Highlights from Newstalk Breakfast

Italy's Democratic Party has conceded defeat in the country's election after an exit poll suggested far-right leader Giorgia Meloni's alliance is leading the vote. Her party, the Brothers of Italy, is expected to form the country's most right-wing government since World War Two. Paddy Agnew, Sunday Independent Columnist based in Italy joins us to discuss.

Dubbed the cost-of-living budget, tomorrow is budget day 2023. So, what can we expect? Jack Horgan Jones, Political Reporter for The Irish Times spoke to Shane this morning ahead of budget day.

A new app, produced by An Garda Síochána looks to solve instances of theft when they arise. Newstalk's Tech Correspondent, Jess Kelly spoke to Newstalk Breakfast with all the details.

The latest Daft.ie housing price report has been released and to give is a rundown of the findings, Shane spoke to Economist at Trinity College Dublin & author of the report – Ronan Lyons.

Key spending figures have been agreed for Budget 2023 after marathon talks between key government figures yesterday evening. So is this approach from the government a prudent one? Ciara spoke to Seamus Coffey, Former Chair of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council and Economist at UCC and also we heard from Former Tánaiste Joan Burton.

The EU has downgraded Ireland's north and west to a ‘lagging region'. The area, which includes Galway, Roscommon, Leitrim, Sligo, Donegal, Monaghan, and Mayo has been downgraded as it has been noted as being significantly poorer relative to the European average over recent years. The commission said the region faced a range of development challenges including lower productivity and educational attainment, a weaker skills base, and a business environment. In reaction to this Shane spoke to Donegal person of the year, TV personality and ambassador to Harvey's Point hotel Donegal, Noel Cunningham.

A Health Panel in the US has recommended that all adults under 65 should be screened for symptoms of anxiety due to the “global plague” But how do you distinguish a fleeting anxious feeling from a mental health condition? Niamh Delmar, Counselling Psychologist, and Writer spoke to Ciara this morning on the show.

“Housing Minister, Darragh O'Brien, is failing to meet any of the targets on delivering affordable homes – a punitive 10% tax on vacancy and dereliction should be introduced and a levy imposed on investment funds.” That's the view of Social Democrats Housing Spokesperson Cian O'Callaghan who spoke to Shane this morning.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin has used Ireland's statement to the UN General Assembly to voice his deep frustration in the UN Security Council's “failure to act” on a number of issues, such as climate change. Our political correspondent Sean Defoe is in New York at the UN security council and meeting and spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Tonight is Culture Night, and over 1,700 rich and diverse events will be taking place in towns, cities and villages across the country. Joining Ciara to give us a taste of what to expect was Maria Moynihan Lee, Managing Director of Milestone Inventive, the Culture Night national Co-Ordinators.

For one night only on Monday, September 26th, European Space Agency Astronaut Tim Peake will be at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, guiding an audience through his extraordinary trip of a lifetime to outer space. In December 2015, Tim became the first British astronaut to visit the International Space Station and conduct a spacewalk while orbiting Earth. Tim spoke

SIPTU will today launch its Safe Journey campaign for public transport policing and joining me on the line now is SIPTU Transport, Energy, Aviation and Construction division Organiser, Karan O Loughlin.

The Government is today announcing paid leave for victims of domestic violence. Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth, Roderic O'Gorman spoke to Newstalk Breakfast with more on this announcement.

Google searches for ways to leave Russia spiked ahead of Vladimir Putin's first televised address in February. Speaking yesterday morning, Putin announced that he signed a “partial mobilisation” of reserves in Russia. European Commissioner Mairead McGuinness gave her reaction to Ciara this morning on the show.

Eviction notices have begun to surge again: In the first half of 2022, almost 3,000 eviction notices have been issued according to the Residential Tenancies Board, having doubled since last year. Is it time to bring back the eviction ban to tackle the cost-of-living crisis? To discuss

The HSE is currently preparing their Winter Plan with the threat of a ‘twindemic' of Covid and flu expected to put significant strain on hospitals this winter. Dr Colm Henry Chief Clinical Officer with the HSE spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

A male contraceptive jab is on the way, but will it truly equalise reproductive control? - That is the question posed by Journalist, Writer, and Columnist with the Irish Independent Mary Kenny in a recent article and Mary spoke to Ciara this morning.

Catholics are predicted to be the biggest faith group in Northern Ireland for the first time when the results of the 2021 census are published later today. So what sort of impact with this symbolic demographic shift have on the future in the north? To discuss Newstalk Breakfast spoke to Brian Feeney an Irish News Columnist and Political Commentator.

Today is World Car-Free day, and people around the world are being encouraged to make a special effort not to use the car. But how soon will it be until our towns and cities are completely car-free? Hannah Daly is a Professor in Sustainable Energy at the School of Engineering in University College Cork and joined Ciara this morning.

It's reported that over 100 protesters have been arrested and thousands have fled Russia, following Putin's announcement that he was introducing “partial mobilisation,” to bolster his army in Ukraine. Ciara spoke to Moscow Correspondent for The Guardian, Andrew Roth live in Moscow.

September is childhood Cancer Awareness month. This morning on the show Ciara spoke to Roseanna Ruane, mother of Saoirse Ruane the little girl who fought cancer and warmed our hearts on the Late Late Toy Show back in 2020.

Almost three in five people in Ireland agree that EU countries should be allowed to delay meeting EU environmental targets in order to deal with the current energy crisis. This is according to the latest annual European Movement Ireland ‘Ireland and the EU' poll. Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne spoke to Shane with more on this.

