Highlights From Newstalk Breakfast

Do you want to live forever? From getting your vaccines to heading to gigs, Professor John Tregoning author of “Live Forever”, has been experimenting all the ways to slow down ageing.

Last week the heavy rain and flooding highlighted Ireland’s lack of flood defence and the issues surrounding flood relief, leaving many people across the country in despair.   In light of that, today Aontú Leader and TD for Meath West Peadar Toibín will introduce a Private Members' Bill aimed at reforming Ireland's flood forecasting system and speeding up the delivery of flood defences.

Now it’s time for "Did You See”. Where we take a closer look at some of the stories you may have missed in the news this morning. Joining Anton this morning was Tabitha Monahan, Irish Independent Political Correspondent. 

A new documentary called Amplified: The Exportation of the Culture Wars. The documentary looks at how culture wars have engulfed American politics and become one of its biggest export and Anton was joined now by Director Mike Sheridan.

Nearly 45 years to the day, survivors of the 1981 Stardust fire will receive payments of 20,000 euros.  According to the Government, over 800 survivors will be eligible for compensation. But some of these survivors are unhappy with the scheme.   Antoinette Keegan was injured in the Stardust fire, and lost her sisters Mary and Martina, and she spoke to Anton this morning.

Ireland has Europe’s largest gender gap when it comes to the use of advanced digital skills at work.  That’s according to new research from the Economic and Social Research Institute. To discuss the findings we heard from Dr Adele Whelan Senior Research Officer, ESRI.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of toddler Daniel Aruebose. For more on this Anton spoke to Robin Schiller, Senior Journalist, Irish Independent.    

Irish households that have a “dodgy box” are vulnerable to increasingly nefarious and sophisticated cyber-attacks. That’s the warning from Grant Thornton, and with us to discuss more was Howard Shortt, Cybersecurity Partner at Grant Thornton. 

More than half of children have no parental restrictions around online contact such as chatting and gaming with people they don't know. That’s according to new research from CyberSafe Kids.  Anton discuss the findings with Alex Cooney CEO of Cyber Safe Kids. 

Keir Starmer has vowed to fight on after his cabinet rallied round him when Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called for him to resign. We get all the latest on the big day in UK politics with BBC Word Affairs Editor John Simpson. 

 Now it’s time for "Did You See”. Where we take a closer look at some of the stories you may have missed in the news this morning. Joining Anton this morning was Christina Finn Political Editor with TheJournal.ie.

“Helping my daughter practise for driving test opened my eyes to awful behaviour on Irish roads... In breaching the rules of the road, we also disregard basic human psychology: monkey see, monkey do.”   That’s the warning from Dr Suzanne Crowe, Consultant in Paediatric Intensive Care and President of the Medical Council. 

“Someone presenting as suicidal shouldn't have to go through A&E”   That’s the call in a petition set to be discussed by an Oireachtas committee later today. The petition comes from John Loughnane, whose brother Adam died by suicide exactly a year ago. Joe spoke to Anton this morning about Adam.

Cork City Council has been ordered to pay €8,000 to a 43-year-old woman who applied for a job as a firefighter due to a discriminatory ‘one size fits all’ beep fitness tests for applicants.   The Workplace Relations Commission ruled that the beep test in its current form, which is also used for Garda applicants, gives younger people an advantage. Anton discussed this further with Christy Galligan, Former Garda Sergeant and former peace commissioner. 

Dog owners in Dublin City are being left behind so says Green Party Dublin City Councillor Feljin Jose and he explain why to Anton this morning on the show.

Yesterday, Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein’s accomplice, was due to give testimony in front of Congress in the US – but she ended up pleading the Fifth Amendment to effectively say nothing. This will undoubtedly disappoint and further hurt the victims of Epstein and Maxwell. One of Epstein’s victims spoke to Anton, Ashely Ford Rubright, who was introduced to the pedophile financier in her mid-teens.   

Epilepsy Ireland have released a new song to raise awareness of the condition, which affects an estimated 45,000 people in Ireland.  Twenty-eight-year-old Katie Cooke lives with epilepsy and told her story to Anton this morning.

Homebuying in Ireland is characterised by overbidding, misperceptions and delays.  That’s according to new research from the ESRI’s Behavioural Research Unit.  Speaking to Anton to explain the findings was Dr Deirdre Robertson, Senior Research Officer at the ESRI. This report was commissioned by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, who are calling for new legislation and reforms to improve the relationship between homebuyers and sellers. Anton also spoke to Simon Barry, Director of Research, Advocacy and International at the CCPC.

After making history at the Grammy’s Bad Bunny headlined the Super Bowl’s half time show last night.  What was the reaction to the half time show? Anton asked Sarina Bellisimo, Broadcaster and Entertainment Journalist.

We have heard repeated calls for a social media ban for under 16s, but a preliminary ruling by the European Commission published on Friday could open the door to a more effective resolution, protecting users of all ages. This comes at a time when Big Tech is facing multiple lawsuits in the US over the addictive nature of the platforms.   Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent, Jess Kelly discuss this further with Anton.