Newstalk Breakfast Highlights

Facebook’s parent company Meta is allowing users to create multiple personal profiles, giving those who use the platform more control over what others see.  Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent, Jess Kelly brought us the details.

Are you a young woman in Ireland struggling with who you are and where you fit in the world? Well, the Shona Project might be able to help you   Its founder Tammy Darcy spoke to Newstalk Breakfast on the workings of The Shona Project. “The Shona Project: Empowering and Inspiring the girls of Ireland" For more details visit: Home - The Shona Project

 More than 12,000 properties are empty in Dublin. That’s according to databases supplied to The Irish Times by GeoDirectory.  In reaction to these findings, Newstalk Breakfast spoke to Tom Philips, Managing Director of Tom Philips Associates and Adjunct Associate Professor of Architecture and Planning at UCD. 

 The European Week of Sport is underway, and people across the country are being encouraged to become more active.  Speaking to Newstalk Breakfsat was Minister of State for Sport and Physical Education, Thomas Byrne.

That was the sound of Ireland's rugby supporters at the Stade de France on Saturday night, celebrating the team's World Cup win over South Africa,   However, the choice of 'Zombie' by the Cranberries has proven contentious, coming into criticism on social media.   Tadhg Hickey, comedian, and podcaster, explained his concern about the choice of song. 

Doctors working in Ireland’s adult National Gender Service have accused the HSE of trying to establish a new “activist-led” transgender service that will be “dangerous for patients”.  Donal O'Shea is one of those Doctors and the HSE Lead for Obesity spoke to Ciara this morning on the show.

Most Bins are filled with the wrong waste –so says the Environmental Protection Agency.  Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast with some guidance and advice was Warren Phelan programme manager with the EPA.

Culture Night 2023 will take place in various locations across the country to showcase Ireland’s diverse cultural offerings, new venues and emerging talent.  Maureen Kenelly, Director of the Arts Council brought us all the details.

“Those lucky enough to own their own home and have a mortgage are among the better off in society and should not be getting “free money” from the taxpayer to help them pay for their home.”  That’s the view of Brendan Burgess, Founder of the consumer forum Ask about money.com, who has made a Pre-Budget Submission calling for the introduction of a Repayable Mortgage Interest Supplement, Brendan spok...

More than 70 percent of Irish 11- to 17-year-olds get insufficient physical activity every day, according to a recent study in the Lancet.    So, should gyms open their doors to young teens?  One person who thinks so is Irish Independent Journalist Mary McCarthy who spoke to Ciara this morning on the show.

Clinicians raised concerns about the Temple Street scandal a year ago.   So said Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly yesterday. He added that “it’s clear other people knew” of the scandal affecting children.     Neasa Hourigan, Green Party TD for Dublin Central and member of the Oireachtas Health Committee gave her reaction to this development.

9-year-old Frankie Byrne was knocked down in his own front garden by a teen riding a scrambler. Frankie’s father, Keith Byrne told Shane what happened to young Frankie.

Buy Conor Pass, rewild it, and make it a National Park” That’s the call from campaigners today as they begin their protest at Conors Pass. Siobhan O’Donohue, Director of Uplift spoke to Shane this morning with more on what they are calling for.

The heart of Cork City will be a lot quieter than normal tomorrow, as the city centre will be closed to traffic for the city’s first-ever ‘Car Free Day’.   Speaking to Ciara with more on what is happening today was Collette Finn, Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork.

"Ireland is not unique in having to confront this" Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe joined Newstalk Breakfast to discuss the protest at the Dail yesterday

Dublin is at a pivotal juncture and we must ‘build-up or lose out’.   That’s the call from Stephen O’Leary, President of the Dublin Chamber who spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Primary schoolyards are often hard-surfaced, restrictive, empty spaces with limited access to natural areas.  So found a new study from University College Cork.     Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Bethan O'Riordan, Mother of three and therapist specializing in parenting support, who also runs the Calm parenting community.

Children’s Health Ireland has published two reviews relating to spinal surgery for patients with Spina Bifida at Temple Street Hospital, following a number of complications with patients and the death of a 10-year-old child last year.  Speaking to Ciara this morning with more on this was Paul Cullen, Irish Times Health Editor. 

Parking enforcement should be brought back under the direct control of the Council, and should be combined with litter, dumping, and dog warden powers. That’s the call from a group of Green Party councillors in the capital and speaking to Ciara this morning was Carolyn Moore is a Green party Councillor for Kimmage / Rathmines.

Gardaí arrested 13 people yesterday evening after intervening in protests outside Government Buildings during which TDs were harassed and jostled. We get reaction to the scenes that occurred yesterday was Ivana Bacik, Labour party leader.      

A confidential internal Garda report found four years ago that the roster the Garda Commissioner plans to reintroduce in November "does not provide sufficient resources" to police the country and "is not fit for purpose".  We speak to the President of the Garda Representative Association Brendan O’Connor. 

Over the past few weeks, there has been more election talk in the air.  We’ve heard from some rural politicians that Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have lost the farmers' vote.    We sent our reporter, Josh Crosbie, out around the National Ploughing Championships to find out if rural constituents would consider swaying their vote.

 New data from the ESRI shows sitting tenants paying markedly lower rents than new tenants. Get get reaction to these findings from Carol Tallan CEO of the Property District and Author of the Irish Property Buyers Handbook Series. 

All Things Considered: Is Cash King? Ciara and Shane discuss this morning.

Ireland’s ‘lenient’ bail system should be reformed.  That’s the call from Independent Dublin City Councillor, Nial Ring. Ciara asked Nial why he felt the system needed to be overhauled.   Also speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was  Barry Ward, Fine Gael Senator and Criminal Barrister.