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Newstalk Breakfast Highlights

7,664 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 5 hours ago - ★★★★★ - 3 ratings

Newstalk Breakfast brings you all the news you need to set you up for the day – from politics, business, sport, entertainment and everything in between. Shane Coleman and Ciara Kelly have all the stories that matter, every weekday from 7-9AM.

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Episodes

Elections: who are the emerging winners?

June 10, 2024 06:10 - 4 minutes - 4.53 MB

More than 700 of the 949 seats on the State’s county and city councils have been filled, with Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil battling it out to be the largest party in local government.  Adrian Kavanagh, Lecturer at the Maynooth University Department of Geography breaks it down for Shane.

Snap election called in France

June 10, 2024 06:10 - 3 minutes - 3.02 MB

In an unexpected move, President Emmanual Macron has dissolved French Parliament and called a snap election in the wake of the European election results, where exit polls show Marine Le Pen’s National Rally are set to have a historic win. Elaine Cobb is CBS News Correspondent in Paris speaks to Ciara. 

We speak to the stars of Bridgerton

June 07, 2024 08:00 - 13 minutes - 12 MB

Ciara caught up with Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton to talk all things Bridgerton.

RSA seeking to increase charges for motorists NCT

June 07, 2024 07:30 - 4 minutes - 4.3 MB

The Road Safety Authority is seeking an increase in the fees charged to motorists for the National Car Test (NCT), the driving test and a range of other services it provides. We get reaction with Shane O'Donoghue, Editor with completecar.ie.

Should Ireland impose tougher sentences on homicide cases?

June 07, 2024 07:00 - 8 minutes - 8 MB

Killers will get tougher sentences in the UK as Rishi Sunak is set to pledge the biggest overhaul of homicide laws in a generation. So, should Ireland toughen up on sentencing for murderers? Speaking to Ciara this morning was John Whelan, Member of Sentencing and Victim Equality Group, SAVE and John Lonergan, Former Mountjoy Governor.

Dozens dead after Israel strikes school in Gaza

June 07, 2024 07:00 - 9 minutes - 8.8 MB

A Hamas official has said 40 people, including women and children, were killed after an Israeli air strike hit a school in Gaza.Speaking to Shane this morning was Dr. Einat Wilf is a Former Member of Israeli parliament and co-author of “The War of Return”. 

Is it time we say goodbye to the traditional stag do?

June 07, 2024 06:45 - 4 minutes - 3.76 MB

Is the stag do an important rite of passage before a man enters marital bliss, or is the whole tradition just a nuisance? With cities like Amsterdam and Prague looking to crackdown on stag dos, is it time we did away with the ritual altogether?  Newstalk Breakfast spoke to Joe O’Shea, Editor of Cork Beo. 

Wild campers leave rubbish scattered at popular seaside spot

June 07, 2024 06:30 - 4 minutes - 3.89 MB

We’re only a few days into summer and already a popular beach spot in Cork has been destroyed with rubbish.  So how do we stop people from spoiling scenic spots and local outdoor amenities? Speaking to Shane this morning was Ian Davis, Pure Manager, Pure (Protecting Uplands & Rural Environments).

TV doctor Michael Mosley remains missing in Greece

June 07, 2024 06:00 - 4 minutes - 4.12 MB

TV doctor Michael Mosley remains missing while disappearing while on a hike on the Greek island of Symi. We get the latest from Helena Smith is the Guardian’s Correspondent in Greece.

Today marks the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings

June 06, 2024 08:00 - 5 minutes - 4.87 MB

Today marks the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings which led to the liberation of Europe and the end of the Second World War.  Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast with a fascinating story was Ted Sweeney, the son of Maureen Sweeney who gave D-Day the go-ahead from Blacksod Lighthouse in County Mayo.

A look ahead to tomorrow’s Local and European Elections!

June 06, 2024 07:30 - 5 minutes - 5.29 MB

 Polling stations open across the country tomorrow morning for the local and European elections. Limerick will also vote on a directly elected mayor. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast this morning was Ivan Yates, Former Fine Gael Minister and broadcaster, and Co Host of the weekly podcast “Path to Power”.

A new breakthrough for those with bowel disease

June 06, 2024 07:30 - 3 minutes - 3.66 MB

Researchers have discovered a major cause of inflammatory bowel disease and have found that existing drugs could be used to treat the condition.  The news could be a breakthrough for 40,000 people in Ireland living with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or other forms of IBD. We got more details from Dr Brendan O’Shea Kildare GP & assistant professor in public health and primary care at Trinity College Dublin.

