Highlights From Newstalk Breakfast

The President’s wife Sabina Higgins has said she strongly condemns the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine but that she was “dismayed” that people criticised her call for a ceasefire. In a statement Ms Higgins also said she posted the letter originally published in the Irish Times on her own dedicated section of the Áras website but that she removed it when she "saw it being presented as not being from myself” Kira Rudyk Ukrainian MP and Erin McGreehan Fianna Fail Senator gave Newstalk Breakfast their reaction to this statement.

This week is world breastfeeding week and with low rates of breastfeeding in Ireland, is it still sexualised in our society? “Wouldn’t it be great if we could stop seeing women’s bodies — breasts in particular — as sexual things, and instead start celebrating what the female form can do?” That is the opinion of Chrissie Russell, Freelance Journalist with the Irish Independent who spoke to Ciara this morning.

Licences allowing coursing clubs to capture live hares for the winter season have been granted by the government despite renewed calls from animal welfare advocates for a ban on the sport. The Irish Council Against Blood Sports released a statement saying it was “shameful” that the practice of hare coursing would be permitted to continue into next year. To debate this Shane spoke to Aideen Yourell, spokesperson for the council and Michael Healy Rae, Independent TD for Kerry .

Irish homes switching their homes to heat pumps would lead to an increase in the electricity needed to run them, but there would be a decrease in transmission costs. That’s according to new research from the ESRI this morning. Murieann Lynch Energy Economist at the ESRI, carried out the research and joined Ciara this morning on the show.

The inflation crisis is having a disproportionate impact on Ireland’s women, and the government urgently needs to address the problem with income support and investment in public services. That’s according to the National Women’s Council of Ireland. Jennifer McCarthy Flynn is Head of Policy at the National Women's Council and spoke to Jonathan on the show this morning.

After nearly 9,000 episodes stretched over 37 years – this Wednesday will mark the final episode of beloved Australian soap Neighbours on Irish TV. Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan and Margot Robbie are just some of the stars reprising their roles for the show’s finale. Lucinda Cowden who plays Melanie Pearson in Neighbours spoke to Ciara on the ending of the beloved soap.

President Michael D Higgins has released a statement reiterating his condemnation of Russia’s ongoing war. However, the statement did not reference criticism of his wife Sabina for writing a letter on the conflict in last Friday’s Irish Times. The letter was also published on the Áras’s website but was subsequently removed. With reaction, Ciara spoke to Shane Ross Former Minister for Transport and John McGahon Fine Gael Senator.

State subsidies to private secondary schools increased last year to €121 million. That’s according to Department of Education figures released to Sinn Fein, which has vowed to end subsidies to fee-paying schools if it enters government. Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire is a Sinn Fein TD and party spokesperson on education and skills and Barbara Ennis is Principal of Alexandra College in Milltown in Dublin both spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Ekin-Su and Davide have been crowned winners of Love Island 2022, while Irish contestants Dami Hope and Indiyah finished third. So how did this season of the hit show stack up against previous years? Joining Ciara was Orlaith Condon is a Journalist and host of the My Pod on Paper podcast.

The first ship carrying grain has left a Ukrainian port under a landmark deal with Russia. The ship which left Odesa is the first shipment of grain since the beginning of the war in February. Could the deal lead to other exports being allowed? For more on this Newstalk Breakfast spoke to John Everard Former UK Ambassador to North Korea and Belarus

The introduction of minimum pricing for alcohol in Scotland has driven some people to turn to cheap street drugs instead. That’s the warning from health experts from The Scottish Drugs Forum, after it emerged that the country remains the drug death capital of Europe. Given the introduction of minimum unit pricing earlier this year, should we be concerned about similar unintended consequences on our waters? Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Dr Garrett McGovern is Medical Director at the Priority Medical Clinic in Dundrum.

Hannah Noonan, an 11-year-old girl from Limerick will be raising awareness across the month of September in memory of her grandfather who passed away from pulmonary fibrosis in March. Hannah will share a joke a day on social media every day in September Hannah and her mother Sharon Noonan joined Newstalk Breakfast tell us more about this campaign.

It will be England versus Germany/France this Sunday in the Women’s Euros final with the entire tournament having been broadcast live by RTE. With the Irish team also facing a key qualifier against Finland in September in their quest to reach the World Cup, just how key is the coverage of the game to more girls taking up the sport? Lisa Fallon UEFA Pro Licence football coach, currently working with FIFA in their High-Performance Department and Lisa joined Ciara this morning on the show.

Energy Supplier Panda Energy has raised its electricity prices for the seventh time in just over a year, all while energy companies are reporting surging profits. So reads the story in this morning’s Independent. So are energy companies are unfairly passing off rising costs to customers? For reaction Newstalk Breakfast spoke to Richard Boyd Barrett is a People Before Profit TD.

A deal has been reached by Government leaders on carbon emission reductions for the agriculture sector. Farmers will be asked to reduce emissions by 25% by 2030 Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Dogs will be banned for the summer, while playing sports like hurling or volleyball could be banned outright on beaches across County Galway if draft bylaws are adopted. Alastair McKinstry is a Green Party Councillor for Connemara South who spoke to Johnathan this morning with more on this.

Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy will finally hear the verdict of their Wagatha Christie trial today. The legal battle between the pair came after Rooney publicly accused Vardy of leaking fake stories to the press and sued the fellow footballer’s wife for libel. Gareth Davies, Breaking News Editor at Daily Telegraph spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Tomorrow is International Friendship Day and ALONE, the national organisation that enables older people to age at home is celebrating by supporting and befriending volunteers nationwide. One man who has felt ‘marvelous’ benefits from ALONE’s volunteering service is Christy Treacy, a 75-year-old ALONE member who told Ciara about the importance of friendship.

Yesterday evening, coalition leaders reached a deal that will see a reduction of 25% in greenhouse gas emissions for the agriculture sector by 2030. Government sources have said farmers will be incentivised to deliver more emissions cuts in other sectors like energy and land use. For more on this Newstalk Breakfast spoke to Tim Cullinan, President of the Irish Farmers Association, and Cara Augustenborg, Professor of Environmental Policy at University College Dublin and a member of the Climate Advisory council.

The Irish music scene may have been dominated by Electric Picnic but recent years have seen the rise of smaller festival from Sea Sessions, to Body & Soul, Longtude and beyond. This weekend alone sees All Together Now take place in Waterford while Indiependence makes its return in Mitchelstown. Shane Dunne is Managing Director of Indiependence and he told Ciara on the great lineup in store this weekend.