Newstalk Breakfast Highlights

If you didn't know today is International Tea Day! And how fitting it is that new research shows sharing chats over a cup of tea may strengthen your relationships. Dr. Sharon Hall from the UK Tea and Infusions association tell us more.

Irish Rail is to scrap new €50m IT system for trains. It has written down the €50 million value of the project in its accounts. Martin Wall Public Policy Correspondent with the Irish Times has the story this morning and explained the details to Ciara.

Dublin woman Claire Ryan has just broken her own record for under-ice freediving, swimming 80 meters beneath a frozen lake on a single breath. Her only equipment, a bathing suit and swim goggles. Claire joined Ciara this morning.

Representatives from RTÉ, including director general Kevin Bakhurst, spoke at a Joint Committee on Arts, Media, Communications and Sport yesterday. Bakhurst said in his opening remarks it is “regrettable” that a “sincere attempt” by the national broadcaster to be more transparent has been categorised as another scandal. Fionnan Sheehan, Ireland Editor of Irish Independent gave his reaction to yesterday's committee meeting.

Since 2020, Spun Out's ‘Text About It' service has engaged in 250,000 conversations with young people who are struggling with their mental health. On average, one person reaches out every 11 minutes, reflecting the scale of the youth mental health crisis in Ireland. Joining Ciara discuss is the CEO of Spun Out, Sinead Keane.

The Taoiseach says he is appalled and shocked by the way activists on board an aid flotilla to Gaza were treated by the Israeli authorities. We get more reaction from Paul Murphy, People Before Profit TD.

Republican organisation Lasair Dhearg recently “renamed” Dublin's Drury Street to “Bobby Sands Street”. In a video online they said Irish streets should not be named after the likes of William Drury, a British soldier who was Lord Justice of Ireland in the 16th century. Should we reconsider the names of streets we walk along each day? Ciara asked Dáithí Doolan, Sinn Fein Councillor in Ballyfermot.

Where we take a closer look at some of the stories you may have missed in the news this morning. Joining Ciara this morning was Iarla Mongey from QR PR.

As soon as next week we could be seeing a major reversal of 2026's gloomy weather, with a mini heatwave expected to bring temperatures as high as 26 degrees. Weather expert Alan O'Reilly explained what is ahead for us.

Talks at the Labour Court regarding National Ambulance Service will resume today in hopes of resolving pay disputes. Speaking to Ciara this morning was SIPTU Ambulance Sector Organiser, John McCamley.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin is raise the matter of Israel's treatment of EU citizens from the Sumud Flotilla with French President Emmanuel Macron during a meeting in Paris. There are at least 12 Irish citizens on board the flotilla that were detained by Israel, according to organisers. We get the latest on this with Mark Weiss, Israel Correspondent with the Irish Times.

Australian popstar Kylie Minogue is sharing her life behind the scenes in a new three-part Netflix documentary out today from Irish director Michael Harte. Through home movies, personal photographs and new interviews with Kylie herself, it also shows the woman behind the hits. Speaking to Anton was Olivia Fahy, Entertainment Journalist.

Dublin City Councillor, Philip Sutcliffe posted a video to his Whatsapp status on Monday, with the video calling for a “real final solution” against “satanic” Jewish people. For more details on this was Conor Gallagher, Irish Times Crime and Security Correspondent.

The Oireachtas media committee is set to grill RTE executives today over the latest scandal involving presenter payments and salaries. Member of the Oireachtas Media Committee and Sinn Féin TD For Louth Joanna Byrne spoke to Anton ahead of the meeting.

The Oireachtas Committee for Health will be holding a meeting about staff morale in the HSE later today. Speaking to Anton ahead of this meeting was Matthew Sadlier, President of the Irish Medical Organisation.

Market rent rose by 4.4 per cent between December and March, the largest quarterly increase in rents extending back to 2002. That's according to the newest Daft report, which is the first since new legislation on rent came into effect. Speaking to Anton to discuss further was Genevieve McGuirk, CEO of the Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers.

Rising fuel costs over the past number of months may have lead to some of you thinking whether the time has come to make the switch to electric vehicles. But what about the haulage sector? Is the technology there for electric trucks that could take freight across the country? For more on this we heard from Dr Eamonn Mulholland is a Senior Researcher with the International Council on Clean Transportation.

Artificial intelligence chatbots are leading children into “terrible harm” and can push people towards sexualised and pro-eating disorder content, an Oireachtas committee has heard. For more on this Anton spoke to Tanya Ward, CEO Children's Rights Alliance.

We take a closer look at some of the stories you may have missed in the news this morning. Joining Anton this morning was Gabija Gataveckaite, BBC Dublin Correspondent.

European households waste more than 70kg of food per person every year, amounting to an estimated 69 million tonnes across Europe and the UK in 2025. How does Ireland compare when it comes to tackling food waste? Speaking to Anton with more on this was Machaela O'Leary from Too Good to Go.

Last year saw a 24% increase in cocaine use and increases in treatment for new psychoactive substances and ketamine. That's according to new figures on drug use published by the Health Research Board. Speaking to Anton this morning was Dr Garrett McGovern Medical Director of the Priority Medical Clinic & GP Addiction Specialist.

Market rent rose by 4.4 per cent between December and March, the largest quarterly increase in rents extending back to 2002. That's according to the newest Daft report, which is the first since new legislation on rent came into effect. To discuss the findings further was Ronan Lyons, Professor in Economics at Trinity College Dublin and author of the report.

