Highlights from Newstalk Breakfast

OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman has now said he believes artificial intelligence companies can develop the technology safely without significant harm to people at large. To discuss this further with Anton was Professor Kate Devlin Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Society in the Department of Digital Humanities, King's College London.

A €500 energy credit for every household in Ireland could be funded from a new levy on electricity used by data centres. This comes under a proposal from People Before Profit. Richard Boyd Barrett, People Before Profit TD explained the details to Anton this morning.

Absence rates for 9 -13 year olds is higher now than it was 10 years ago according to new ESRI research. To discuss this with Anton was Emer Smyth, Research Professor with the ESRI and Paul Crone Director of the National Association of Principals and Deputies.

Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae is recovering in hospital after he was assaulted in Dublin. We get the details on this with Pat Leahy, Political Editor, The Irish Times.

We take a closer look at some of the stories you may have missed in the news this morning. Joining Anton this morning was Alex White, Former Senior Council.

In a world where we are increasingly becoming more reliant on digital media. according to a survey of 1,000 adults nationwide from financial intermediaries, Ask Acorn and conducted by IReach, 35% of adults turn to online searches for financial advice. We get reaction to these findings with Head of Investments and Pensions at Fairstone Asset Management and Lecturer with the LIA, Bernard Walsh.

Netflix has commissioned a new reality show called “The New Stanford Prison Experiment”, restaging the infamous 1971 study for a modern audience. Speaking to Anton to discuss this further was Trina O'Connor, Criminologist.

Buckingham Palace has hit back at claims made by Earl Spencer, the brother of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, in his new book. He alleges that King Charles said the UK would forget about Diana “soon enough” after her funeral. For more details on this Anton heard from Enda Brady, International TV Anchor with TRT World.

The NTA says further periodic public transport fare increases are likely, driven by inflation. Deputy CEO Hugh Creegan was speaking to the Oireachtas Transport Committee about the 15% fare hikes announced earlier this month. For reaction to this Anton spoke to Professor in Transportation at the School of Engineering at Trinity College, Brian Caulfield.

The EU is offering Canada the chance to become its first “associate member”, as Trump's trade war pushes Canada and Europe closer together Anton gets the latest on this with Scott Lucas, Professor and Political Analyst at the Clinton Institute at University College Dublin.

Children and teenagers aged under 15 will not be able to open a social media account without express parental or guardian permission, under new plans announced today. Anton was joined on the show by Fionnán Sheahan, Ireland Editor, Irish Independent.

Four musicians, including two Irish acts, have pulled out of Ed Sheeran's US tour after rapper Macklemore said he was dropped from the line-up for saying “Free Palestine” during a concert. For more on this we heard from TodayFM Presenter Fionnuala Corbett.

The National Women's Council will convene the All-Island Women's Forum in Dublin today to discuss the key issues facing women in 2026. Speaking to Anton ahead of the forum was Corrinne Hasson, Executive Director of the National Women's Council.

The Bar of Ireland is warning that the ongoing legal aid dispute is now putting further pressure on the criminal courts. This comes with the new legal year just weeks away Speaking to Anton with more on this was Séamus Clarke SC, Chair of the Council of The Bar of Ireland.

We take a closer look at some of the stories you may have missed in the news this morning. Joining Anton this morning was David McRedmond, Former CEO of An Post.

A new all-Ireland study has found a significant link between working conditions and people's health and wellbeing. The study shows that high workloads and tight deadlines among the biggest contributors to workplace stress .Lead Author of this study was Dr Juliet Hassard, Director for Postgraduate Studies, Reader in Work, Health and Employment in Queens University.

Late-night openings at pubs and nightclubs are continuing to decline, with 950 fewer extended nights recorded across the country last year. The Licensed Vintners Association says rising costs are putting pressure on the late-night economy. To discuss further with Anton was Donal O Keefe, CEO of the Licensed Vintners' Association.

Russia has been tied to three separate "hybrid attacks” in Europe in the last 24 hours, including a drone in Lithuania, a warship in Denmark and a train attack in Poland. Should Europe gear up for more Russian attacks? Anton discussed further with Donnacha Ó Beacháin, Professor of Politics at DCU.

At least three people have been killed after an NBC news helicopter crashed in Los Angeles near the scene of a fatal bus accident, officials have said. For more on this Anton spoke to Steve Gregory, Special Correspondent at K-N-X news in Los Angeles.

European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen will introduce the “EU Kids Act” in her address to the European Parliament today. We look ahead to the address with Shona Murray the EU Correspondent at Euronews.

One-in-three farmers have indicated their intentions to leave the farming industry within five years according to new research. With CAP looking like it may be cut and green diesel prices approaching €1.50 per litre. The financial side doesn't look like it'll get any easier. To discuss further with Anton Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine Martin Heydon.

New research from the ESRI shows that the majority of us underestimate how much it costs to run a car. More than seven in ten underestimate it by a substantial amount, with the median guess being two-thousand euro per year, when in actual fact costs added up to almost three thousand. Dr Shane Timmons, Senior Research Officer at the ESRI discusses the research findings with Anton.

