Highlights From Newstalk Breakfast

The residents of Newcestown are aiming to set the world record for the largest number of people named Michael Collins in the same place at the same time. This is of course in aid of the 100 anniversary of the Irish revolutionary hero’s death.. Niall O’Mahoney, Newcestown committee member and owner of O’Mahoney’s bar spoke to Newstalk Breakfast on their search.

Two new Amazon data centres have been granted planning permission in Dublin. The measure has drawn criticism from some, but is there a way we can make these operations more energy efficient? Shane spoke to Science Journalist Sean Duke with more on this. We’re joined now by Science Journalist Sean Duke

Gardaí are investigating after of the body of woman in her 70s was discovered in unexplained circumstances in her home in Co Kerry yesterday afternoon. For more on this tragic story, Newstalk Breakfast spoke to, Anne Lucey a journalist in Kerry.

Do you know where your young kids are spending their time when online? A global research found that the screen time of primary-age children went up by 83 minutes during the pandemic. Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent, Jess Kelly joined us on the show this morning and took a how your kids are spending their time online.

Excess­ive red tape is mak­ing it too com­plic­ated to develop vacant prop­er­ties and is contributing to the housing crisis. That’s the view of Hugh Wallace, Director at Douglas Wallace Architects, who spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning

Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath has said that the government is prepared to make an improved offer to public sector unions seeking pay increases ahead of next month’s Budget, However, the unions will be asked to show flexibility and that pay increases will not be able to match the record levels of inflation. John King is SIPTU Deputy General Secretary.

Kerry County has dramatically increased the number of fines issued for dog fouling – that's according to the report issued by the National Council for the Blind in Ireland. So has Kerry managed to solve a stinking problem and encourage pet owners to clean after their dogs? We asked Jackie Healy-Rae, Independent Councillor for Kerry, who spoke to Newstalk Breakfast.

Calls to extend mortgages for periods of up to 50 years in Ireland caused consternation late last week, as we heard on Friday morning’s show. But some countries favour ultralong mortgages including Sweden. Paul O’Mahony, Editor at The Local, an English language Swedish publication spoke to Vincent this morning.

A Status Orange thunderstorm warning for Ireland remains in effect until later this morning. For the latest on the weather today Newstalk Breakfast spoke to Brandon Creagh, Met Eireann Forecaster.

Health minister Stephen Donnelly has agreed to meet doctors representing the National Gender Service over concerns about the HSE’s ongoing use of the UK-based Tavistock Clinic for Irish children dealing with gender identity issues. Four senior doctors representing the body raised their concerns after the HSE said it would continue using the clinic despite critical reports of their treatment. For more on the story, Shane was joined on the show this morning by Mark Tighe, a reporter on Sunday Independent.

With the good weather is sticking around for a while so what should you do with your time if you aren’t going to the beach or the park? Maybe you would consider hiking? - guide and hiker, Clodagh McKevitt bring us some tips and advice on hiking this summer.

Simon Harris is pushing to fast-track plans that would reduce university fees by €500 in next month’s budget, so said the Irish Times and the Independent this morning. Is this the right move for third level students – and how realistic is this proposal? Guidance Counsellor and Irish Times Columnist Brian Mooney spoke to Newstalk Breakfast with more on this.

Retailers across Dublin are facing, threats, intimidation and assaults every single day. That’s according to Ex Garda inspector Tony Gallagher who says the situation has become an “epidemic” in comments in the Irish Mirror. Tony Gallagher now works as a risk, security and event manager with Ashtree Risk Group and spoke to Shane this morning on the show.

Mortgage terms should be extended for periods of up to 40 and 50 years to address the lack of homeownership among people on lower incomes. That’s the call from Pat Davitt, CEO of the Institute of Professional Auctioneers & Valuers, who spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Tory leadership hopeful Rishi Sunak has vowed to axe “low-earning degrees” if he wins the battle for Number 10 – meaning subjects like art, drama and humanities are potentially on the block in the UK. Are there benefits to studying an arts degree? With reaction to this Shane spoke to Eimear McGovern, Assistant News Editor with the Belfast Telegraph.

As England's most-capped player, goalkeeper Peter Shilton had the world at his feet. Off the pitch, he was in the grip of a gambling addiction his entire adult life -until his wife became his recovery. Steph Shilton spoke to Aideen on the show this morning.

Inflation remains at a 38-year high of 9.1% for the month of July with an increase in the cost of home heating oil, electricity, gas, and solid fuels one of the main drivers of the high rate. Could the high cost of living and working at home drive people back to the office? Peter Cosgrove Managing Director of Futurewise spoke to Aideen this morning on the show.

Ireland educates healthcare professionals for export and has done so for decades. That is the view of Dr Suzanne Crowe, Intensive care specialist at Crumlin children’s hospital and president of the Medical Council, who spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

A Longford pensioner has said he is living in fear after his car was destroyed by vandals in the dead of night last week. Christy Gorman spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Four experts in climate science and law have written to the Government to say the sectoral emissions ceilings agreed upon last month are flawed and in breach of legislation. One of the signatories is Barry McMullin, Professor in the Faculty of Engineering and Computing at DCU who spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.