Highlights From Newstalk Breakfast

A recent survey has placed Ireland in the top 10 countries most pessimistic about the future. We asked Brendan Kelly, Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin why are we so gloomy? 

A best-selling crime writer, a retired police detective and a communications expert from County Down are among the contestants on the new series of The Traitors in the UK, which kicked off last night on BBC One.  We heard from Niamh O’Reilly, Freelance Journalist and Traitors Superfan.

House prices nationally rose by an average of 5.5% during 2025, with prices now 41% above their pre-covid levels and just 10% below their Celtic Tiger peak.  That’s according to a new report from Daft.ie.  Ronan Lyons Professor in Economics at Trinity College Dublin and author of the report discusses these findings.

The first victim of the tragic fire at a ski resort in Switzerland has been named as Emanuele Galeppini, an Italian teen golfer.  Officials continue to investigate the exact cause of the fire in which over 40 people were killed and 115 were injured, although they have already ruled out a terror attack. Speaking to Ciara this morning was Felix Smith a journalist for Bauer Media Copenhagen. 

The government should create an independent expert group to fix its fragmented energy policy, which is punishing consumers.   That’s the call from industry group Fuels for Ireland, whose CEO Kevin McPartlan explained why to Newstalk Breakfast.

get your scarves and gloves at the ready as we look ahead to this weekend’s weather with Alan O’Reilly of Carlow Weather.

Mental health charity Turn2Me warns that overly ambitious resolutions can actually do more harm than good, and we should instead adopt a more realistic and compassionate approach. All to discuss with Turn2Me CEO Fiona O’Malley.

Gardaí believe the petrol bombing of a family home in north Dublin was a botched attack actually intended for a man living in the Finglas area who is suspected of involvement in organised crime.   A family of five were injured in the blaze but managed to escape their burning home. We get more details on this with Conor Lally, Security and Crime Editor for the Irish Times. 

A classic Christmas tale... thoughts about getting presents for our loved ones go from ‘I have plenty of time’ to ‘Oh no’ in the blink of an eye.    But how do we course correct now that the damage has been done and the time lost?    Lifestyle Editor and Saturday Weekend Magazine Columnist with The Irish Examiner, Esther McCarthy joined us on Newstalk Breakfast to present thoughtful last-minute gifts that just might save your Christmas... 

Tomorrow, boys and girls will find gifts under the tree as Santa delivers presents across the world. But has he been cleared to enter Irish airspace, and where is he now?   Aisling Duff is an Air Traffic Controller with AirNav, and joined Jonathan Healy on the show.

A judicial review of the Metrolink project has been withdrawn in what Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien has called "an early Christmas present". Paul Hosford, Acting Political Editor of the Irish Examiner, joined us on the show this morning.

Two police officers and another person have been killed in a car blast in Moscow, Russia's investigative committee has said. It happened close to the scene where a Russian general was killed by a bomb on Wednesday.  Meanwhile Russia has continued to launch strikes targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure, while peace talks between the two nations have thus far yielded little progress.  Emmanuelle Chaze, Ukraine correspondent for Radio France Internationale and France24 joined us on Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

At least 8,000 new documents related to the case of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were made available yesterday on the US Department of Justice's website.   This latest release includes many references to Donald Trump, including a claim by a senior US attorney that the US president was on a flight in the 1990s with the now-deceased convicted child sex offender and a 20-year-old woman.   Larry Donnelly Law lecturer from University of Galway and Columnist with The Journal spoke to Shane Coleman on the show.

88 per cent of people believe that there is a worrying amount of anxiety in society. That’s according to a new report from St Patrick’s Mental Health Services. So, why are we becoming increasingly anxious?    Psychotherapist and Author Iseult White joined Shane Coleman on the show to discuss.

Nearly two million people are travelling through Dublin Airport over Christmas.   Henry McKean met with a number families reunited at the arrivals hall, including some meeting new baby relatives for the first time. He sent us this report…

It’s Christmas Eve, which means many people will be packing up and travelling to see family and friends for the Christmas break. But what details do you need to know before you go?    Barry Kenny, Corporate Communications Manager, Iarnród Éireann and Graeme McQueen, DAA Media Relations Manager joined Jonathan Healy on Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

If you were dreaming of a White Christmas this year, I’m sorry to say you’ll be disappointed.    For our festive forecast, Carlow Weather’s Alan O’Reilly joined Shane Coleman on the show to see what the weather has in store. 

Comedian and actor Russell Brand has had two further charges of rape and sexual assault brought against him.    Brand already has five previous counts of sexual offences, pertaining to the period between 1999 and 2005.    Enda Brady, International TV Anchor with TRT World, joined us on Newstalk Breakfast to give us an update…

There’s no question about the kind of food you cook on Christmas Day – but what should you do with all the leftovers after you’ve cooked enough to last to New Year’s Day?   Shane Coleman was joined on the show by JP McMahon, the chef, restaurateur, and author from Galway, who brought us some tips, tricks, and trimmings.

The family of Sophie Toscan du Plantier will mark the 29th anniversary of her death with a private ceremony this Christmas as a garda cold-case review into the killing nears completion. Ralph Riegel, Southern Correspondent with The Irish Independent and author of a Dream of Death about the tragic case spoke to Shane Coleman on the show this morning.