Ministers O'Donovan and McConalogue announce €3.25m in additional Government support to advance Galway Regional Aquatic Project.Joining Anton this morning was Patrick O'Donovan is the Minister for Arts, Culture, Communications, Media and Sport

Marking World IBD Day (May 19), Crohn's and Colitis Ireland has developed a new hands-on guide on supporting people with inflammatory bowel disease as part of the It Takes A Village campaign. Victoria Spillane, from Cork, has been living with Crohn's disease for 28 years, having been diagnosed at just 13. Her journey began not in the gut, but with joint pain before quickly progressing into severe gastrointestinal illness and she joined Anton this morning.

The government has today published the Rapid response model for Asian hornet, a new strategic approach for managing any future occurrence of the invasive species in the country. Christopher O'Sullivan Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity & Fianna Fáil TD for Cork Southwest joined Anton this morning.

Local authorities completed 1,466 septic tank inspections in 2025 targeting areas of greatest risk from an environmental and health perspective. Of these, 59 percent (863) failed inspection with many posing a risk to nearby rivers and drinking water wells. Since 2013, 7,212 septic tanks failed inspections, with 84 percent fixed by the end of 2025. Improved resolution of faulty septic tanks by homeowners has been aided by increased Government grant support. Joining Anton to discuss the problem, and what's being done about it, is Noel Byrne, EPA's Drinking Water and Wastewater Enforcement team

The sister of Irish President Catherine Connolly is said to be among at least six Irish citizens on an aid flotilla to Gaza to have been detained by Israel off the coast of Cyprus.In a video shared on social media following the Israeli interception, Dr Connolly, a GP based in Co Sligo, is seen holding her Irish passport as she explains that she has been detained. Anton was joined by Karen Moynihan, Irish lead for the Global Sumud Flotilla.

Video footage appears to show five men holding a man prone on the ground before his death after an alleged shoplifting incident on Henry Street in Dublin on Friday.The almost five-minute video appears to have been taken by a bystander among the large crowd outside Arnotts department store who watched as Yves Sakila was held to the ground.Journalist Valerie Flynn joined Anton to discuss this.

Around 200 dodgy‑box users in Ireland have received legal letters from Sky threatening action if they pay for illegal streaming services again. Adrian Weckler Technology Editor with the Irish Independent joined Anton this morning.

We take a closer look at some of the stories you may have missed in the news this morning. Joining Anton Savage this morning was Harry Browne, Media Lecturer at TU Dublin and Host of The Ditch Podcast.

It is high time that sex for rent exploitation is criminalised, according to the Civil Society Coalition on Addressing “Sex for Rent” Exploitation and Protecting Renters. The ongoing housing crisis continues to make unhoused women more vulnerable to sexual violence and exploitation. Corrinne Hasson, Executive Director of the National Women's Council joined Anton this morning.

Two teenage attackers fatally shot three men at a mosque in San Diego, California, in a suspected hate crime, before taking their own lives, say police.The assault took place on Monday morning as officers were investigating a call about a possibly suicidal teen who had run away from home.David Smith, Washington Bureau Chief, The Guardian reports.

A new ESRI report projects major increases in HSE primary and community care workforce needs by 2040, driven mainly by population growth and ageing, with all staff categories expected to expand significantly. The biggest increases are forecast for services focused on older people, including occupational therapists, podiatrists, audiologists, and public health/community nurses, with annual workforce growth needs of up to 3.2%. Dr Aoife Brick, Senior Research Officer at the ESRI, and lead author of the report joined Anton to discuss.

Speaking in London on Monday, the president confirmed that he had accepted her invitation. President Connolly met the monarch in Buckingham Palace on Monday afternoon for a meeting that was expected to last up to 40 minutes. It is the first time the pair have met since Ms Connolly became President in November. It is her second official overseas visit. Louise Burne, Irish Examiner Political Correspondent joined Anton to discuss.

The Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD has today published Health in Ireland: Key Trends 2025. The publication highlights the significant improvements Ireland has made in health outcomes and outlines the challenges that remain in ensuring timely and efficient access to healthcare across the population. Brendan O'Shea, Kildare GP & assistant adjunct professor in public health and primary care at Trinity College Dublin joins Anton Savage.

Newstalk's Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly joined Anton this morning to discuss recent tech news.

One of Ukraine's largest ever drone strikes against Russia's regions, including Moscow, has killed at least four people and wounded a dozen more, the Russian authorities have said.The wave of almost 600 Ukrainian drones struck overnight across 14 Russian regions, as well as the Crimean peninsula and the Black and Azov seas.Anton was joined by Emmanuelle Chaze, Ukraine Correspondent for Radio France Internationale And France24 to discuss this further.

Four people lost their lives in the space of a few hours on Ireland's roads on Saturday, after three men were killed in a two separate collisions in Co Donegal and a young woman died after she was struck by a car in south Dublin. Conor Faughnan, Independent Motoring Expert with Carzone joined Anton.

Ireland will not be shielded from a serious fuel squeeze in Europe despite being in a "better position" to access jet fuel than other EU markets, senior government officials have been warned. Eoghan Corry, Editor of TravelExtra joined Anton this morning.

The Justice Minister is introducing new laws to make it a criminal offence to possess or distribute extreme and violent pornography. Joining Anton on this topic is Dr Madeleine Ní Dhálaigh, Roscommon GP, Vice Chair of the IMO GP committee.This interview features adult themes and may not be suitable for little ears.

Six out of 10 children who required plastic surgery treatment due to dog bites were bitten by a family pet. That's according to new research published in medical journal The Surgeon, which found that terriers were the most common breeds reported by parents or guardians to have bitten children Suzi Walsh Dog trainer and behaviourist joined Anton this morning.

We take a closer look at some of the stories you may have missed in the news this morning. Joining Anton Savage this morning was Frances Fitzgerald Former Government Minister.