Newstalk Breakfast

Return to the office! Is it reasonable for employers to ask their staff to come into the office? An interesting discussion with Shane and Jonathan this morning.

Investigations are ongoing into a potentially “extensive outbreak” of listeriosis in Ireland after one person has died with a confirmed case of the disease.  The Food Safety Authority has recalled 140 ready-made meals from Irish stores over concerns of the presence of Listeria.  To explain more about the bacteria was Alan Reilly, Adjunct professor at the Institute of Food and Health in U...

Despite the massive growth of the industry, the regulatory framework for aesthetic medicine has been left untouched for nearly two decades. We discuss this further with Dr Sean Fitzpatrick, President of the Irish College of Aesthetic Medicine. 

A commitment given by the last government to spend €2 billion on retrofitting residential homes by the year 2030 is now under review by Minister for Environment and Energy Darragh O'Brien.   Speaking to Jonathan this morning was Ossian Smyth, Green Party Spokesperson for Energy.

Investigations are ongoing into a potentially ‘extensive outbreak’ of listeriosis following the death of one adult with a confirmed case.  The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has recalled 140 ready-made meals from supermarkets across Ireland over concerns of the presence of Listeria.   We get the latest on this story with Muiris O’Cearbhaill who is a journalist with the Journal.ie.

One of the strongest earthquakes in modern history has triggered evacuations in Japan, Hawaii and some parts of the US west coast amid triggers widespread tsunami warnings across the Pacific coastlines. Dr Athena Masson, Meteorologist and Natural Hazard Specialist joined us on Newstalk Breakfast.

 More than 100 aid and rights groups on have today called for governments to take action as hunger spreads in Gaza. They are demanding an immediate and permanent ceasefire and the lifting of all restrictions on the flow of humanitarian aid.   Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Stephen Bowen, Executive Director of Amnesty International Ireland.

Drinking water in private supplies is becoming worse quality than public water supplies. That’s according to a new report from the Environmental Protection Agency.    We discuss the findings with Noel Byrne, Programme Manager of the Drinking Water and Waste Water Enforcement Team with the EPA. 

An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin joined Newstalk Breakfast this morning ahead of the Cabinet summer break. Joining Shane to discuss Metrolink, budget and the National Development Plan and more.

You’d have to be living under a rock to have missed the video and subsequent fallout of a pair now known as ‘the Coldplay Couple’. But in the fallout, should we ask ourselves; have we finally gone too far in exposing more about this couple? All to discuss with Columnist with The Irish Independent, Simon Bourke.

Tour guides at a site of the Battle of the Boyne are not allowed to wear green and orange, according to an email regarding dress code seen by the Irish Independent.    Shane get reaction from Dr Ruth Dudley Edwards, Historian, Commentator and Author of the Faithful Tribe.

Black Sabbath frontman and heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne has died at the age of 76, after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2019. Jeanne Wolf, Hollywood journalist who interviewed Ozzy told us what he was like?  

The Government has warned that the 9.4-billion-euro Budget for 2026 could be affected by a “deterioration in the tariff landscape”.  However, the summer economic statement is silent on how exactly things might change if there is a big shock. Jonathan discusses this further with Dr Barra Roantree, Assistant Professor of Economics at Trinity College.

A plebiscite asking the people of Dublin if they want a directly elected mayor should take place alongside the Presidential elections later this year. That’s according to Aodhán Ó Riordáin, Labour MEP and Dublin Spokesperson and also Daithí de Róiste, Former Lord Mayor of Dublin.    

Many parents are now deep in the trenches of summer survival. We hear why Summer camps are the key to surviving summer for parents with Esther McCarthy, Lifestyle Editor and Saturday Weekend Magazine Columnist with The Irish Examiner.

The Government is due to announce the details of a flagship plan to build infrastructure over the next five years, as well as outlining in its Summer Economic Statement how much money will be set aside in the Budget for tax cuts. We discuss all with Paul Hosford, Acting Political Editor with the Irish Examiner.  

People living in more disadvantaged communities had more negative attitudes towards immigration, in particular, disadvantaged communities where there was an increase in migrants since 2011.     That’s according to ESRI research published today. To discuss this research further was Senior Policy Officer at the ESRI and co-author of the report Keire Murphy and Dr Mike Murphy Senior Le...

“Abortion numbers can triple, and still Ireland refuses to acknowledge that the reluctant repealers were wrong, wrong, wrong. The Eighth was saving lives in the thousands.”   So says Breda O’Brien, Columnist with the Irish Times and Patron with the Iona Institute. Breda spoke to Ciara this morning.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned the "accelerating breakdown of humanitarian conditions" in Gaza.   It comes after Israeli forces launched air and ground offensives on Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, a key hub for humanitarian efforts in the territory. Speaking to Shane this morning was Aseel Baidoun, Medical Aid for Palestinians’ Deputy Director of Advocacy and Campaigns.&n...

Funeral directors in the south-east are waiting on the decision for a planning application that would see a crematorium built on the outskirts of Waterford.   It comes as cremation becomes an increasingly popular practice around Ireland. We discuss further with Aidan Walsh from Aidan Walsh & Sons Funeral Directors who filed the planning application.

The Irish Road Haulage Association calling on the Government to remove the driver testing system from the Road Safety Authority. Before, they say “any more damage to the Irish economy is done”. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Brendan Walsh, Chief Operations Officer, Road Safety Authority.

People taking selfies with puffins on Saltee Islands or feeding the deer in Phoenix Park need to keep their distance or risk causing unintentional harm to wildlife.   That’s according to Richard Nairn, Ecologist and author of Future Wild.

The second part of the Online Safety Code comes into effect today, with a view to making the Internet a safer place for all, with a particular emphasis on children.   What does it entail and will it really make an impact? All to discuss with Newstalk's Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly.

Ryanair has said it is considering increasing the commission it pays to staff who identify oversized bags at boarding gates. All to discuss with Eoghan Corry, Editor of TravelExtra.ie.   

Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers has said that the revised National Development Plan will provide a "significant uplift", particularly in areas that need strategic investment such as water, energy, transport and housing.    We discuss this further with Gavin Lawlor, President of Irish Planning Institute.