Highlights From Newstalk Breakfast

embers of the Defence Forces are to begin training so they can stand in for security personnel at Dublin Airport in the event of a Covid-19 surge. The Government has supported a request from Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan and Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton to allow Defence Forces members to begin to assist the Dublin Airport Authority. Minister of State at the Department of Transport Hildegarde Naughton

I don’t need to be patronised and told that every line on my face tells a story’ - so says bestselling author Sheila O’Flanagan who spoke to Shane this morning.

The army has been put on standby to help at Dublin Airport until the end of the summer but there’s already been criticism of using soldiers to cover the staff shortages For more on this Newstalk Breakfast spoke to Paul Murphy People Before Profit TD for Dublin South West.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions will come before an Oireachtas Committee meeting later today to voice their concerns about issues within the hospitality industry – where they say workers are exploited and mistreated – and it’s led to the staffing crisis that we see today. Johnathan was joined on the show this morning by Fiona Dunne, One National Co-Ordinator at the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU).

Former US President Donald Trump tried to take the steering wheel from his Secret Service limousine driver in an attempt to join the crowd marching on the US Capitol last year, a top aide in his administration Cassidy Hutchinson. With more on this Shane spoke to BBC North American Correspondent Anthony Zurcher /

Dalton Philips the CEO of the DAA has warned of the possibility of a cap on flights from Dublin Airport as it continues to struggle with staffing issues. It comes as Aer Lingus cancelled flights at the weekend due to the impact of covid-related absences. But what exactly would a flight cap mean for the many holiday goers who have already booked flights? With reaction to this Aideen spoke to Padraig Ó Céidigh, Founder of Aer Lingus Regional and former chairman of Shannon Group.

Yesterday it was confirmed that the head of the HSE Paul Reid would be stepping down from his position in December. What implications could this have for the HSE? Shane was joined on the show this morning by Dr Eddie Molloy Independent Management Consultant.

British Socialite Ghislaine Maxwell is due to be sentenced today. She is facing up to 65 years in prison for her role in an elaborate child sexual abuse case involving disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein Harriett Alexander a New York-based reporter spoke to Aideen this morning.

Boris Johnson's legislation to scrap parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol has cleared its first Commons hurdle. The bill passed by 295 votes to 221 despite attracting fierce criticism from a number of MPs on the Tory benches as well as the opposition. Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney spoke to Shane on the show this morning.

County councillors who become pregnant will be able to avail of maternity leave under plans expected to be signed off at Cabinet this week. Minister of State Peter Burke is expected to bring the amendments to the Local Government Act to Cabinet today after they were deferred last week. Joining Aideen to discuss this was Labour Party Councillor Joanna Tuffy and Hazel Chu, Former Lord Mayor of Dublin.

Instagram is testing out new technology to verify the age of teenagers using the platform. This is part of the social network’s efforts to improve user safety and wellbeing. Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent, Jess Kelly spoke to Newstalk Breakfast with more on this.

The average price of a home in Dublin is now €429,000, 95% above its lowest point that’s according to a new report from Daft.ie Economist at Trinity College Dublin and author of the report, Ronan Lyons spoke to Newstalk Breakfast to discuss the findings of this report.

The Chief Executive of the HSE has said plans to reconfigure the Emergency Department at Our Lady's Hospital Navan will proceed, despite a request from Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly to put them on hold. For more on this Shane spoke to the Clinical Director of Our Lady's Hospital in Navan, Dr. Gerry McEntee and Aontu leader and TD for Meath West, Peadar Toibin.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee is facing a backlash from other cabinet ministers over plans to give Gardaí powers to use controversial facial recognition technology in murder, missing person, and child sex abuse cases. That’s according to the Sunday Independent, who yesterday revealed that the Green Party ministers and Health Minister Stephen Donnelly all expressed concerns over the move. But is it a good idea? Liam Herrick is the Executive Director of The Irish Council for Civil Liberties

A classic encounter between Galway and Armagh in the All Ireland Quarter Finals yesterday was tarnished by ugly scenes and violence between both benches at the end of regular time. With this being far from the first time an incident like this has happened on a GAA field, is now the time to address the problem? Ray Silke is a Former Galway Footballer and spoke to Newstalk Breakfast with his view.

Dog fouling fines should be increased tenfold. That’s the view of Patrick Costello is the Green Party Justice Spokesperson who believes upping penalties from €150 to €1,500 would both deter offenders and incentivise enforcement. Patrick Costello spoke to Shane this morning on the show.

As of last week, 82 people have been killed on our roads so far this year with speeding the main contributor. An Garda Siochana are launching a #SlowDown Campaign to try and combat the high levels of speeding. Michael Hennebry, Chief Superintendent of the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau spoke to Johnathan this morning to discuss more about the campaign.

Shane was joined on the show by former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to look on his life and career.

Boris Johnson’s reign as UK prime minister looks even more precarious after his party suffered defeats in 2 key by-elections Philip Webster former political editor of the Times of London joined Shane on the show this morning to discuss further.

Seven men have been arrested after gardaí seized over €2 million worth of drugs and hundreds of thousands of euros in cash linked to the Kinahan cartel. Nicola Tallant, Investigations editor with the Sunday World spoke to Newstalk Breakfast with more on this story.