Highlights From Newstalk Breakfast

The HSE is currently preparing their Winter Plan with the threat of a ‘twindemic’ of Covid and flu expected to put significant strain on hospitals this winter. Dr Colm Henry Chief Clinical Officer with the HSE spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Eviction notices have begun to surge again: In the first half of 2022, almost 3,000 eviction notices have been issued according to the Residential Tenancies Board, having doubled since last year. Is it time to bring back the eviction ban to tackle the cost-of-living crisis? To discuss

A male contraceptive jab is on the way, but will it truly equalise reproductive control? - That is the question posed by Journalist, Writer, and Columnist with the Irish Independent Mary Kenny in a recent article and Mary spoke to Ciara this morning.

Catholics are predicted to be the biggest faith group in Northern Ireland for the first time when the results of the 2021 census are published later today. So what sort of impact with this symbolic demographic shift have on the future in the north? To discuss Newstalk Breakfast spoke to Brian Feeney an Irish News Columnist and Political Commentator.

Today is World Car-Free day, and people around the world are being encouraged to make a special effort not to use the car. But how soon will it be until our towns and cities are completely car-free? Hannah Daly is a Professor in Sustainable Energy at the School of Engineering in University College Cork and joined Ciara this morning.

It’s reported that over 100 protesters have been arrested and thousands have fled Russia, following Putin’s announcement that he was introducing “partial mobilisation,” to bolster his army in Ukraine. Ciara spoke to Moscow Correspondent for The Guardian, Andrew Roth live in Moscow.

September is childhood Cancer Awareness month. This morning on the show Ciara spoke to Roseanna Ruane, mother of Saoirse Ruane the little girl who fought cancer and warmed our hearts on the Late Late Toy Show back in 2020.

Almost three in five people in Ireland agree that EU countries should be allowed to delay meeting EU environmental targets in order to deal with the current energy crisis. This is according to the latest annual European Movement Ireland ‘Ireland and the EU’ poll. Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne spoke to Shane with more on this.

The Cabinet yesterday signed off on its major pension reform plan which will see the retirement age staying at 66, but allow people to continue to work if they choose. Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys made clear that PRSI increases "will be needed in the future" to pay for her pension plan. Chairperson at the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, Sebastian Barnes spoke to Ciara this morning on the show.

A new campaigning group to defend Ireland's Neutrality is launching today, on the UN International Day of Peace. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Jim Roache Irish Neutrality League and PRO Steering Committee, of the Irish Anti-War Movement.

The HSE’s new recommendation on home births - which excludes women who live within 30 minutes from their nearest hospital - would eradicate choice for mothers if implemented that's the view of Fianna Fail TD Christopher O’Sullivan who says he will do everything to ensure it doesn’t happen Krysia Lynch is the Chair of The Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services in Ireland (AIMS) spoke to Ciara this morning.

Education Minister Norma Foley will today go before the Oireachtas Education Committee answering questions on the major issues facing the school transport area. Aodhan O’Riordan Labour’s Education Spokesperson will be one of those putting the questions and spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

‘There are not enough Irish ports to deliver offshore wind energy target’– that's the warning in a new report from Wind Energy Ireland today CEO of Wind Energy Ireland Noel Cunliffe spoke to Shane this morning on the show.

The Oireachtas Housing Committee will today examine issues facing the rental housing sector in Ireland. Pat Davitt CEO of the Institute of Professional Auctioneers & Valuers will be one of those before the committee and he spoke to Shane this morning on the show.

The choices we make in how we heat our homes and how we travel directly impacts the quality of the air we breathe. That’s according to the 2021 Air Quality Report from the Environmental Protection Agency, which found that there are approximately 1,300 premature deaths annually in Ireland due to poor air quality from fine particulate matter. Pat Kenny is an EPA Senior Scientific Officer and co-author of the report and joined Shane this morning on the show.

Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys is bringing proposals to Cabinet to ensure the State pension age remains at 66 - rather than 68 as recommended by the Pension Commission. The Minister is also expected to recommend a flexible pension age, in which people who choose to work beyond 66 years of age receive higher rates of pension payment. For more on this Shane spoke to Pension Commission Member John McGrane

An investigation been launched after a Garda car was rammed in Dublin last night. Footage of the incident which happened in Cherry Orchard just after 7:30pm has been widely shared on social media. Daithí Doolan Sinn Féin Councillor for Ballyfermot/Drimnagh and Chairman of the Joint policing Committee for Dublin South Central gave Newstalk Breakfast his reaction to last night's incident.

Ireland is a “hub for a tax avoidance” and its current tax policies are hurting the tax bases of other European countries. That's the view of Dutch MEP, Paul Tang. Why are Ireland’s fiscal policies raising concerns among our European partners? We asked Paul Tang, Dutch MEP and a member of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats group within the European Parliament, and chair of the subcommittee on tax matters.

The National Ploughing Championships are back the first time in three years. 300,000 visitors are set to converge on the event in Laois this morning, and they can expect to lap up the autumn sunshine with temperatures set to hit 19 degrees. Anna Marie McHugh Deputy Managing Director of the National Ploughing Championships and the General Secretary of World Ploughing Championships joined Shane this morning ahead of the first day of the events.

Gardaí have issued a list of red flags to look out for after a number of students fell victim to a rent scam Jess Kelly, Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent spoke to Newstalk Breakfast to advise what to look out for with these scams.