Newstalk Breakfast Highlights

‘Dublin by Night' fest takes place tomorrow night and it's one of over 200 events that's been organised since Dublin City's Night-Time Economy strategy was launched a year ago. To tell us more about what to expect we spoke to Ray O'Donoghue, Dublin City's Night-time Economy Advisor Ray O'Donoghue, Dublin City's Night-time Economy Advisor.

The Central Bank of Ireland has today published the NCID Annual Private Motor Report 2024 on motor insurance cover. It found that premiums had increased by 9% in the previous 12 months. What is driving this increase? All to discuss with Brian Hanley is the CEO of the Alliance for Insurance Reform.

The King has initiated the "formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew as he moves out of Royal Lodge. All to discuss with Vincent McAvinney, London based Journalist.

While Halloween brings joy in the form of costumes and tricking or treating, it also carries risks like fireworks and bonfires. Sean speaks to Brendan Flynn, Paramedic for 30 years and Chairperson of the National Ambulance Service Representative Association about the risks and advice on Halloween night.

A Vogue article by Chante Joseph titled ‘Is Having a Boyfriend Embarrassing' has gone viral online prompting candid confessions and think pieces. We chatted to Saoirse Hanley, journalist with the Irish Independent about the article.

Great numbers of Irish children than ever before are being raised with more than one language. So what are the pros and cons of bringing up bilingual baby? Sarah Madden reports.

Irish rail works will impact Heuston routes and Dun Laoghaire to Greystones this weekend .We get the detail of the rail works with Barry Kenny, Communications Manager with Iarnród Éireann.

A man aged in his 20s who was attacked in Kildare town in the early hours of Sunday morning has died in hospital. We get the latest with Emily Keegan, Newstalk Reporter.

Ciara and Sean discuss the so called embarrassing having a boyfriend trend. Just what is it?

Lily Allen's new album ‘West End Girl' is showing women everywhere that unleashing our anger can actually be a superpower. That's according to Helen Coffey Senior features writer for the independent.

The Israeli military yesterday carried out further strikes on Gaza, a move that raises concerns about the fragility of its ceasefire with Hamas. The IDF said it conducted the strike on what it called "terrorist infrastructure". We discuss further with Sean Bell, Former Fighter Pilot, Military Analyst and Co-Founder of Red Matrix Productions.

Over 1.5 million households haven't filed property tax valuation as the deadline approaches. So what do households need to do? To give us some advice was Karl Deeter, Financial Analyst.

The government must do more to prioritise active travel. That's the call in a new report from the Climate and Health Alliance. We discuss this further with Caoimhe Clarke Consultant Psychiatrist and Co-Author of the report.

Stewart Kenny, One of the Founders and Former Chief Executive of Paddy Power has called for higher gambling taxes to deter bookmakers from tactics that draw punters into more addictive games, as he said profits across the sector were “exploding”. Stewart spoke to Sean this morning,

The number of women aged 20–49 diagnosed with breast cancer has risen by over a quarter in the past decade, according to new figures from the National Cancer Registry of Ireland. The Marie Keating Foundation has launched a new awareness campaign urging women, especially those outside the screening age, to check their breasts regularly for any changes. Speaking to Ciara this morning was Professor Seamus O'Reilly Consultant Medical Oncologist in Cork University Hospital.

The two suspects arrested over the Louvre jewellery heist have "partially" confessed to their involvement in the robbery. Catherine Porter, International Correspondent for the New York Times brought the latest update on the investigation.

Hurricane Melissa has blasted across the Caribbean, leaving 30 dead or missing in Haiti and four dead in Jamaica. We get the latest with Alan O'Reilly from Carlow weather.

If you've recently overheard a group of children chanting ‘six-seven!', you've witnessed what Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist Colman Noctor calls the latest viral ‘brain-rot' craze.Colman explained all the Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Hurricane Melissa has made landfall in eastern Cuba as a Category 3 storm after pummelling Jamaica as one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record, the US National Hurricane Center said. We discuss this further with Dr. Samantha Hallam, Ocean and Climate Scientist at the Irish Climate Analysis Research Unit at Maynooth University.

US President Donald Trump said that a US-backed ceasefire in Gaza was not at risk after local authorities reported that 26 people had been killed in Israeli strikes, as Israel and Hamas trade accusations of blame for the violence. We discuss further with Dan Feferman, middle east security analyst and former IDF intelligence officer.

An SDLP councillor from Mid-Ulster has spoken out after discovering that footage of a car crash he was involved in was filmed and shared online, before he even had the chance to tell his wife about it. Speaking to Sean this morning was Councillor Malachy Quinn.

According to the 2025 Lancet Countdown Report on Health and Climate Change, released today, continued reliance on fossil fuels and insufficient adaptation to rising global temperatures are already having serious consequences for human health. Ciara discussed this further with Sinead Loughran, Climate Policy Officer with Trócaire.

