Highlights From Newstalk Breakfast

Last week we heard that the UK is going to re-join the study abroad ‘Erasmus’ programme in 2027 but now they might be going a step further. Their Health Secretary Wes Streeting said that he would support re-joining the EU customs union in order to grow their economy.  Adam Boulton, a political commentator, columnist with the I paper, and presenter on Times Radio joined us on Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Just 30 per cent of the Government's target for new social homes was met in the first nine months of this year.     That’s according to new figures from the Department of Housing. Eoin O’Broin TD and Sinn Fein Spokesperson on Housing joined Shane Coleman on the show.

“The best parts of Christmas in Ireland have nothing to do with alcohol - but we forget that.” That’s according to Colleen Frawley, Irish-American writer and child health policy advocate. Shane Coleman caught up with Colleen and asked what her experience was of Christmas in Ireland... 

Judges will be obliged to consider community service for crimes that would normally warrant a two-year jail sentence, according to reports in the Irish Daily Mail this morning. These new plans from the Department of Justice are aimed at reducing prison overcrowding. Michael Fitzmaurice, Independent Ireland TD for Roscommon-Galway, joined us on Newstalk Breakfast to discuss.

In the 2024 to 2025 academic year, over 73,000 students in primary and secondary schools were exempt from learning Irish, according to the Irish Times. But are students with dyslexia being ‘denied’ the right to learn Gaeilge through this exemption? Rosie Bissett, CEO of Dyslexia Ireland joined Shane Coleman on the show to discuss.

The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland have demanded respect for their borders after US President Donald Trump appointed a special envoy to the Danish territory, which he has said repeatedly should be under US control.   So, has Trump put himself on a collision course with the EU yet again? David Smith Washington Bureau Chief, The Guardian joined Shane Coleman on the show this morning.

Gardaí are continuing to question a woman in connection with the disappearance of Daniel Arubose four years ago. The woman, who is in her twenties, was arrested yesterday.   Chief Reporter Barry Whyte, brought us the latest on the development.

The GAA’s argument for maintaining its links to Allianz is flawed – tainted money is not worth having. So writes Sunday Independent Columnist and former Meath footballer Colm O’Rourke, who joined us on Newstalk Breakfast to discuss.

Now it’s time for Tech Check! This week we are joined by Ciara O’Brien, Technology Journalist for the Irish Times, who is sharing her top tips for giving tech gifts... 

Talks being held between ⁠US, European and Ukrainian officials in Florida aimed at ending Russia's war in Ukraine have “productive and constructive” so far, according to US special envoy Steve Witkoff.  But as Russian officials renew criticism of European proposals, how far away is meaningful progress?  Jenny Mathers of the Department of International Politics at Aberystwyth University joined us on Newstalk Breakfast to discuss... 

Up to 1,100 people hit by the so-called superflu are predicted to be in hospital over Christmas week.  Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Minister For Health, Fine Gael TD for Dún Laoghaire joined us on Newstalk Breakfast.

 John Whelan of the Sentencing and Victim Equality Group SAVE, has described how his family are being ‘retraumatized’ at the biennial parole hearing of his sister’s murderer.    Sharon Whelan and her two daughters, Nadia and Zara, were murdered on Christmas Day 2008, and their murderer Brian Hennessy has applied for parole every two years since 2017. John Whelan joined Shane Coleman on the show to discuss.

360 Irish soldiers are set to spend their Christmas in South Lebanon, where they are stationed at Camp Shamrock. 134 members of the Defence Forces will be doing so for the first time. Our reporter Tom Douglas visited the camp over the weekend talk to soldiers serving there…

The government has failed to adequately address the rising cost of electricity, and we “risk pricing ourselves out of prosperity”.    That’s the view of Conor Skehan Sunday Independent Columnist, who joined Ciara Kelly on the show this morning to discuss.

An extraordinary meeting of the board of the Dublin Airport Authority is to take place today to formally suspend its Chief Executive Kenny Jacobs with full pay, pending the outcome of an investigation.     Daniel McConnell, Editor of the Business Post, joined Shane Coleman on the show.

A new batch of 68 photographs related to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has been made public by Democratic US lawmakers. The photos include Epstein with director Woody Allen, and Bill Gates with an unknown woman.  With more on this we spoke to David Smith, Washington Bureau Chief, The Guardian.  

Woman at the center of the viral "kiss cam" moment at a Coldplay concert has spoken out in recent interviews. Ciara and Shane asked this morning. Are we all far too quick to judge?

Ireland’s economy has shown resilience in the last year, but the Government needs “prudent ambition” for long-term, sustainable growth.  That’s according to the Central Bank’s final Quarterly Bulletin of 2025, which found Modified Domestic Demand is projected to grow by just below 4 per cent in 2025.  We discuss this and more with Barra Roantree, Assistant Professor of Economics at Trinity College. 

You may have received your December wages today and you may be waiting another six weeks for your monthly wages hit your bank account  So how do you make it stretch? All to discuss with Conor Pope, Irish Times Consumer Correspondent.

The likes of Kneecap, Paul Mescal and the humble spice bag have given Ireland a new, cooler reputation.  But around the world, is Ireland being overly-romanticised? That’s the concern of Aoife Byrne, an Irish writer who has lived in London for 10 years.