Today is the last chance to have your say on the new primary school curriculum

June 06, 2024 07:00 - 7 minutes - 6.73 MB

The consultation process on the first major revamp of the primary school curriculum in 25 years closes tomorrow.  But are parents getting a big enough say in what we’re teaching their kids? We discuss with David Quinn, Columnist with the Sunday Independent and Head of the Iona Institute.

The world is likely to exceed 1.5 degrees of warming

June 06, 2024 07:00 - 9 minutes - 9.15 MB

The world is likely to exceed the critical threshold of 1.5 degrees of warming in at least one of the next five years, according to the UN’s climate monitoring body. We speak to Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan. 

Why have we not seen a new national drugs strategy?

June 06, 2024 06:30 - 5 minutes - 4.59 MB

 The Department of Health is holding off developing a new national drugs strategy despite calls by the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use for it to be published “as a matter of urgency”. Ciara discussed this with Labour Senator, Marie Sherlock, is a member of the newly formed Committee on Drug Use, which met for the first-time last week.

Should Dublin introduce swap centres to reduce waste?

June 06, 2024 06:30 - 6 minutes - 6.06 MB

Should Dublin take inspiration from Copenhagen and look at setting up swap centres across the city for people to leave things they don’t need any more in a bid to reduce waste?   One councillor who thinks so is Vincent Jackson, Local Election Candidate, Independent Councillor for Ballyfermot and he joined Ciara this morning.

Tom and Molly Martens are set to be released from prison today

June 06, 2024 06:00 - 4 minutes - 3.98 MB

Tom and Molly Martens, the father and daughter jailed for voluntary manslaughter of Limerick man Jason Corbett, are set to be released from prison today. Speaking to Shane this morning with more on this was Ralph Riegel, Southern Correspondent for the Irish Independent. 

Laura Whitmore joins us ahead of returning to the Irish stage!

June 05, 2024 07:50 - 6 minutes - 5.85 MB

Irish TV host Laura Whitmore will make her return to the Irish stage alongside EastEnders actor Shona McGarty and The Tudors star Colin O'Donoghue when West End hit 2:22: A Ghost Story comes to Dublin at the end of this month. Laura spoke to Ciara ahead of the show.

Canvassing in the upcoming local elections has become “intimidating” and “demoralising”

June 05, 2024 07:50 - 6 minutes - 6.21 MB

Canvassing in the upcoming local elections has become “intimidating” and “demoralising”.  So says Supriya Singh,  Fine Gael candidate for the Donaghmede Electoral Area who spoke to Ciara this morning.

Should BAM be getting awarded government contracts after Children’s Hospital delays?

June 05, 2024 07:50 - 5 minutes - 5.4 MB

Building firm BAM Ireland, which was strongly criticised in the Dáil last week by Tánaiste Micheál Martin over its involvement in the National Children’s Hospital, is the main contractor on the new €100 million Narrow Water Bridge in County Louth which was launched by senior Ministers yesterday.    Speaking to Shane this morning was Brian Stanley, Sinn Féin TD and Chair of the Public Accounts Committee.

A woman in her 20s has died following a dog attack

June 05, 2024 07:00 - 5 minutes - 4.92 MB

A woman in her 20s has died following a dog attack in Limerick. We hear from Green Party Cllr and Limerick City East candidate Sean Hartigan. 

Fiscal Council warns against a loose budgetary policy

June 05, 2024 07:00 - 5 minutes - 5.07 MB

The government’s current budgetary policy is not appropriate for the economy or the public finances. That’s according to a new report from the Fiscal Council, whose Acting Chair Michael McMahon spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Is road rage on the rise?

June 05, 2024 06:45 - 5 minutes - 5.29 MB

Traffic is as good as back to pre-pandemic levels, and with more types of vehicles using them, our roads are rowdier than ever. But does more movement have to mean more aggression, or have we normalised rage on Irish roads?   Newstalk Reporter Sarah Madden finds out.

The Government is to develop a Digital Wallet

June 05, 2024 06:30 - 5 minutes - 4.71 MB

A Government Digital Wallet, which could hold important documents like a birth certificate and driver's license, could be rolled out by the end of the year. That’s according to plans before cabinet today. Jenny Darmody, Editor of Silicon Republic brought us further details.

