Highlights From Newstalk Breakfast

Whether you travel by car, bus, rail, walk or even use e-scooters commuting is back to almost pre-pandemic levels. Here at Newstalk we have been asking you, the listeners, to get in touch and give us your feedback on commuting. How much has changed? How little has changed, and how is it affecting your pocket? Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie gives us a breakdown of the results.

Fine Gael members meet in Kilkenny on Friday. Today is the first of a two-day think-in for Fine Gael, wherein the party members will discuss ways for how the party can stand up for working people. Shane was joined this morning live from the think-in by Tánaiste and Fine Gael Leader Leo Varadkar.

Queen Elisabeth II, the longest-serving monarch in British history had remarkable 70 years of her reign. What will be her legacy and what’s the future of British monarchy under the new King Charles III? This morning on the show Ciara and Shane spoke to Edwina Curry - Former British Conservative Minister, John Bruton - Former Taoiseach and also Jennie Bond - former BBC Royal Correspondent.

Queen Elisabeth had made her historic visit to Republic of Ireland in 2011. The four-day trip was designed to promote reconciliation and encourage healing. How this visit has been remembered? Newstalk Breakfast spoke to Bobby McDonagh is a Former Irish Ambassador to the UK and EU, Eamon Gillmore – former Tánaiste and Minister of Foreign Affairs, who welcomed the British monarch on her visit to Ireland in 2011 and also Kate Hoey - Baroness and former member of the House of Lords. 

Europe’s energy market looks set for radical changes as EU energy ministers meet today Brussels. Among the changes proposed – there looks set to be a price cap on Russian gas, alongside measures including a mandatory EU cut in electricity use and a cap on the revenue of non-gas power generators. Ireland is being represented at the meeting by Minister for Transport, Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan.

 Queen Elisabeth II passed away at Balmoral Castle in Scotland yesterday afternoon at the age of 96. Her son Charles immediately succeeded her as King Charles III and described the Queen’s passing as a moment of the greatest sadness for all members of the royal family. Stephen Bates Former Royal Correspondent of the Guardian and Author of Royalty Inc Britan's best-known Brand

The new school year is well underway, and thousands of families are now back in the routine of school drop-offs, sports training and music lessons. But between education and extracurricular activities - are some children being spread too thin? Some experts think so... Psychotherapist and the Author Stella O’Malley

Dublin Fringe Festival is back after a two-year hiatus, with a full line-up of events running across the city. 430 artists will make up this year's edition with a full-on calendar of events to offer for 16 days and nights. What does this year's edition have to offer? Ruth McGowan, Dublin Fringe Festival Director and CEO joined us on Newstalk Breakfast to discuss.

The European Central Bank is today expected to hike interest rates with some experts predicting the hike could be as high as .75%. So what will it mean for mortgage holders? Martina Hennessy managing director of Doddl.ie joined Ciara on the show to expalin.

Reduce electricity prices by pegging them back to ‘pre-crisis levels’ at a cost of €1.7 billion. That’s the call from Pearse Doherty, Sinn Fein spokesperson for finance who joined us on Newstalk Breakfast.

People ­try­ing to lose weight through extreme detox treat­ments are put­ting them­selves at risk of poten­tial life-threat­en­ing side effects. That’s the view of Dietician Orla Walsh.

The first round of CAO offers will be released at 2pm this afternoon. Education Editor of The Irish Times, Carl O’Brien joined us on Newstalk Breakfast.

The iPhone 14 is here! Apple launched the device yesterday along with a range of other products at the first in-person event hosted by the company since 2019. Newstalk’s technology correspondent Jess Kelly has all the details

Energia yesterday became the latest energy supplier to increase both its residential electricity and gas prices from next month- it's the second hike this year. But can we expect yet more hikes in the coming winter? John Fitzgerald is an Adjunct Professor in Economics at Trinty College Dublin and he spoke to Ciara this morning.

That is one of the more iconic scenes from last year’s Ultimate Hell Week on RTÉ when you heard some rather angry special forces members getting contestants to clean their sick on a beach. Tonight, the show makes its return to our screens with 20 new stars being put to the ultimate test. Ray Goggins Former Special Forces Operator, Ultimate Hell Week Chief Instructor talked to Ciara and Shane this morning.

Tenants are in line for a first-of-its-kind tax credit on their monthly rent under measures being considered for the Budget later this month. And despite recent controversy over the number of landlords in the Dáil, there may also be new incentives for property owners who agree to long-term leases. To discuss this further, Newstalk Breakfast spoke to Carol Tallon CEO of Property District and author of Irish Property Buyers Handbook annual.

With a range of measures planned in the upcoming budget to ease the burden of the cost of living crisis, how much can we really afford to spend? Kieran McQuinn, Research Professor at the ESRI, will be giving his view before the Oireachtas Committee on Budgetary Oversight later today and spoke to Newstalk Breakfast ahead of that meeting.

New British prime minister Liz Truss announced her cabinet reshuffle yesterday evening with Therese Coffey landing the central role of deputy prime minister. Chris Heaton-Harris has been confirmed as the new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, having previously served as Minister of State for Europe and North America under Truss when she was Foreign Secretary. So what does this reshuffle mean for Northern Ireland? To discuss with Ciara was Sammy Wilson, DUP Brexit Spokesperson and Chris Hazzard, Sinn Féin MP for South Down.

Now, as you may have heard on the show yesterday, the Climate Change Advisory Council is looking to make people less reliant on fossil fuels. But will the cost of living force people to rely on the like of turf burning this Winter? or would this quite literally be adding fuel to the fire? To debate Newstalk Breakfast spoke to Independent TD for the Roscommon–Galway constituency, Michael FitzMaurice, and Environmental Journalist and Commentator, John Gibbons.

“It’s time to stop glamourising and oversimplifying mental health issues on social media.” That’s the headline of an article written by next guest, who says that social media companies like TikTok are allowing ‘dangerous’ videos on their platform which give misleading advice on mental illness. Bronagh Loughlin is a freelance journalist and spoke to Ciara this morning on the show.