Highlights From Newstalk Breakfast

Taoiseach Micheál Martin at a Fianna Fáil think-in in Cork and Ciara spoke to An Taoiseach on a variety of topics including the current presidential race.

The Social Democrats has said it has no plans to suspend Eoin Hayes for a second time after he was forced to apologise for wearing “brown makeup” on his face while dressing up as Barack Obama for Halloween 16 years ago.  We discussed this further with Dr Lucy Michael, Director at Lucy Michael Research and Research Lead at The Irish Network Against Racism Former Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.

Should energy credits be reintroduced as part of the budget ? Shane and Ciara discussed this morning.

From occasional bickering to having to see your aunt in secret due to a fallout she’s had with your mother, family feuds are a part of life.  But how can we navigate a row between relatives? All to discuss with Anne Kehoe, Senior Clinical Psychologist and past President of the Psychological Society of Ireland.

US President Donald Trump has arrived in the UK for a State visit, including an audience with King Charles and a meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer.   Telling us what we can expect from his visit is Vincent McAviney, London Based Journalist. 

With Halloween just around the corner, many of you may have noticed the shrinkflation of chocolate and other confectionary on the shelves...  Catriona Redmond, consumer columnist with the Irish Examiner has been writing about this and chatted to Shane this morning.

Yesterday’s so-called “Super Monday” of local authorities meeting with potential presidential candidates was actually not so super for Áras hopefuls.  Newstalk Chief Reporter Barry Whyte was at Dublin City Council last night. Daniel McConnell, Editor of the Business Post brought us the latest on the presidential race.

Between Apple’s new iPhone 17 and Google's latest Pixel 10, many of us will receive nudges from phone companies over the next while to upgrade our phones, but do you really need the latest model and what can you do to keep your current phone running for longer?   Newstalk's Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly bring us all the tips.

‘It breaks my heart to see the fabulous Irish cast getting hate online’. So says Anna Duke, who was an Irish contestant on The Traitors in the UK.

Former world champion boxer Ricky Hatton has died at the age of 46.  The British fighter nicknamed “the Hitman” won 45 of his 48 professional bouts across 15 years before he retired in 2012.   We spoke to Michael Carruth, Irish Olympic boxing gold medalist. 

Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien will send a memo to Cabinet next month to begin the process of drafting legislation that will remove Dublin Airport’s 32 million a year passenger cap.  We get reaction with Padraig Ó’Céidigh, Founder of Aer Lingus Regional and Former Senator and Chair of Shannon Group, also Louise O’Leary, spokesperson for Children’s Rights Over Flights.

Minuscule pieces of waste plastic, thousands of times smaller than a human hair, can damage our brains and may be contributing to the increasing global levels of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.  That’s according to new research led by Dr Gavin Davey, From the School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity College Dublin who spoke to Newstalk Breakfast.

It’s one of the perennial questions of parenting, how much should I pay my babysitter? According to Jen Hogan, Irish Times Columnist and Host of the “Conversations with Parents” Podcast, the cost of babysitters is becoming too high, pricing parents out of a chance to go out without the kids.  

Trust in medical professionals is under severe threat due to fringe conspiracy theories and “colossal” lies entering the mainstream. That’s the warning to future doctors from Dr Colin Doherty, Head of the School of Medicine at Trinity College Dublin and Consultant Neurologist at St. James' Hospital. 

Under new government proposals, learner drivers who have not passed their driving test after seven years will be required to take additional driving lessons in order to go back on the road.  Ciara discusses this further with Ger Herbert, Motoring Expert. 

The race to the Áras is fast approaching and today, Conor McGregor has announced he will now not seek a presidential nomination from Dublin City councillors. We get all the latest on the presential race with Pat Leahy,Political Editor of The Irish Times and Daniel McConnell, Editor at The Business Post   

2024 saw over 1,400 incidents involving difficult and unruly passengers on commercial flights operated by airlines certified by the Irish Aviation Authority. How much of this comes down to alcohol, and should it be banned on flights?  All to discuss with Eoghan Corry, Editor of TravelExtra.ie.

Even though many still find manners hugely important, there’s a growing attitude that children are ruder than they once were. So, are manners really on the decline, and who’s to blame? Genevieve Roberts, parenting columnist with the iPaper, recently asked that question herself and she joined Shane this morning to discuss further.

RTÉ has said it will pull out of the Eurovision Song Contest next year if Israel participates. We get reaction to Oliver Sears, Founder of Holocaust Awareness Ireland.

The Governor of Utah Spencer Cox has pledged to find the killer of Charlie Kirk and pursue the death penalty. The death of the conservative commentator has shocked America across the political divide, raising questions for the future of discourse and debate in the US. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast with reaction to the killing was Dan Mulhall, Former Ambassador of Ireland to the United States.