Thousands to begin leaving cert exams today

June 05, 2024 06:00 - 7 minutes - 6.43 MB

It’s a nervous morning in thousands of households across the country as the Leaving Cert gets under way. We speak to Carl O’Brien is Education Editor for The Irish Times.

Advice for students starting their state exams this week

June 04, 2024 08:00 - 4 minutes - 3.86 MB

The Junior and Leaving Cert exams begin tomorrow and due to the pandemic, we are in the unique situation that for some students, this will be the first time they have ever taken a state exam.   Brian Mooney, Guidance Counsellor and Irish Times Columnist  gave advice for students and parents alike.

Has the tide turned on how we view grey hair?

June 04, 2024 07:45 - 4 minutes - 4.46 MB

Has the tide turned on how we view grey hair, or is there still a stigma attached to a head of silver locks? Speaking to Shane this morning was author and broadcaster Barbara Scully.

Primary schools facing trouble as running costs rise

June 04, 2024 07:30 - 4 minutes - 4.56 MB

Seven out of ten primary schools have run at a deficit at some stage over the past 12 months according to a survey carried out by Catholic Primary School Management Association.  Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast this morning was Seamus Mulconry, General Secretary of the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association.

Should processed food packaging have cigarette-style warnings?

June 04, 2024 07:00 - 7 minutes - 6.6 MB

Cigarette-style warnings should be placed on the packaging of ultra-processed foods. That’s the call from Gut Health Specialist Dr Annemarie Eustace-Ryan who spoke to Newstalk Breakfast.

Ireland experienced 1,100 excess deaths during the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021

June 04, 2024 07:00 - 7 minutes - 6.92 MB

Ireland experienced 1,100 excess deaths during the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021. That’s according to a new report published today by the Society of Actuaries in Ireland.   We get reaction to the findings by Linda Daly is a Spokesperson for the Society and a Senior Lecturer at University College Cork.

After another bad weekend on our roads

June 04, 2024 06:45 - 4 minutes - 4.31 MB

More than 80 people have now died on Irish roads so far this year, the worst record in a decade. We hear from Leo Leighio, Vice President of the Irish Road Victims Association.

Nigel Farage enters the mix in the UK general election

June 04, 2024 06:30 - 4 minutes - 4.13 MB

Nigel Farage has announced he will stand as a candidate in next month's UK general election and will lead the Reform Party.  Is this likely to have an impact on the outcome?    Speaking to Shane this morning was Lauren McEvatt, Former UK Government Special Advisor.

Should we turn Dublin into “Taylor Town”?

June 04, 2024 06:00 - 5 minutes - 5.01 MB

Dublin City Council has missed a trick by not planning anything special to welcome Taylor Swift fans ahead of her three Aviva Stadium shows at the end of the month.   That’s according to Mannix Flynn, Independent Dublin City Councillor who told Ciara why this morning.

Love Island will be back on our screens on Monday

May 31, 2024 07:30 - 5 minutes - 4.67 MB

Love Island will be back on our screens on Monday.   The eleventh series of the hit dating show has no Irish contestants in its official line up. But this could all change when a hot new bombshell enters the villa.    Joining us this morning on the show was freelance presenter Meghann Scully, who was once considered for Love Island’s first ever season.

Warning over dangers of medical tourism

May 31, 2024 07:00 - 5 minutes - 4.71 MB

 Separate inquests in Cork yesterday found two Irish women died as a result of weight loss surgery abroad in Turkey in 2021 and 2022.   Yet medical tourism has grown in popularity despite these glaring risks. We spoke to Helen Heneghan, consultant bariatric surgeon and Professor of Surgery at St Vincent’s University Hospital.

Taoiseach Simon Harris joined us this morning

May 31, 2024 07:00 - 20 minutes - 18.7 MB

 The first phase of a proof of concept for Body Worn Cameras for An Garda Síochána will take place today. We speak to An Taoiseach Simon Harris on this and more.

Are leaving cert students worse off if they forgo sleep to study?

May 31, 2024 06:45 - 6 minutes - 6.03 MB

It will be all hands on deck for thousands of students across the country this bank holiday weekend, ahead of the Leaving and Junior Cert exams kicking off on Wednesday.  But are last-minute studiers better off forgoing sleep in favour of hitting the books?  We speak to Tom Coleman is a health scientist and sleep coach. 

Will the introduction of body cameras lead to improved law and order?