New analysis finds Dublin Airport faces one of Europe's sharpest rises in aviation emissions as government removes passenger cap. That's according to a new report calling for Ireland to establish its own carbon budget for Dublin Airport to curb expansion. We get reaction to this with Sorcha Tunney, Senior Manager of Opportunity Green Ireland, and Kevin Byrne Airport Safety and Security Auditor.

The European Commission is this week set to unveil its landmark EU Kids Act, which will set age limits for children and impose safe design requirements on companies such as Meta and TikTok. To discuss this further with Anton was Head of Communications and Research at Cyber Safe Kids Philip Arneill.

We take a closer look at some of the stories you may have missed in the news this morning. Joining Anton this morning was Frances Fitzgerald, Former Tánaiste, Currently a Member of G7 Equality Advisory Council and Ambassador for Anti-Trafficking Organisation ‘Ruhama'.

Young people have more options to easily send money between friends than any other generation. However, new research from Zelle found that a third of Gen Z who owe someone money has delayed paying them back. Why is this? Anton asked Brendan Kelly, Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin.

Do you grind your teeth without realising it? Dentists say bruxism could be affecting more young people and stress may be a major factor. So, why are we doing it, and what can we do about it? Anton asked the Chair of the GP committee of the Irish Dental Association, and a Dentist at Kiwi Dental in Carlow, Caroline Robbins.

A new Red C Poll shows that people would support moving the tax burden from your income to your capital gains. To discuss the findings with Anton was Dr Emma Howard, Senior Lecturer in Economics at TU Dublin.

Cocaine use is reportedly rising among young farmers. This comes also with concerns drug money is funding new machinery fleets and giving some agricultural contractors an unfair edge. For more on this Anton spoke to Jacqueline Hogge, Rural Affairs Correspondent with The Farmers Journal.

The Oireachtas Justice Committee today will hear from An Garda Síochána and Garda representative bodies on the capacity of the force to carry out pursuits. Speaking to Anton ahead of this meeting was Matt Carthy, Sinn Féin TD for the Cavan–Monaghan and Chairperson of the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.

Digital Bank Revolut has confirmed a data breach, with sensitive customer information being compromised. With the details on this was Newstalk's Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly.

It was a glorious triumph for Shane Lowry at the Irish Open in Doonbeg yesterday, winning his first title since 2022 and his third ever win on Irish soil. Speaking to Anton this morning was Ray Molloy, Esker Hills Golf Club manager and family friend of Shane Lowry.

Pension ownership has risen by nearly 20 per cent since the introduction of the MyFutureFund scheme, according to new research from the ESRI. Just two in five people think their pension will provide a good standard of living in retirement.Speaking to Anton this morning was Grainne Griffin Director of Financial Education at the CCPC and Ireland's first Financial Literacy Ambassador.

Sam Altman and Elon Musk have backed a call from the head of Anthropic, Dario Amodei, to “slow the pace” of artificial intelligence development. This comes after he warned that an AI swarm could otherwise become capable of “taking over the entire internet” within a year. For more on this Anton spoke to Mark Kelly the Founder of AI Ireland.

Over the weekend US President Donald Trump, said several times that he is in favour of a United Ireland. His comments garnered a lot of pushback from unionist politicians, one of whom was Sammy Wilson, MP for East Antrim and DUP Chief Whip in the House of Commons.

We take a closer look at some of the stories you may have missed in the news this morning. Joining Anton this morning was Sean O'Rourke, Irish Journalist and Broadcaster.

New research by the Irish Blue Cross has found that more than half of Irish pet owners are still grieving more than a year after their pet's passing, according to their new research How do you cope after losing a pet and what supports are out there? To tell us was Dr Laura Mock Head of Veterinary Services at The Irish Blue Cross.

More than half of people believed they encountered more suspicious communications and possible scams than last year, according to new research from the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland. Speaking to Anton was Niamh Davenport, Head of Financial Crime at the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland.

Calls are being made to relax regulations for childminders are feeling burdened by new regulations put on them. The calls come as those working in the sector say that many are leaving the industry in droves because of this. To discuss this further with Anton was the Chief Executive of Childminding Ireland, Bernadette Orbinski Burke.

The leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are meeting today in Cardiff. This meeting is to sign a deal designed to kick-start the break-up of the United Kingdom. Speaking to Anton with more on this was Lucy Fisher, Whitehall Editor, Financial Times.

There were over 1.2 billion domestic payments made on Irish cards, valued at almost €50 billion, in the first half of 2026. This is according to the latest research from the Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland. To discuss this further with Anton was Caitríona Redmond, Consumer Columnist with the Irish Examiner.

New figures released this morning by Minister of State for Migration Colm Brophy shows a sharp fall in the number of international applicants as the EU Migration Pact takes effect.Joining Anton to discuss further was Barrister Lorraine Lally.