Highlights From Newstalk Breakfast

Silly season is in full swing, and it is of course the time of year to – eat, drink and be merry. But how can we enjoy ourselves whilst also keeping an eye on our health? Ciara spoke to registered Dietitian, Richelle Flanagan.

Many of us are heading on the Christmas holidays from today but for homeless services, it will be an extremely busy period. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Pat Doyle CEO of the Peter McVerry.

Three girls were travelling from Galway to Kerry, but disaster struck when they missed their connecting trains. Tired, cold, and upset about the prospect of not getting home, an unlikely hero came and saved the day. Cara Ní Chofaigh told Newstalk Breakfast what happened.

Mr Justice Brian O’Moore ordered the release of Enoch Burke from Mountjoy Prison last night, where he has spent the last 108 days for contempt of court. The High Court Judge made the ruling saying he was ‘exploiting his imprisonment for his own ends’. Shane Phelan, Legal Affairs Correspondent for the Irish Independent gave us more details on this.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was in Washington last night and held a joint press conference with US president Joe Biden before addressing the US congress. It marks the first state visit for the Ukrainian President since the war started 300 days ago. Anthony Zurcher BBC North America Correspondent told us about the visit.

Chief Medical Officer Breda Smyth has appealed to people to stay at home if they have flu-like symptoms and to return to wearing masks on public transport. So how deeply is the uptick in the infection being felt? Illona Duffy is a Monaghan-based GP spoke to Newstalk Breakfast.

Ireland’s biggest supplier of school meals has warned that the system is no longer viable and thousands of pupils risk losing access to lunches and dinners. Ray Nangle, chief executive of Freshtoday spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

It was announced yesterday that the government were examining ways to cut transport carbon emissions. Among the proposals was to end free workplace parking. But what will this mean for workers? Labour Party Senator, Marie Sherlock spoke to Ciara this morning on the show.

Belfast publican John Bittles has put down a marker- his pub is for drinkers only. A man took to twitter to exclaim “Just been kicked out of Bittles Bar in Belfast for… wait for it… not ordering an alcoholic drink. Ordered a pint of coke and was told it was drinkers only. Absolutely stunned. John from Bittles Bar spoke to Newstalk Breakfast to explain his rule.

There wasn’t much movement at the cabinet table but one move that was expected was the swapping of roles of Michael McGrath and Paschal Donohoe. Michael McGrath has been appointed Minister for Finance while Paschal Donohoe became Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery & Reform and he spoke to Shane this morning.

Today, the 21st of December marks the Winter Solstice. It is known as the only day when the sun illuminates the inside of Newgrange. However, a new discovery begs to differ. Anthony Murphy, founder of Mythical Ireland and author spoke to Shane on this new discovery.

From Nollaig na mBan and the Wren Boys to Midnight Mass Ireland has its fair share of festive customs. Clodagh Doyle, Keeper of the Irish Folk Life collection based in the National Museum of Ireland spoke to Newstalk Breakfast about various Irish Christmas traditions.

RTÉ has reported a median gender pay gap of just over 13 percent and an average gap of 11.55 percent for 2022 as it admitted that “clearly, there is more to do” on gender equality at the organisation. Sonya Lennon, Founder of the WorkEqual campaign, told Shane what she made of those reports.

Minister for Education, Norma Foley retained her Education Portfolio in the Cabinet Reshuffle this weekend. Minister Foley spoke to Ciara this morning.

Regional discrimination is a form of discrimination that is based on the region in which a person lives or where a person was born. Is regional discrimination still alive in Dublin city in 2022?

If you’re tired of the tedium and expense of buying gifts for all your adult friends, you should opt instead for homemade Christmas gifts this year! That’s the view of Suzanne Harrington, Journalist and author who spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

It’s been a long-mooted idea – the introduction of a Universal Basic Income – a non means-tested welfare payment for every adult in the state. But how would such a scheme work and more importantly how much would it cost? Well the ESRI have studied just that and Dr Paul Redmond, Senior Research Officer with the ESRI who is behind the research spoke to Ciara this morning.

The January 6th Committee has referred Former President, Donald Trump for Criminal Prosecution to the Justice Department. The committee has accused Trump of inciting the January 6th Insurrection, conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstruction of an act of Congress. Larry Donnelly, Boston Lawyer and Law Lecturer at the University of Galway

Turkeys across Ireland can breath a sigh of relief this year. The traditional festive fowl is being replaced on many families' Christmas menus with everything from salmon to steaks. Newstalk's Sarah Madden reports.

Do good table manners matter on Christmas Day? And what’s the best way to celebrate the world’s favourite holiday. To discuss the dos and don'ts of the big day was Brenda Hyland Beirne, Founder and Managing Director of The Irish School of Etiquette