Newstalk Breakfast Highlights

Public drinking water facilities should be introduced around Ireland, after a pilot project found it drastically reduces the amount of soft drinks children have. That's according to Dr Grace O'Malley from the RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences who explained why to Ciara this morning.

Nine people have been killed and 70 are wounded following a Russian missile attack in the Ukrainian city of Kyiv, a day after US Vice President JD Vance delivered an ultimatum to both countries Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Member of Parliament in Ukraine, Inna Sovsun.

Attorneys delivered opening statements yesterday in the New York retrial of disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein, after his landmark 2020 rape conviction in New York was overturned. Shane got the latest from Lauren Conlin Reporter and Host with Pop Crime TV.

Doctors in the Irish Medical Organisation will gather in Killarney today to discuss the ongoing challenges facing the health system. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Dr Denis Mc Cauley, GP and outgoing President of the Irish Medical Organisation.

Federico Minieri is an architect and town planner who has worked on major urban projects in cities like London and Barcelona. He believes Dublin needs to move beyond 'half measures' when it comes to reimagining its public spaces. Federico explained his ideas to Newstalk this morning.

Why are we still putting our children through this guilt grind? That is the question that Newstalk's own Simon Tierney has about First confession. Simon discussed all with Ciara this morning.

From stopping traffic in the middle of London to throwing soup cans at historic paintings, Just Stop Oil has had a polarising campaign. But that campaign is coming to an end this Saturday. Speaking to Shane this morning was Mitch Rose, Just Stop Oil Spokesperson.

The State missed its target for delivery of social homes last year by almost 20 per cent, according to a new report published by the Department of Housing. Speaking to Ciara this morning to discuss further was Eoin O'Broin TD, Sinn Fein Spokesperson on Housing.

All Things Considered, is Sharon Osbourne calling for Kneecap's work visa to be revoked a step too far away from free speech? Listen here.

Insurance companies are slashing benefits on health plans and increasing premiums – which many customers remain unaware of. Here to tell us more is Charlie Weston, personal Finance editor with the Irish Independent.Listen here.

Esther McCarthy from The Irish Examiner joins Newstalk Breakfast with the latest celebrity and entertainment buzz — from Beyonce's kids and their struggle with fame, to Elizabeth Hurley's new beau.Listen here.

Fr Donal Neary, Jesuit priest and editor of The Messenger, joins Shane Coleman to reflect on Pope Francis' little-known time in Dublin in 1980, long before his return as pontiff in 2018.Listen here.

Donal Cremin, President of the ASTI, joins Newstalk Breakfast as the union prepares to ballot members on industrial action over controversial Senior Cycle reforms.Listen here.

Amanda Holden joins Newstalk Breakfast to talk about her new Netflix reality series Cheat: Unfinished Business — and whether people really can forgive a cheater.Listen here.

Dr Paul Davis from DCU's Business School joins Newstalk Breakfast after an audit reveals €2 million left idle in an OPW account, with financial mismanagement flagged.Listen here.

Sadhbh O'Neill, climate policy researcher, joins Newstalk Breakfast to explain how food fads like matcha and pistachio chocolate bars are putting global agricultural systems under pressure.Listen here.

Kielce Gussie, journalist with Vatican Radio, joins Newstalk Breakfast with the latest details from the Vatican as Pope Francis lies in state ahead of Saturday's funeral.Listen here.

Brenda Bolger of Bolger's Motoring School joins Newstalk Breakfast as new RSA figures show driving test wait times are now up to 35 weeks in parts of the country.Listen here.

Cathal Crowe, Fianna Fáil TD for Clare and Chair of the Shannon Airport Oireachtas Group, joins the show to explain why regional airports like Shannon must seize the opportunity to attract more flights while the Dublin Airport passenger cap remains in place.Listen here.

Michael Gillespie, General Secretary of the Teachers' Union of Ireland, joins Newstalk Breakfast from their annual conference to discuss teacher shortages, Senior Cycle reform and all other things on the agenda for the conference this Easter.Listen here.

Gerard O'Connell, Vatican correspondent for America Magazine, and Bishop Denis Nulty of Kildare & Leighlin, join Newstalk Breakfast to reflect on the life, legacy, and impact of Pope Francis.Listen here.

John Murphy, SIPTU Transport Organiser, joins Newstalk Breakfast following an incident on a Dublin Bus — renewing calls for a dedicated transport police force.Listen here.

Mary McCarthy, columnist with the Irish Independent, joins Newstalk Breakfast to discuss the benefits of boredom and why parents shouldn't rush to over-schedule their children.Listen here.