After reinstating fees for the Junior and Leaving Cert exams, the Government should abolish them permanently. That's according to Sinn Féin TD Pat Buckley who spoke to Ciara this morning on the show.

It is being reported that Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson have agreed to leave Royal Lodge but want a house each. It's the latest in a line of concessions of what the prince will have to give up because of his past relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. All to discuss with Royal Commentator Jennie Bond.

Jamaican officials are urging people to move to higher ground and take shelter as Hurricane Melissa approaches. At least three people are confirmed dead so far, while over 50,000 people are already without electricity. Dr Athena Masson, Meteorologist and Hurricane Specialist gave us an update on the hurricane.

Senior Fianna Fáil members have called for unity and calm in the wake of the weekend's presidential election results, following discussions among some TDs around the future of leader Micheál Martin. All to discuss with Malcolm Byrne, Fianna Fail TD.

Ciara and Shane discussed latest EU report card on how Ireland is tackling racism and intolerance.

Irish dodgy-box users would face direct fines for the first time under new plans being considered by broadcasters and copyright authorities. We discussed this further with Adrian Weckler, Technology Editor with the Irish Independent.

A Rising number of pets are being handed into rescue centres by people on Cork's housing waiting list. This is due to the fact that the housing list applicants are not allowed to keep them when moved by the local authority into properties under the jurisdiction of Approved Housing Bodies. We discussed further with Martina Kenny, co-founder of My Lovely Horse Rescue.

The European Commission against racism and intolerance has called for new legislative measures punishing hate speech in Ireland. The Council of Europe's anti-racism commission also recommended improving the availability and quality of accommodation for people seeking or granted international protection. We discuss further with Teresa Buczkowska CEO of the Immigrant Council of Ireland.

Jamaican officials are urging people to move to higher ground and take shelter as Hurricane Melissa approaches. The Prime Minister has warned that it could be a hugely destructive storm, possibly the most violent the island has ever seen. To get the latest Ciara spoke to Dana Malcolm, Journalist with the Jamaica Observer.

The 2025 Irish Life Dublin marathon takes place this Sunday. 66-year-old Seamus Cawley from Limerick is one of the originals who ran the very first marathon in 1980 and spoke to Ciara Kelly on the show this morning.

The International Court of Justice has said that Israel has a legal obligation to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip by the UN and its entities to ensure the basic needs of Palestinian civilians there are met. John Whyte, Deputy Director for UNRWA Affairs in Gaza joined on Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

There were over 27 thousand first time buyer mortgages drawn down in the last 12 months to end of September, which is the highest annualised number since 2007. That's according to the latest report from the Banking & Payments Federation of Ireland, and joining us on the show this morning was CEO Brian Hayes.

United Ireland would pose threat to Britain from Russia, that's according to Rear Admiral Dr Chris Parry former NATO commander who joined on Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Protests continued in Citywest last night. Around 100 people gathered for a peaceful demonstration outside the IPAS centre in Saggart village. The night ended without any violence and protesters have vowed to return this evening. Our reporter, Josh Crosbie was there speaking with some of those in attendance…

A new EU ‘pay transparency' law coming in next June could transform how Irish workplaces handle pay. An IBEC survey this week shows many companies aren't ready for the changes or even sure how they'll work in practice. Nichola Harkin, head of employment law at IBEC joined Ciara Kelly on the show to discuss.

Once the heart of Dublin's trading scene, the Iveagh Markets in the Liberties has been closed for nearly three decades. Newstalk reporter Ellen Kenny spoke to former traders about their own history with the Iveagh Markets, and what they want to see in the future…

The US has announced new sanctions targeting Russia's two largest oil companies in an effort to pressure Moscow to negotiate a peace deal in Ukraine. It comes as the EU also announces its own sanctions, including energy and trade. Dr Jenny Mathers, Department of International Politics at Aberystwyth University joined Ciara Kelly on the show.

23 people were arrested during a second night of disturbances at the Citywest accommodation centre in Dublin which gardaí say was predominantly carried out by teenagers and young adult males. It raises broader questions about the strain on Ireland's immigration system. Ciara discusses this morning with Conor Lally Irish Times Crime and Security Editor and Matt Carthy, Sinn Fein's Justice, Home Affairs and Migration spokesperson.

A commemorative plaque will be unveiled later today at Technological University Dublin to mark the 50th anniversary of The Boomtown Rats' first-ever gig, which took place at Bolton Street Technical College on 31 October 1975.Shane spoke to Bob Geldof this morning on his memories of the first gig and more.

Support for Catherine Connolly is now at 44 per cent, according to the latest presidential poll from the Business Post and Red C. Heather Humphreys remains at 25 per cent – 19 points behind her opponent. To discuss the findings of the poll further was Daniel McConnell, Editor of the Business Post.