Highlights From Newstalk Breakfast

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has rejected allegations that she used the Hutch family for money and votes, claims that emerged in a high-profile gangland trial in Dublin. Unionists have called for an investigation into the allegations, with Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie calling for a cross-Border police inquiry and Doug spoke to Newstalk Breakfast.

Anti-lockdown protests spread in China as anger rises over zero-COVID strategy. Columnist with the South China Morning Post Neal Kimberley explained what has triggered this latest wave of anger.

One-in-10 babies are born with some kind of foetal alcohol disorder in Ireland every year, says HSE The HSE estimates that around 6,000 babies a year are born with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and 600 with Foetal Alcohol Syndrome, the most severe form. Garret McGovern, GP Specialising in Addiction Medicine and Medical Director of the Priority Medical Clinic in Dundrum.

Trinity College Dublin is confronting some uncomfortable legacies from its 430-year history. The college is inviting submissions on whether the Berkeley Library, named after slave-owner George Berkeley, should be renamed. Changing these names, is it erasing history or is it making progress? To debate Newstalk Breakfast spoke to John McGuirk, Editor of Gript Media and also Dr. Ebun Joseph Founder of the Institute of Antiracism & Black Studies in Dublin.

The popularity of gaming continues to grow in this country with two-thirds of Irish adults playing games according to new research published by Deloitte. Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent, Jess Kelly has all the details.

Trinity College Dublin is confronting some uncomfortable legacies from its 430-year history. The college is inviting submissions on whether the Berkeley Library, named after slave owner George Berkeley, should be renamed. Changing these names, is it erasing history or is it making progress? To discuss Newstalk Breakfast spoke to John McGuirk, Editor of Gript Media & Dr. Ebun Joseph Founder of the Institute of Antiracism & Black of Studies in Dublin.

Green party leader, Eamon Ryan is not ruling out the return of tax breaks for property developers. The minister said he would consider all options on the table if it helped resolve the drastic housing crisis the country is enduring. Ciara was joined by the Housing director Construction Industry Federation Conor O’Connell and also Co-founder of the Dublin Renters Union Peter Dooley.

With Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales on shoppers have started to tick purchases off their Christmas lists. But with many feeling the pinch of the cost of living crisis are people heading North for some cross-border shopping? Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie has been over the border to find out if there are savings to be made.

A seasonal Garda operation, Operation Hurdle to prevent raids on isolated Christmas tree farms gets underway today, as growers anticipate record, unprecedented demand for Christmas trees Jimmy Fitzachary, Owner of Glencullen Christmas Tree Farm spoke to Newstalk Breakfast with more this.

71% of Irish people agree that pornography is harming society, a new report commissioned by Women’s Aid has found. What role does it play in relationships and society in general? Speaking to Shane this morning was Systemic Psychotherapist and author Anne McCormack.

Paul Murphy's son Liam was only 7 weeks old when he contracted the Respiratory Syncytial Virus. Paul, told us how this all began..

The European Commission has today approved the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme, announced on Budget Day to assist businesses with their energy costs during winter. Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe, told us how will this scheme work.

A growing number of workers are using annual leave days just to keep up with the demands placed upon them. Caroline Reidy is an HR and Employment Law Expert from the HR Suite gave Ciara her reaction to this.

MEP Mick Wallace has criticised protests in Iran in the European Parliament. Dr Zahra Gholamvand from Support, Equality and freedom for Iranian group and researcher at Trinity College gave Newstalk Breakfast her reaction to these comments?

One in 20 private water supplies failed to meet the standard for E. coli, compared to 1 in 200 for public water supplies - that’s the warning today from the Environmental protection agency. Noel Byrne, EPA Programme Manager, who released the private water supplies report spoke to Shane this morning.

The National Youth Assembly on Climate has urged the government to make cities car-free on Sundays Young climate activists compiled recommendations on how carbon emissions can be cut. These recommendations outline how we must change the habits of “car first” and shift people toward public and shared transport. Saoirse Exton, Climate Activist and member of The C40 Global Youth and Mayors Forum and spoke to Shane this morning.

Last night Micheál Martin revealed to his party that the Government will increase the eligibility threshold for social housing next week allowing more families to apply from the new year. Does it go far enough? To discuss we heard from Independent TD Michael Healy Rae.

The government must engage and consult with local communities when locating refugees and asylum seekers. That’s according to Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín. Peadar, who spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

People Before Profit TD Gino Kenny is set to introduce a bill in the Dail later today which will be a stepping stone towards full regulation of cannabis. The Dublin Mid-West TD hopes the bill will end the criminalisation of cannabis for personal use. Is now the time to legalise cannabis? To debate Newstalk Breakfast spoke to Eddie D’Arcy from Youth Workers Against Prohibition Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin and Author of In Search of Madness, Brendan Kelly.

Now some of you may be on the school run as we speak but have you ever considered cycling your children to school? Well, there's a growing network of Cycle Buses starting across the country. Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie went along with one in Dublin to find out what they are all about.