-part Netflix documentary out today from Irish director Michael Harte.  Through home movies, personal photographs and new interviews with Kylie herself, it also shows the woman behind the hits. Speaking to Anton was Olivia Fahy, Entertainment Journalist. 

The Oireachtas media committee is set to grill RTE executives today over the latest scandal involving presenter payments and salaries.  Member of the Oireachtas Media Committee and Sinn Féin TD For Louth Joanna Byrne spoke to Anton ahead of the meeting.

The Oireachtas Committee for Health will be holding a meeting about staff morale in the HSE later today. Speaking to Anton ahead of this meeting was Matthew Sadlier, President of the Irish Medical Organisation.

Market rent rose by 4.4 per cent between December and March, the largest quarterly increase in rents extending back to 2002.  That’s according to the newest Daft report, which is the first since new legislation on rent came into effect. Speaking to Anton to discuss further was Genevieve McGuirk, CEO of the Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers. 

Rising fuel costs over the past number of months may have lead to some of you thinking whether the time has come to make the switch to electric vehicles. But what about the haulage sector?   Is the technology there for electric trucks that could take freight across the country? For more on this we heard from Dr Eamonn Mulholland is a Senior Researcher with the International Cou...

We take a closer look at some of the stories you may have missed in the news this morning. Joining Anton this morning was Gabija Gataveckaite, BBC Dublin Correspondent. 

Artificial intelligence chatbots are leading children into “terrible harm” and can push people towards sexualised and pro-eating disorder content, an Oireachtas committee has heard.  For more on this Anton spoke to Tanya Ward, CEO Children’s Rights Alliance.

Last year saw a 24% increase in cocaine use and increases in treatment for new psychoactive substances and ketamine.  That’s according to new figures on drug use published by the Health Research Board. Speaking to Anton this morning was Dr Garrett McGovern Medical Director of the Priority Medical Clinic & GP Addiction Specialist.

European households waste more than 70kg of food per person every year, amounting to an estimated 69 million tonnes across Europe and the UK in 2025.  How does Ireland compare when it comes to tackling food waste? Speaking to Anton with more on this was Machaela O’Leary from Too Good to Go.

Market rent rose by 4.4 per cent between December and March, the largest quarterly increase in rents extending back to 2002. That’s according to the newest Daft report, which is the first since new legislation on rent came into effect.  To discuss the findings further was Ronan Lyons, Professor in Economics at Trinity College Dublin and author of the report. 

Ministers O’Donovan and McConalogue announce €3.25m in additional Government support to advance Galway Regional Aquatic Project. Joining Anton this morning was Patrick O'Donovan is the Minister for Arts, Culture, Communications, Media and Sport 

Marking World IBD Day (May 19), Crohn’s and Colitis Ireland has developed a new hands-on guide on supporting people with inflammatory bowel disease as part of the It Takes A Village campaign.  Victoria Spillane, from Cork, has been living with Crohn’s disease for 28 years, having been diagnosed at just 13. Her journey began not in the gut, but with joint pain before quickly progressing into s...

The government has today published the Rapid response model for Asian hornet, a new strategic approach for managing any future occurrence of the invasive species in the country.    Christopher O'Sullivan Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity & Fianna Fáil TD for Cork Southwest joined Anton this morning.

The sister of Irish President Catherine Connolly is said to be among at least six Irish citizens on an aid flotilla to Gaza to have been detained by Israel off the coast of Cyprus. In a video shared on social media following the Israeli interception, Dr Connolly, a GP based in Co Sligo, is seen holding her Irish passport as she explains that she has been detained.  Anton was joined by Karen M...

Local authorities completed 1,466 septic tank inspections in 2025 targeting  areas of greatest risk from an environmental and health perspective. Of these, 59 percent (863) failed inspection with many posing a risk to  nearby rivers and drinking water wells.   Since 2013, 7,212 septic tanks failed inspections, with 84 percent fixed by  the end of 2025. Improved resolu...

Video footage appears to show five men holding a man prone on the ground before his death after an alleged shoplifting incident on Henry Street in Dublin on Friday. The almost five-minute video appears to have been taken by a bystander among the large crowd outside Arnotts department store who watched as Yves Sakila was held to the ground. Journalist Valerie Flynn joined Anton to discuss this.

Around 200 dodgy‑box users in Ireland have received legal letters from Sky threatening action if they pay for illegal streaming services again.  Adrian Weckler Technology Editor with the  Irish Independent joined Anton this morning.