The Cabinet yesterday signed off on its major pension reform plan which will see the retirement age staying at 66, but allow people to continue to work if they choose. Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys made clear that PRSI increases "will be needed in the future" to pay for her pension plan. Chairperson at the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, Sebastian Barnes spoke to Ciara this morning on the show.

The HSE's new recommendation on home births - which excludes women who live within 30 minutes from their nearest hospital - would eradicate choice for mothers if implemented that's the view of Fianna Fail TD Christopher O'Sullivan who says he will do everything to ensure it doesn't happen Krysia Lynch is the Chair of The Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services in Ireland (AIMS) spoke to Ciara this morning.

A new campaigning group to defend Ireland's Neutrality is launching today, on the UN International Day of Peace. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Jim Roache Irish Neutrality League and PRO Steering Committee, of the Irish Anti-War Movement.

Education Minister Norma Foley will today go before the Oireachtas Education Committee answering questions on the major issues facing the school transport area. Aodhan O'Riordan Labour's Education Spokesperson will be one of those putting the questions and spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

‘There are not enough Irish ports to deliver offshore wind energy target'– that's the warning in a new report from Wind Energy Ireland today CEO of Wind Energy Ireland Noel Cunliffe spoke to Shane this morning on the show.

The Oireachtas Housing Committee will today examine issues facing the rental housing sector in Ireland. Pat Davitt CEO of the Institute of Professional Auctioneers & Valuers will be one of those before the committee and he spoke to Shane this morning on the show.

The choices we make in how we heat our homes and how we travel directly impacts the quality of the air we breathe. That's according to the 2021 Air Quality Report from the Environmental Protection Agency, which found that there are approximately 1,300 premature deaths annually in Ireland due to poor air quality from fine particulate matter. Pat Kenny is an EPA Senior Scientific Officer and co-author of the report and joined Shane this morning on the show.

Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys is bringing proposals to Cabinet to ensure the State pension age remains at 66 - rather than 68 as recommended by the Pension Commission. The Minister is also expected to recommend a flexible pension age, in which people who choose to work beyond 66 years of age receive higher rates of pension payment. For more on this Shane spoke to Pension Commission Member John McGrane

An investigation been launched after a Garda car was rammed in Dublin last night. Footage of the incident which happened in Cherry Orchard just after 7:30pm has been widely shared on social media. Daithí Doolan Sinn Féin Councillor for Ballyfermot/Drimnagh and Chairman of the Joint policing Committee for Dublin South Central gave Newstalk Breakfast his reaction to last night's incident.

Ireland is a “hub for a tax avoidance” and its current tax policies are hurting the tax bases of other European countries. That's the view of Dutch MEP, Paul Tang. Why are Ireland's fiscal policies raising concerns among our European partners? We asked Paul Tang, Dutch MEP and a member of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats group within the European Parliament, and chair of the subcommittee on tax matters.

The National Ploughing Championships are back the first time in three years. 300,000 visitors are set to converge on the event in Laois this morning, and they can expect to lap up the autumn sunshine with temperatures set to hit 19 degrees. Anna Marie McHugh Deputy Managing Director of the National Ploughing Championships and the General Secretary of World Ploughing Championships joined Shane this morning ahead of the first day of the events.

Gardaí have issued a list of red flags to look out for after a number of students fell victim to a rent scam Jess Kelly, Newstalk's Technology Correspondent spoke to Newstalk Breakfast to advise what to look out for with these scams.

The biggest funeral since Nelson Mandela is taking place this morning in Westminster Abbey. The ten days of mourning are coming to an end. Queen Elizabeth II will be buried in Windsor by tonight. The 5 mile ‘Lying in State' long queue where hundreds of thousands of people joined finished at 6.30 this morning. Henry McKean is there for us and joined us live from London.

Ireland should develop substantial gas storage facilities to reduce the risks posed by any future disruptions in supply. That's according to a landmark report on Ireland's energy security to be unveiled by Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan later today. To discuss further Shane spoke to Denis Naughten, Independent TD and John Gibbons, Environmental Journalist and Commentator.

The Climate Change Advisory Council is a “quango” full of flakes, and the ESRI conclusions on climate change are “ridiculous”. That's according to David Horgan, Chief Executive of Petrel Resources who spoke to Newstalk Breakfast with more on his views.

Hollywood could be on its way to the Midlands today as Westmeath County Council votes to approve planning permission for Ireland's largest film studio. Mayor of Mullingar Green Party Councillor Hazel Smyth spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning with more on this.

Following almost two weeks of mourning, Queen Elizabeth's funeral will take place at Windsor Abbey today with 2,000 people and many heads of state from around the world set to attend the ceremony Stephen Bates, Former Royal Correspondent of the Guardian and Author of Royal Inc Britain's Best-Known Brand spoke to Shane this morning.

The health service is bracing for tough winter with “significant risks” of a “twindemic” of coronavirus and flu, staff shortages, and “unprecedented” levels of unplanned hospital admissions, particularly among older people. That's according to HSE draft plan revealed by Irish Independent. Phil Ni Sheadhaga is the General Secretary at The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.

Now men can often be bad for getting the health NCT and this month the Irish Heart Foundation are encouraging people to get their hearts tested. So we sent a rather nervous Shane along to get tested.

Both Ryanair and Aer Lingus have had to cancel a number of flights in and out of Dublin Airport today as a result of a strike by French air traffic controllers. Joining Jonathan this morning with the details is Eoghan Corry, Editor of Air and travel magazine.