Highlights From Newstalk Breakfast

Dublin could be about to introduce a directly elected mayor. The Dublin Citizens’ Assembly will meet for the final time tomorrow in Dublin Castle, to vote on the issue and to discuss what local government structures the best suit the city. Jim Gavin who led the Dublin footballers to 6 All Irelands has been chairing the Assembly and joined Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Women are being ‘thrown out’ of the hospital too soon after given birth – that's according to Sabina Higgins. Is this a fair take? In reaction to these comments Newstalk Breakfast spoke to Dr Peter Boylan Former Master of the National Maternity Hospital and Life Governor.

Solicitors across the country are calling for a review of personal injury awards in light of cost-of-living crisis, as inflation increases. There is widespread concern among those intending to sue, that the compensation will not even cover the cost of ongoing medical treatments and expenses. To discuss this further, Ciara spoke to Solicitor and Senior Counsel– Stuart Gilhooley..

Ending domestic, sexual and gender-based violence isn’t an option for us – it is an obligation. That’s the word of Justice Minister Helen McEntee writing in the Irish Independent today and Minister McEntee spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

The EU’s Council of Energy Ministers is again meeting today where the proposed windfall tax on renewable and nuclear energy companies will be ratified. Environment Minister Eamon Ryan will be representing Ireland at the meeting and spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

With each rate hike and each bill, we are reminded of the need to conserve energy this winter. Those who have braved turning on the heat are closing windows and doors to keep the warmth in, but what about outdoor heaters in restaurants and pubs heating the open air. Now that COVID restrictions have been scrapped – should outdoor heaters be also? Environmentalist and architect Duncan Stweart spoke to Ciara this morning with his view on this.

Russia's Vladimir Putin will hold a signing ceremony today to annex four more areas of Ukraine. This comes following self-styled referendums that have been strongly condemned by Ukraine and the West as a sham. Joining me now is Ukrainian MP - Lesia Vasylenko.

Research from children's charity Barnardo's has revealed that 60% of children surveyed would not tell their parents if they were cyberbullied. Suzanne Connolly, CEO of Barnardos outlined the findings to Shane Beatty on Breakfast Briefing earlier Director of Engagement in DCU Anti-Bullying Centre, who is also responsible for anti-bullying programmes in schools - Darran Heaney

Finance Minister, Paschal O’Donoghue announced a 10% levy on concrete this week in the budget. A number of backbencher TDs have been critical of the measure and expressed their concerns amid cost of living concerns. Among those is Sean Canney, Galway East Independent TD who spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Large energy users and residential customers on 'smart tariffs' will see higher electricity costs during the peak hours from 5pm to 7pm. It follows a decision today by the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities following a consultation period announced last month. To explain this further Newstalk Breakfast spoke to Energy Economist & Senior Research Officer with ESRI – Muireann Lynch.

Almost half of all bird species are in decline globally with the figure even higher at 63% for Irish birds That’s according to the latest State of the World’s Birds report which says that one in eight birds globally are threatened with extinction. Oonagh Duggan, Head of Advocacy, BirdWatch Ireland spoke to Shane this morning.

Budget 2023 saw the expansion of the recent free contraception scheme to those aged 16-30. It means contraception will be permitted for those aged 16 despite the age of consent being 17. So is now the time for a conversation about lowering the age? Dr. Pádraig MacNeela Active Consent Programme Co-Lead at the School of the Psychology University of Galway spoke to Ciara this morning.

We heard lots of criticism from the opposition in the lead-up to the official budget announcement but what do they make of the measures in full? Sinn Féin spokesperson on Agriculture and TD for Cavan Monaghan Matt Carthy spoke to Shane this morning on the show.

Holiday homeowners are a threat to the survival of the Irish language - well that's according to Údarás na Gaeltachta. The organisation says that the purchase of holiday homes is eating into the limited housing supply in Irish-speaking areas – driving young people out and killing the language in the process. Board Chairperson Anna Ní Ghallachair joins Newstalk Breakfast to discuss.

Back to the budget – the Department of Social Protection announced a whopping package of 2.2 billion euro. How are they spending it? Minister for Social Protection, Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphries spoke to Ciara this morning on the show.

Summer has well and truly come to an end, and with the weather getting foul and the evenings darkening rapidly, many people can experience a real dip in their mood. So how can you combat the onset of the winter blues? Dr. Anne Kehoe, Senior Clinical Psychologist and chartered member of the Psychological Society of Ireland spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Ukraine’s authorities have said citizens helping to organise Russia’s so-called “referendums”, which concluded yesterday in the occupied territories, will face up to five years in prison for their role in orchestrating them. Joining us from the city of Kryvyi Rih in central Ukraine is International Editor for Channel 4 News and author Lindsey Hilsum.

The Government unveiled Budget 2023 yesterday - an overall package of supports worth more than €10 billion. Shane was joined on the show by Roderic O'Gorman, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth to discuss Budget 2023.

The Bank of England has said it will not hesitate to hike interest rates after the pound fell to a record low against the US dollar. For more on this Shane spoke to Vincent McAviney, a London-based Journalist.

It’s D-Day for the coalition government Budget Day 2023. Our reporter Josh Crosbie went on the road from Athlone to Dublin asking people what they would like to see. Also joining Ciara to discuss Budget Day 2023 was Political Reporter with the Irish Independent, Gabija Gataveckaite.