May 31, 2024 06:30 - 4 minutes - 3.77 MB

The first phase of a proof of concept for Body Worn Cameras for An Garda Síochána will take place today. It plans to deploy 600 cameras across the Dublin, Limerick and Waterford Divisions. Speaking to Ciara with reaction to this was Liam Herrick, Executive Director for the Irish Council for Civil Liberties.  

Donald Trump found guilty in all counts in criminal hush money trial

May 31, 2024 06:00 - 8 minutes - 8.21 MB

Donald Trump, the former president of the United States, has been found guilty on 34 felony charges of falsifying business records. We get the latest from David Smith, Washington Bureau Chief of The Guardian. 

Bord Bia Bloom kicks off today

May 30, 2024 08:00 - 4 minutes - 3.8 MB

Bord Bia Bloom kicks off today showcasing the best of Irish food, drinks and horticulture over the next five days It’s landscape architect David Gallagher’s third year designing a garden for the festival, and he joined us live from the Phoenix Park.

Make more use of your brown bin

May 30, 2024 07:45 - 4 minutes - 3.78 MB

It’s estimated we waste about 750,000 tonnes of food each year in Ireland that's according to MyWaste who are urging consumers and businesses to use a brown bin, as National Food Waste Recycling Week is launched. We spoke to Tad Kirakowski , CEO of Voice Ireland. 

Michael Healy Rae on the cost of the Road Safety Authorities ads

May 30, 2024 07:30 - 5 minutes - 4.92 MB

Independent TD for Kerry, Michael Healy Rae has accused the Road Safety Authority of spending more on one TV ad than Kerry receives annually for road schemes. Michael spoke to Ciara this morning to discuss further.  

Completion date delayed for the new National Children’s Hospital

May 30, 2024 07:00 - 9 minutes - 8.33 MB

The completion date for the new National Children’s Hospital will be further delayed, the Public Accounts Committee will hear today. Ahead of the meeting Shane spoke to Brian Stanley, Sinn Fein TD and Chair of Public Accounts Committee.  

Men need to be men, according to the editor of the revived magazine “Loaded

May 30, 2024 07:00 - 6 minutes - 5.91 MB

The world has “gone PC mad with men subjected to a severe safety net” that's according to Danni Levy, Editor of lads’ magazine “Loaded” who spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Has the Hot School Meals Programme been a success?

May 30, 2024 06:45 - 5 minutes - 4.87 MB

There are more than 1,400 schools now availing of the Hot School Meals Programme. Since the expansion of the scheme last month an additional 150,000 children are receiving a hot lunch.  However, critics say there are big variations when it comes to the quality of the food. Our reporter, Josh Crosbie has been to visit one of the latest schools to join the Scheme, to hear how it’s working out.

Should the disused railway from Sligo to Athenry become a greenway?

May 30, 2024 06:30 - 6 minutes - 6.19 MB

The Joint Committee on Public Petitions will meet today to discuss the potential of creating a greenway on the closed railway from Sligo to Athenry.   Is this a good idea or should we be putting trains back on railway lines, rather than bikes? To discuss Shane was joined on the show by Cllr Marie Casserly, Independent Councillor and local election candidate for Sligo-Drumcliff and also Michael O’Dowd, Chairman of the Sligo branch of the Irish Farmers Association.

Israel says Gaza war will last another 7 months

May 30, 2024 06:00 - 4 minutes - 3.94 MB

Fierce street fighting and Israeli bombardment continue in Rafah a day after tanks rolled into the centre of the southern Gaza city sheltering hundreds of thousands of civilians.  We speak to Alistair Bunkall, Sky’s Middle East News Correspondent.

Primary school children mostly happy and positive about learning

May 29, 2024 07:45 - 4 minutes - 3.67 MB

Primary school children usually feel happy and safe, but their positive emotions about themselves tend to decrease as they get older, a new study has found. To explain more about this we heard from Leslie Shoemaker, Counselling Psychologist and lecturer in TU Dublin.

1,500 new acute hospital beds in the next five years

May 29, 2024 07:30 - 7 minutes - 6.77 MB

It is understood that Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly will give the commitment today for 1,500 new beds to be introduced between 2025 and 2028.  Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Dr. Peadar Gilligan, Member of the Irish Medical Organisation Consultant Committee.

At least 21 people killed by Israeli strikes in Western Rafah

May 29, 2024 07:00 - 7 minutes - 7.06 MB

Israeli forces have reportedly reached the centre of the southern Gazan city of Rafah, and seized a strategically important area overlooking the nearby border with Egypt. We get the latest from Alistair Bunkall, Sky’s Middle East News Correspondent.

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