Highlights From Newstalk Breakfast

Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe has announced that he has recused himself from all duties relating to the Standards in Public Office Commission while a complaint against him is examined. The move is due to a revelation that Minister Donohue failed to declare services provided to him during his electoral campaign in 2016, worth over one thousand euro. The discovery was made after a complaint was filed against the Minister to SIPO. Louise O'Reilly Sinn Féin spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade, & Employment spoke to Newstalk Breakfast with more on this.

It has been reported in Dublin Live this week that Dublin woman Aanchal Mohtra has been left traumatised after being physically and verbally assaulted by three girl group of teenage girls on the Luas last week. Aanchal told Shane about what she experienced.

“Wellness is a result of a lack of responsibly for women by employers and the government” that’s according to journalist and author Suzanne Harrington who spoke to Ciara this morning on the show.

Ireland’s two richest people have more wealth €15 billion than the 50% of the population at the poorest end, who altogether have €10.3 billion. - That’s according to a report published today by Oxfam. Oxfam Irelands CEO, Jim Clarken explained their findings.

At least 68 people died when a plane in Nepal crashed and caught fire on Sunday morning, the worst air crash in the country in three decades. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal said a man traveling on an Irish passport was among the passengers on the plane, which was carrying a total of 72 people. Gerry Byrne Aviation journalist brought us the latest details.

Almost 55,000 mortgages to the value of €14.9 billion were approved last year, - that’s according to a report today published by Banking & Payments Federation Ireland. Brian Hayes, Chief Executive of Banking & Payments Federation Ireland is the highest level since the data began in 2011 and he outlines the key findings.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar says he is hopeful a deal can be reached for the Northern Ireland Protocol after meeting with Stormont Party Leaders. It comes as the British government published legislation on the use of border control posts at Northern ports Shane spoke to Gavin Robinson the DUP MP for Belfast East on the show this morning.

Today marks day 13 of 100 days of walking! Every Friday we will be choosing one of you as Walker of the Week and will hear why you got involved. This week's Walker of the Week is Jackie Nix from Limerick.

Farmers and wine producers in Italy have criticised plans to introduce health warnings on alcohol. Coldiretti, Italy’s biggest farmers’ association, described the “terrifying” warnings as a “direct attack” against the country. Paolo Di Stefano – Head of Coldiretti’s EU office in Brussels told Shaney why they were not happy.

Traffic was blocked on parts of the M50 yesterday evening as a group blocked parts of the roadway, protesting against accommodation for refugees and international protection applicants. This was one of a number of protests which also took place in Clondalkin, Tallaght, East Wall, and Fermoy. With reaction to these protests we heard from Gary Gannon is a Social Democrats TD for Dublin Central.

Cases of Covid-19 and RSV are beginning to level off but it is too early to tell if the same can be said for flu. That’s according to the HSE also confirmed that total admissions into hospitals were running 10% higher than their previous “most pessimistic model.” Stephen Mulvany HSE Interim Chief Executive Officer spoke to Ciara this morning.

Charging for use of entire road network is being considered by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). If approved, this would involve the removal of all existing road tolls and would see all motorists charged for using roads throughout the national road network. A savvy climate-friendly initiative or just another tax on the road user? For more on this Newstalk Breakfast spoke to Independent TD for County Kerry Michael Healy Rae and Environmental Journalist and Commentator, John Gibbons.

“Andrew Tate and the hysteria of modern feminism. No, the misogynist influencer is not producing a generation of rapists.” That is the title of an article written by Political Journalist, Author and Contributor to Spiked Online, Ella Whelan who joined Ciara this morning.

Newstalk Breakfast has been remembering Ashling Murphy on the first anniversary of her death. Ashling’s death shocked the nation to its core and sparked a dialogue in our society about how we tackle violence against women. The Government promised a “zero-tolerance” strategy to tackle domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence – a year on how has that progressed? To discuss we spoke to Josepha Madigan, Minister for State,  Anne Clarke CEO of Offaly Domestic Violence Support Services, and Board Member of Safe Ireland and Ewa Fitzgerald, CEO of Move Ireland.

It is expected that many of the hotels being used to house refugees will return to the tourist trade in March and April. That was the warning from Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman to his cabinet colleagues yesterday. Dr. Lorcan Sirr Senior Lecturer in housing at the Technological University Dublin and member of the government’s Expert Advisory Group on ending Direct Provision discussed this morning with Newstalk Breakfast.

‘Why is the Irish language so widely abused on public signs?’- that is the title of an article written by Sinéad Ní Ghuidhir from Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. The article has gained support from many people within Irish language circles including Aodhán Ó’ Deá Director of Development with Conradh na Gaeilge who spoke to Ciara this morning on the show.

Nationalist parties in the North did not attend talks in Belfast with British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly yesterday. The walkout occurred after Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald was excluded from the talks. Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

There is one thing that Leo Varadkar can do as Taoiseach that his predecessor could not: he can offer a State apology for the execution without trial of Rory O’Connor, Liam Mellows, Richard Barrett, and Joe McKelvey during the Civil War. That’s the opinion of Ronan McGreevy Irish Times Journalist, Historian, and Author of the book “Great Hatred: The Assassination of Field Marshal Sir Henry Wilson MP”

The use of private aeroplanes should be banned in Irish airspace. That’s the view of Liam Sinclair, An Rabharta Glas Councillor for South Dublin County Council, who submitted a motion calling for the Ministers of Defence and Transport to act on his proposal and spoke to Shane this morning.

A “fear factor” where a doctor is concerned about adverse outcomes and risk of being sued is among factors driving the steady rise in first-time mothers giving birth by caesarean section in Ireland, according to a study. Sunita Panda, Assistant Professor in Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, and lead author of the study told us earlier about other factors that influence the decision of professionals to perform a C-section, according to the findings. Also joining Ciara this morning was Professor Maeve Eogan, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Rotunda Hospital.