Newstalk Breakfast

Nick Clairmont, Life and Arts of the Washington Examiner Magazine has been writing in The Spectator about the prospect of another James Bond film. Nick explained to Jonathan this morning.

  Lack of information, recognition and pay equality are among the issues facing apprenticeships today, according to the Teachers Union of Ireland. They will discuss these problems at a meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Higher Education. For more on this Jonathan spoke to TUI General Secretary, Michael Gillespie, and began by asking him why we are struggling to fill apprenticeships? 

Bank of Ireland will pilot a new loan product allowing people to trade down to a smaller home. The product is similar to bridging finance and is likely to appeal to people whose children have left home and who want to downsize.  We discuss further with Carol Tallan, CEO of the Property District and Author of Irish Property Buyers Handbook Series.

Lack of information, recognition and pay equality are among the issues facing apprenticeships today, according to the Teachers Union of Ireland, who will be discussing these problems at a meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Higher Education. Ciara and Jonathan asked this morning do we need to do more to boost apprenticeships?  

A conference organised by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties in Dublin today will hear that democracy is coming under increasing threat at home and abroad.   We heard from Michael McGrath, EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer and is a keynote speaker at the event .

The internet is rife with commentators and self-proclaimed nutrition “experts” promoting products with the promise of health benefits but how do you separate the fact from the fiction?   All to discuss with Aileen McGloin, Director of Nutrition at Safefood.

A first-of-its-kind empathy education programme from the University of Galway is being rolled out to Transition Year students nationwide, aimed at boosting compassion and emotional skills in schools across the country.  We discussed this with  Brendan Kelly, Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin. 

More than €22 billion will be spent building 30 new major roads, 15 railway lines and five new Bus Connects projects across the country over the next five years.  But does the plan fall short in some areas? Ciara discusses this with both  Brian Caulfield, Professor in the School of Engineering at Trinity College Dublin and FG TD for Tipperary South and Transport Committee Chairman Michae...

A decade after the show first hit Netflix, the grand finale of Stranger Things is here, bringing a conclusion to one of Netflix’s most popular series of all time. All to chat about with Sarina Bellisimo, Broadcaster and Entertainment Journalist.

US President Donald Trump said he is sending his envoy Steve Witkoff to meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Moscow next week as President Trump seeks to close out a deal to end the war in Ukraine.  Speaking to Ciara with more on this was Duncan Bullivant, CEO of Henderson Risk Group, Former British Army Officer and Former UK Diplomat. 

The Government is budgeting like there’s no tomorrow and adding more money to an already-strong economy. That’s according to the latest assessment by the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Seamus Coffey, Chair of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council.

Ireland is now home to an unprecedented wave of learner drivers, with nearly four hundred thousand novices behind the wheel.  All to discuss with Ger Hyland President of the Irish Road Haulage Association. 

Ireland is an unfortunate outlier in Europe when it comes to early childhood education and care and family leave.   That’s the view of the National Women’s Council, who are today hosting a conference discuss how Ireland can develop an integrated model of public early education and care and adequate family leave.  To discuss further we heard from Donal Swan, Women’s Economic Equality...

Construction of the MetroLink rail line is now facing an ‘inevitable delay’ according to Transport Infrastructure Ireland, after a number of residents in Ranelagh lodged a High Court challenge against the decision to grant permission for the multibillion-euro project. We discussed further with Tom Phillips, from Tom Phillips and Associates and Adjunct Associate Professor of Town Planning, UCD...

British Finance Minister Rachel Reeves will today publish the UK government’s Autumn Budget. Speaking to Shane about the budget was Lauren McEvatt, former Conservative government Special Adviser and Co-host of the Welsh Politics Podcast.

Taxi drivers across the country are protesting against Uber’s proposed fixed-fare model this coming Thursday.  This is the second protest on the issue as the industry claim their concerns are not being addressed. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was taxi driver David Knox.

As the Christmas period intensifies, Mandate Trade Union is calling on shoppers to show respect for retail workers under pressure. We discuss further with Jim Fuery, Mandate Assistant General Secretary. 

Automatic broadband, mobile or TV price hikes may become a thing of the past.  Adrian Weckler, Technology Editor with the Irish Independent is reporting that the Government is getting ready to introduce a law that would allow people to cancel their contracts if prices go up.

The Kremlin said that Europe’s counter-proposal to a 28-point US plan to end the Ukraine war was “unconstructive” and did not work for Russia. Speaking to Ciara with more on this was Yuriy Sak, Former advisor to the Minister of Defence of Ukraine. 

The Sunbed Association of Ireland is seeking another meeting with Junior Health Minister Jennifer Murnane O’Connor on the potential ban on commercial sunbed use.   The association previously met with the Department of Health on Monday. Speaking to Shane this morning was Gary Lipman, Chair of the Sunbed Association. 

Two men have been killed and at least 12 others injured in a multi-vehicle collision involving a bus, a truck and a car at Gormanston, Meath. Speaking to Shane this morning was Darren O’Rourke, Sinn Fein TD for Meath East. 

The Irish Data Protection Commission is encouraging parents to “pause before you post”.  Newstalk's Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly discuss advice for parents further. All with thanks to Renault.

US and Ukrainian officials have said they have created an “updated and refined peace framework” to end the war with Russia, following a meeting in Switzerland on Sunday.  All to discuss with Misha Glenny, Rector of the Institute of Human Sciences in Vienna and a former BBC Central Europe Correspondent .  

Taoiseach Michael Martin has confirmed there will be “fair and robust” changes to Ireland's immigration system this week.   What impact will these changes have?  We discuss all with Nick Henderson, CEO of the Irish Refugee Council.

A south Dublin local authority spent €750,000 on the construction of a new entrance consisting of 14 steps and a ramp at a suburban park in Mount Merrion. Shane and Ciara discuss this huge spend.