Highlights From Newstalk Breakfast

From this week, cigarette manufacturers are being charged for the cost of cleaning up cigarette butt litter. But should tobacco companies pay the volunteers who pick up cigarette butts? Harriet Donnelly runs the charity Flossie and the Beach Cleaners and spoke to Ciara with more on this.

House prices in 2022 rose by over 6% - that’s according to the latest Daft.ie Sales Report. Galway City had the biggest rise at 8% while Dublin rose by 5%. Ronan Lyons, Economist at Trinity College Dublin & author of The Daft.ie Report and spoke to Ciara with more insight into the findings.

Gardaí have made four further arrests in their investigation into a violent incident in a direct provision centre in Killarney on Sunday night, bringing the total number arrested to six. For more on this, Ciara was joined by Niall O’Callaghan, local councillor and hotelier

atholic bishops have expressed concern over the ability of Catholic primary schools to remain true to their ethos following the removal of the so-called “baptism barrier”. Almost 90% of primary schools are currently under Catholic patronage, while about 5% have a multi-denominational ethos. Alan Whelan, President of the Catholic Secondary Schools parents association outlined what these concerns are.

The killing of Brazilian woman Bruna Fonseca in Cork over the weekend brings to 11 the number of women who have been killed in Ireland since the death of Ashling Murphy a year ago Is Ireland doing enough to combat violence against women? Margaret Martin, Chair of the National Women’s Council and formerly the Director of Women’s Aid spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Medics have said the overcrowding situation in Irish hospitals will get worse this month before it gets better. The public has been urged to wear masks and get flu jabs or Covid boosters to help to protect overcrowded hospital wards with high volumes of patients suffering from severe flu and Covid-19. Damien McCallion, Chief Operations Officer with the HSE

Leinster rugby issued an apology immediately after the controversial Wolfe Tones song “Celtic Symphony” was played at the RDS after their win over Connacht on Sunday. But should they have had to do so? Brian Warfield is the Lead songwriter for the Wolf Tones spoke to Ciara this morning,

Fifty years ago, in January 1973, Ireland formally joined the European Economic Community, which today is the European Union. But what is our legacy in the EU, and should we remain there for another half-century? Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast Former Senior Irish Diplomat Ray Bassett.

Minister for Environment, Eamon Ryan has backed plans for a 30% cut to school car journeys, responding to proposals in the latest Climate Action Plan. He says the target will be met through providing better bus services and active travel options rather than blaming motorists Sadhbh O’Neill, Researcher in Climate Policy spoke to Shane this morning.

We are just 2 sleeps to Christmas Day but all eyes will be on the skies tomorrow to see if Santa can make his arrival. Laura Downey is an Air Traffic Controller with the Irish Aviation Authority working out of Dublin Airport and she joined us on the show this monring.

A National Crisis Management Team has been put in place to oversee the response to an expected surge in winter virus infections over the coming weeks, which the HSE says is likely to put the health service under the highest pressure it has ever experienced. Damien McCallion is Chief Operations Officer with the HSE and joined us on Newstalk Breakfast.

Thousands of Ukrainian children will be spending their first Christmas in Ireland this year. While they may have a new address, Santa will still be delivering toys to all boys and girls on Christmas eve. We spoke to Max, Liza & Maria, who are living here in Ireland, to hear what they are asking for, from the man in the red coat...

It won’t be a "White Christmas” this year but there could be snow on the horizon in the coming week after the big day. Michelle Dillon Met Eireann Forecaster joined us on the show.

The RSA is receiving thousands of queries from TDs over 'shocking' driving test delays. Independent TD Mattie McGrath joined Shane on the show this morning.

Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue has launched a new initiative to ask the public what they think should be done to control the nation’s spiralling deer population. But is culling the solution? John Tierney is Campaigns Director at the Association of Hunt Saboteurs and Tim Cullinane is President of the IFA both joined us on the show to discuss.

Christmas Dinner! – the best and most highly anticipated meal of the year. With such fanfare surrounding around it how can we ensure that everyone is happy? Ciara was joined by Chef, Author and founder of Ballymaloe Cookery School, Darina Allen

The festive season is the one time when the whole family can gather round and enjoy the best TV shows and movies together. To give us the guide to the best TV over the next week Sarina Bellisimo, Broadcaster & Presenter of The Bellissimo Files joined us on Newstalk Breakfast.

The annual Dublin Simon Busk will be coming to the city centre once again on Christmas Eve, and this year it’ll be livestreamed! Aisling Harmey is Head of Fundraising & Communications at Dublin Simon Community spoke to Shane this morning. 

As Christmas day approaches, Sean Moynihan, CEO of Alone joined us on Newstalk Breakfast to tell us how we can look out for our elderly relative neighbours this year.

Irish language film An Cailín Ciúin has just made history! It becomes the first Irish-language film to be shortlisted for the Best International Feature Oscar. Colm Bairéad, Writer and Director spoke to Shane this morning on the show.