Dr Johnny Ryan, Senior Fellow at the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, joins Newstalk Breakfast as a new bill calls on tech companies to switch off algorithmic feeds for children by default.Listen here.

Paola Flynn, Vatican Correspondent for EWTN Media, joins Newstalk Breakfast following the death of Pope Francis, reflecting on his legacy and the reaction from around the world.Listen here.

Rory McIlroy will return to Ireland triumphant this weekend having claimed a career Grand Slam in dramatic fashion at Augusta National last Sunday. But one of the men behind Rory's success is Mental Health coach Dr. Bob Rotella, author of Make Your Next Shot Your Best Shot. Bob spoke to Dr Bob this morning.

Minister for Public Expenditure and Infrastructure, Jack Chambers has said that there is ‘too much tolerance” of housing objections based on the “character” of an area. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Gavin Lawlor, President of Irish Planning Institute.

Those visiting Dublin could soon face a tourist levi as four city council authorities have signed up for a working group to explore the proposal. Such a tax could be in place by September. But with tourists' tax being common across Europe what do other cities and countries do ? Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Clare Dunne, Ceo Of The Irish Travel Agents' Association.

Pharmacists across the country have hit out in the way the government plans to introduce a free HRT scheme. They say the fee being offered will effectively have them working at a loss. Our reporter, Josh Crosbie has been examining the different rates of dispensing fees.

The heads of 30 pharmaceutical companies have said they are considering diverting as much as €100 billion they had planned to invest in Europe to the United States and other countries instead as part of a possible industry “exodus”. Speaking to Ciara this morning was Cathal Friel is Chairman and Co-Founder Poolbeg Pharma.

‘‘It's wrong to tell off other people's kids it leaves me fuming as a mum'. So wrote Charlotte Cripps, Writer with the Independent UK who explained all to Ciara this morning.

To get traffic out of the city centre, it's time to abolish tolls on the M50. So says Green Party councillor for Ballyfermot-Drimnagh, Ray Cunningham who spoke to Ciara this morning.

The Mental Health Commission has this morning released a report showing significant gaps in the mental health services offered in hospital emergency departments across Ireland. Speaking to Shane this morning on the show was Professor Jim Lucey, Inspector of Mental Health Services and the Author of the Report.

“The phrase “straight white men” seems to have been imported into Ireland from the United States as a way for certain people to flaunt their right-on credentials but all it ends up doing is antagonising people.” So wrote one disgruntled reader in a letter to the Irish Times this week. But have identity politics and labels really gone too far? Ciara and Shane discussed on the show today.

“The phrase “straight white men” seems to have been imported into Ireland from the United States as a way for certain people to flaunt their right-on credentials but all it ends up doing is antagonising people.” We discussed this further with Ian O'Doherty, Columnist with the Irish Independent.

Leaving Cert reforms are being ‘rushed' before schools have capacity. That's the warning from the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland To discuss this further Ciara spoke to Conor Murphy, English teacher in Skibbereen Community School.

Esther McCarthy, Lifestyle Editor and Saturday Weekend Magazine Columnist with The Irish Examiner, joined us on the show for our new weekly Red Carpet Roundup.

The final report of the Farrelly Commission has found a "fundamental failure" by the South Eastern Health Board and the HSE in their duty of care to a severely intellectually disabled young woman, known as “Grace” However, the report has concluded that it is "not satisfied" that the level of evidence was such to fully establish sexual, emotional or physical abuse of Grace during her time in the foster home in the south east of the country. Shane spoke to "Emma” whose sister “Sarah” was in the same Foster home as Grace.

Coined “The Homes for Ireland Savings Account”, the proposal would offer higher interest rates and tax-free returns to help fund affordable housing by tapping into record household deposits. Could it be the key to unlocking funding for new housing? We discuss this idea further with Fiona Cormican, Managing Director of Fioncor Consulting Limited and Brendan Burgess, Founder of the consumer forum Ask about money.com

No, you're not imagining it Easter eggs have started getting smaller and do taste different. So, is it still worth shelling out on the treat? We asked Caitriona Redmond, Consumer Columnist with the Irish Examiner.

EpiPens should be every defibrillator's next-door neighbour so says Fine Gael Senator Evanne Ní Chuilinn who explained why to Newstalk Breakfast.

Dublin City Council has published a plan to develop a new town in north Dublin between Glasnevin, Cabra and Finglas. The town of Ballyboggan would be located along the Royal Canal west of Glasnevin Cemetery and east of Ratoath Road, which is currently occupied by the Dublin Industrial Estate. A public consultation on the plan opened yesterday and is inviting submissions until May 12th. We hear all about it with Tom Philips, Managing Director of Tom Phillips and Associates and Adjunct Associate Professor of Town Planning, UCD.