Newstalk Breakfast

After bringing rush hour to a standstill in some areas last week, taxi drivers are once again taking part in a “go-slow” protest at about 4.30pm this evening against the introduction of fixed fare options for customers by Uber.  David Knox is a taxi driver taking part in the protest explained why they are undertaking another "go-slow" protest.

The average health insurance premium has risen by €56 since the end of summer. That’s according to a new market bulletin published this morning by the Health Insurance Authority  The total increase in the average cost of plans is now 8% since the beginning of 2025. We get more details from Dermot Goode Health Insurance Expert with healthinsuranceireland.ie ....

Frontline uniformed gardaí could be using Taser stun guns almost immediately under a proposal being brought to Government by Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan.  The stun guns could be used in policing on the streets of Dublin, Waterford and Kilkenny over the Christmas period, if approved by Cabinet today. 

Bohs Football Club is launching their eighth annual Toy Drive for children living in the International Protection system and Homeless Accommodation – and this year they are hoping to raise 75,000 euros.  We got all the details from Sean McCabe, Head of Climate Justice and Sustainability for Bohemian Football Club. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and first lady Olena Zelenska have arrived in Ireland for their first official visit. Ciara discusses this further with   Former advisor to the Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Yuriy Sak .

As we enter the darkest time of the year, Gardaí have launched a campaign encouraging cyclists and pedestrians to wear high-visibility clothing and stay safe.  However, President of Cycling Ireland and former Fine Gael TD Ciarán Cannon says this “narrative is deeply problematic”.  Ciarán explained why to Shane.

Dublin City Council has removed the proposal to change the name of Herzog Park in Rathgar from the Council agenda and did not take a vote on the planned change.    Lord Mayor of Dublin Cllr Ray McAdam said the proposal should be removed because the report on the issue was not legally sound and should not be voted on. He explained all to Newstalk Breakfast.

‘A prison system overwhelmed, overstretched, and unable to uphold the fundamental rights of many people in its care’ – that is the stark messaging coming from a report from the The Irish Penal Reform Trust today.   We discuss further with Saoirse Brady, Executive Director, Irish Penal Reform Trust .

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and first lady Olena Zelenska have arrived in Ireland for their first official visit.  We get a preview of their visit with our political correspondent Sean Defoe .  

We’re three weeks away from Christmas Day, but anyone with loved ones abroad needs plenty of time to make sure their presents and cards arrive before the big day.  For more advice on getting your post in on time, we’re joined by Anna McHugh, Head of Corporate Communications at An Post .  

Actor Joseph Gordon Levitt has posted a warning online for parents of children who may ask Santa for AI enabled gifts this year. Newstalk's Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly joined us now with the detail and advice. With thanks to Renault.

More than 9,000 women who were referred to urgent breast cancer clinics across Ireland this year have not been seen within the recommended two-week time frame. With some waiting up to 69 days that's according to figures released to The Sunday Times.   Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Amy Nolan, Director of Clinical Affairs at the Irish Cancer Society.

Plans to remove the name of former Israeli President Chaim Herzog from a park in South Dublin are to be dropped by Dublin City Council.    Council Chief Executive Richard Shakespeare has apologised for what he said was an administrative oversight leading to the expected withdrawal of two proposals to rename Dublin parks. For reaction we heard from Oliver Sears, Founder of Holocaust...

Supermodel David Gandy has said "There's not enough narrative about good men" and that Andrew Tate pushes a "disruptive" and "immature" idea of masculinity.  Speaking to Ciara this morning was Eoghan Cleary, Secondary school teacher & Educational researcher with the Sexual Exploitation Research and Policy Institute .  

Plans to remove the name of former Israeli President Chaim Herzog from a park in South Dublin are to be dropped by Dublin City Council.  Council Chief Executive Richard Shakespeare has apologised for what he said was an administrative oversight leading to the expected withdrawal of two proposals to rename Dublin parks.  We get reaction to this with Conor Reddy, People Before Profit Counc...

The Faculty of Paediatrics at the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland is calling for urgent action as e-scooter accidents have now become the leading cause of traumatic brain injury among children, according to a new report.  We discuss further with Dr Irwin Gill, Consultant Paediatrician, Fellow of the Faculty of Paediatrics and co- author of the paper .  

The National Transport Authority will begin a phased rollout of contactless payments on Local Links from today, which they expect to be fully operational across all 15 Local Link offices by the end of 2026.  Speaking to Shane this morning was Grace Boland, Fine Gael TD for Dublin Fingal West.

Black Friday is more than a day of apparent discounts, according to new research at the University of Melbourne. It is a psychological event carefully designed to take advantage of how your brain makes decisions. We’re joined by Dr. Daniel Feuerriegel a Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne.

Legislation should be introduced to place people under house arrest in cases where bail would otherwise be refused. That’s according to a new report on the country's bail laws. To discuss further we heard from Dara Robinson Solicitor and Senior Council.  

Dublin City Council will not remove Tricolours erected by anti-immigration groups. Do you agree? Ciara and Shane discussed this. 

The Dail's been told there's been a 55 per cent increase in the cost of some staple supermarket items in the last three years.  The Social Democrats are bringing forward a bill that will give the food regulator powers to investigate what is going on.   Are the shops ripping us off or is something else behind the increase? All to discuss with Social Democrats TD, Jennifer Whitmore and Adj...

Dublin City Council has decided it will not remove the hundreds of Tricolours erected by anti-immigration groups around the capital and will instead launch initiatives to “promote a deeper understanding of the Irish flag”.  For more on this we heard from Daithi Doolan Sinn Fein Councillor in Ballyfermot.

Newstalk's Sarah Madden has been investigating Ireland's sperm donor Facebook groups and the pitfalls some people can find themselves in during the pursuit of wanting a child. She sent us this report:

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ended his silence on the US supported peace proposal to resolve the war in Ukraine, stating that Moscow is prepared for “serious” talks on the draft plan.  For more on this, Shane was joined by Donnacha O’Beachain, Professor of Politics at DCU and author of the book Unfinished Empire: Russian Imperialism in Ukraine and the Near Abroad

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission are today warning of a surge in online scams as Irish consumers enter the busiest shopping season  For more on this, Ciara was joined on the show by Grainne Griffin, Director of Communications with the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission .