Newstalk Breakfast Highlights

Parents are being urged to hire bouncy castles only from companies that are insured and safety-certified ahead of holy communion season. We speak to Glenn Tector, Owner of Sonics Entertainment and PRO for the Irish Inflatable Hirers Federation.

Duration:00:03:19

Is healthy food too expensive?

72% of Irish shoppers say they want healthier, more sustainable products to be more affordable. That’s according to the EY Future Consumer Index For more on this Ciara spoke to Professor Donal O’Shea, HSE lead for Obesity.

Duration:00:06:26

Trump confirms Mike Waltz will be replaced as national security adviser

U.S. President Donald Trump ousted his national security adviser Mike Waltz and named Secretary of State Marco Rubio as his interim replacement in the first major shakeup of Trump's inner circle since he took office in January. We discuss this and more with Jennifer Ewing, Spokesperson for Republicans Overseas UK.

Duration:00:06:07

Mary Lou McDonald on Brendan McDonagh out of the running for housing czar

Brendan McDonagh has dropped out of the running for housing czar, after Fine Gael sought to block his appointment at a special Cabinet meeting. Sinn Fein Leader Mary Lou McDonald gives her reaction to Shane on the show this morning.

Duration:00:07:48

Henry McKean reports on Special Olympics Collection Day!

Today is Special Olympics Collection Day. The Special Olympics can change lives from the first steps to the world stage. Henry McKean met a former athlete who became a coach and 7 year old Ellen, who is just starting out. It's Special Olympics Collection Day. Keep an eye out for the bucket collectors or log onto Special Olympics.ie.

Duration:00:04:47

Is the leaving cert new syllabus is being dumbed down?

A university lecturer and author of Leaving Cert textbooks on construction studies has resigned from a group tasked with redeveloping the subject over claims that the new syllabus is being “dumbed down”. To discuss this further Trevor Hickey, Associate professor and Course Director of the Teacher Education programme for construction studies at University of Limerick.

Duration:00:05:48

Brendan McDonagh has pulled himself out of the running for housing czar

NAMA Chief Brendan McDonagh has pulled himself out of the running for housing czar following controversy over the 400,000-euro salary. We get the latest on this with Louise Burne, Political Correspondent for the Irish Daily Mirror.

Duration:00:07:12

Red Carpet Round Up with Esther McCarthy

Esther McCarthy Lifestyle Editor and Saturday Weekend Magazine Columnist with The Irish Examiner joins us for this week’s red carpet round up.

Duration:00:04:56

Calls on electricity suppliers to help consumers save money

Electricity suppliers should offer customers price plans that allow them to save money, change consumption patterns and reduce emissions. That’s the call from the Climate Change Advisory Council, who are today launching their annual review of the electricity sector. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Marie Donnelly the Council’s Chair.

Duration:00:04:53

Katie Amess, daughter of murdered MP Sir David Amess following Kneecap’s apology

Katie Amess is the daughter of the late British MP Sir David Amess, who was murdered in 2021 in a brutal terrorist attack. She’s spoken out in recent days following a video showing Irish rap group Kneecap calling for MPs to be killed. After widespread criticism, the band has issued an apology, saying they “regret any hurt caused.” Shane spoke to Katie this morning on the show.

Duration:00:09:01

Could you marry someone without knowing their political beliefs?

“When my husband told me he voted for Brexit, I thought he was joking. I only realised how different our political views are after our wedding. But we’ve made it work” Those are the words of freelance journalist Rhiannon Picton-James who spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Duration:00:08:29

The lack of Irish language secondary schools in the Dublin South City area

Pupils from 5 Gaelscoils will be protesting outside Leinster House today, as doubts have emerged around government plans to introduce an Irish language secondary school in the Dublin South City area. Shane spoke to Julian de Spáinn is Chairperson of the Parents Committee for a Gaelcholáiste in Dublin 2,4,6,8.

Duration:00:05:04

Calls to take the next steps to decriminalising drug use in Ireland

The new Oireachtas Committee on Drugs must move forward with implementing a health-led approach to drug use rather than a criminal one. That’s according to the Citywide Drugs Crisis Campaign. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was the newly appointed Committee Chair Gary Gannon, Social Democrats TD.

Duration:00:05:37

Investigation into disappearance of Michael Gaine upgraded to homicide

The probe into the disappearance of Kerry farmer Michael Gaine has been reclassified as a homicide investigation. We get the latest with Conor Lally, Irish Times Crime and Security Editor.

Duration:00:04:32

The Irish citizen who believes she is being monitored by China

Nuria Zyden, a naturalised Irish citizen who lives in Dublin, receives regular calls from the police in China and believes she is being monitored. Nuria outline why she feels she is being monitored by the Chinese authorities to Shane this morning.

Duration:00:07:25

A plan to speed up asylum applications before the cabinet today

Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan will bring the General Scheme of the International Protection Bill to Cabinet today to speed up asylum applications - including a three-month time limit for decisions We get reaction to the plans from Nick Henderson, CEO of the Irish Refugee Council and also Cathal Malone, Immigration lawyer and Head of Legal Research at Thomas Coughlan & Co Solicitors.

Duration:00:09:15

Spain has declared a state of emergency after a massive power cut

Spain has declared a state of emergency after a massive power cut hit large parts of the country and Portugal, causing widespread disruption. With more on this we spoke to Dr Paul Cuffe, Assistant Professor, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University College Dublin also Editor of TravelExtra.ie Eoghan Corry.

Duration:00:07:17

More than 40% of 25-year-old Irish men drink 'hazardous levels' of alcohol

More than two-fifths of 25-year-old Irish men and a third of women are drinking at levels the World Health Organization classifies as "hazardous," according to a new CSO report on the wellbeing of young adults. We heard from CEO of Alcohol Action Ireland Dr Sheila Gilheanys with reaction to this report findings.

Duration:00:07:35

Do we all need a crash course in adulting?

Courses that teach you to budget, make a roast dinner or change a tyre are signs that the transition to adulthood has changed – so wrote a journalist in the Independent this morning. Could we all do with a crash course in adulting? All to discuss with Dr. Brendan Kelly, Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin.

Duration:00:05:17

Gerry Adams’ defamation case against the BBC gets underway