Highlights From Newstalk Breakfast

The ESRI has published an extensive ESRI Special Article titled “Increasing future housing supply: What are the implications for the Irish economy?” which details constraints and solutions. Kieran McQuinn, Research Professor with the ESRI co-wrote it and Kieran spoke to Ciara this morning.

Harry and Meghan, the much-anticipated docuseries which gives an up close and personal look at the life of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex landed on Netflix yesterday. It has been met with mixed reviews but my next guest is a proud supporter of the former royals. Shane spoke to Bronwyn O’Neill, Digital Editor for VIP Magazine

How we do our Christmas shopping is changing all the time. But what are we doing this year? Are we still ordering online from Amazon, or are we making a trip up the road to shop local? Our reporter Elaine Smith asked people in Cork if they enjoy all the shopping that comes at Christmas. Also, Duncan Graham from Retail Excellence Ireland gave Ciar an update on Xmas Shopping 2022.

On Monday we brought you the story that children from the Bantry Child and Family Centre were being asked to move to a separate facility that did not meet their needs. Since then there has been a U-turn. Conor Cronin, who is a parent of a child who attends the facilities, gave us an update on what has happened.

Pharmacists are calling on Government to put in place a “serious shortage protocol” to allow them to dispense alternative medicines to patients amid ongoing supply issues. Ann Marie Horan, Executive Committee member of the Irish Pharmacy Union explained how are the shortages affecting pharmacies?

Today is animal welfare day and the government has announced funding for a range of initiatives. Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue explained what the government is doing to mark this day.

Sir Cliff Richard has announced the release of his first dedicated Christmas album in 19 years, “Christmas with Cliff”, and Sir Cliff joined Ciara this morning.

Flu, Strep A, and overcrowding - what does the rest of the winter hold for our hospitals? Speaking to Dr. Colm Henry, Chief Clinical Officer with the HSE.

Ireland is preparing to be plunged into sub-zero conditions by an Arctic air mass, which is likely to bring the coldest weather since Storm Emma, four years ago. Night-time temperatures are set to drop to –6 degrees celsius and some counties can expect snow, hail, sleet, and fog. Deirdre Lowe, Meteorologist with Met Eireann spoke to Newstalk Breakfast with an update.

Where are you from? - A harmless question or can it be more loaded than it initially may seem? Founder of GORM Media, Mamobo Ogoro spoke to Ciara this morning with more on this.

Culchie Christmas. The original Black Friday. When rural Ireland made their annual pilgrimage to Dublin, on the eighth of December. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast Columnist with the Farming Independent and Author of ‘Matters of Great Indifference’, Jim O’Brien.

With many people likely to receive drones as Christmas presents, the Irish Aviation Authority has launched campaign warning operators against the misuse of their devices. For more on the campaign, Shane spoke to the Irish Aviation Authority’s Drone Manager, Enda Walsh.

Three in four workers in Ireland have experienced workplace discrimination that’s according to the 2022 Workplace Equality Survey. Breda Dooley from Matrix Recruitment, outlined the findings in this report.

Today is national missing person’s day. Trevor Deely disappeared 22 years this week – the same age he was when he disappeared. Newstalk Breakfast spoke to Trevor's brother, Mark Deeley.

Ireland is continuing to increase the amount of waste it is producing with the country now in danger of missing 2025 recycling targets set by the EU. That’s according to a new report from the EPA this morning. Warren Phelan, Programme Manager in the Circular Economy Programme and, Green Party Spokesperson for Transport, Climate Action and Environment, Brian Leddin..

Parents have been urged to be vigilant for signs of the bacterial infection Strep A after a five-year-old girl died of a severe form of the illness in Northern Ireland and as a possible link to the death of another child in the State is under investigation. Scott Walkin, Irish College of General Practitioners lead for infection control & Mayo GP explained the signs of a strep A infection.

Stop trying to sanitise ‘Fairytale of New York’ declares political journalist, author, and contributor to Spiked Online, Ella Whelan. We ask is censoring the F word in Fairytale of New York an act of cultural vandalism?

Sinn Féin’s Education Spokesperson Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire joined to discuss teacher waiting times and how it is taking so long to register with the Teaching Council.

Met Éireann has warned that temperatures will fall to -4C later this week and has predicted hazardous conditions with sharp to severe frost and icy surfaces. Brian Farrell, spokesperson for The Road Safety Authority told us what advice should people be following.

Ministers later today are expected to sign off on the creation of five new surgical hubs across the country to deal with the backlog of planned operations. The hubs, at a cost of up to 100 million euros will focus on high-volume surgeries. Ciara spoke to Anthony Staines, Professor of Health Systems at the School of Nursing and Human Sciences in DCU, and asked is this the solution to our hospital waiting lists?