Highlights From Newstalk Breakfast

Today, heads of state from across the world are meeting in Egypt for COP 27 climate conference, with ‘loss and damage’ to developing countries set to dominate the agenda. For the latest on this, we were joined from Egypt by Lauren Boland, a reporter with The Journal.ie

COP 27 begins this Sunday in Eqypt. More than 90 heads of state from around the world and representatives from 190 countries are expected to attend. The conference has been held annually since the first UN climate agreement in 1992. What can we expect from the conference? Speaking to Ciara was Cara Augustenborg, Professor of Environmental Policy at University College Dublin and a Member of the Climate Advisory Council.

Thousands of adopted people who requested access to their records under the new Birth Information and Tracing Bill did not receive them by the statutory deadline on Wednesday, that’s according to The Adoption Authority of Ireland and Tusla. Of over 6,000 requests, just 65 have been concluded. For more on this Vincent spoke to Patricia Carey, CEO of the Adoption Authority of Ireland.

Over 30 thousand people attended the country’s hospital emergency departments - the highest ever on record. The HSE has warned the pressure on the health service is significant and that scheduled care is expected to be postponed this winter. Stephen Mulvany the Interim Chief Executive of the HSE spoke to Ciara this morning.

Gardaí should be able to caution rather than charge addicts caught with drugs like cocaine. That’s the view of Frank Feighan, the Minister of State with responsibility for Ireland’s drugs strategy. For reaction to this, Newstalk Breakfast spoke to Eddie D’Arcy, a youth worker with over 40 years of experience.

 Councillors at a Killarney Municipal Meeting said Killarney is at a “crossroads” and claimed the town faces the reality of being a tourist town or a refugee centre. The population of Killarney is 10,360 and now accommodates 3,200 refugees and asylum seekers. Cllr Niall Kelleher, Mayor of Killarney and President of Killarney Chamber of Commerce and Tourism spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

The Military Police have launched a review into the sale of Irish military uniforms on a US-based website. Could these items potentially fall into the hands of Dissident Republicans and criminals? Tom Clonan, Senator, retired army officer, and Security Analyst, discussed this with Ciara.

The UK is facing into its longest ever recession. That was the grim warning from the Bank of England yesterday predicting the UK is facing a "very challenging" two-year slump with unemployment nearly doubling by 2025. George Parker Political Editor of the Financial Times spoke to Vincent with more on this.

Ireland’s tax receipts for the first 10 months of the year have hit almost €64 billion, 25% ahead of the figure this time last year. The strong figures were driven by record corporation tax receipts, which came in at €16.2 billion for the 10-month period, six and a half billion ahead of this time last October. Ireland’s total tax take could break the €80 billion figure by the end of the year for the first time ever. Michael McGrath Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform spoke to Newstalk Breakfast.

The number of Irish people in Britain has dropped by 20% - the biggest drop of any nationality - according to the latest statistics from the UK’s Office for National Statistics What are the reasons for this drop? Speaking to Ciara this morning was Finn McRedmond, Irish Times Columnist living in London.

As Energy costs continue to soar, new research from the Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland has shown that two-thirds of consumers have made at least one significant energy efficiency home improvement 42% of those surveyed said they had looked into solar power but were unlikely to make the investment in the next three years; Are we doing enough to encourage and support people to retrofit their homes? Duncan Stewart, Environmentalist & Architect spoke to Vincent with more on this.

“Poor service is eroding trust in the public transport system” – that's the warning form the Commuter Coalition who have written to the transport committee Chair of the Cork commuter coalition, Ciarán Meers spoke to Ciara this morning.

A Kerry mother has said she is devastated after long-awaited tests for her son, Michael, were cancelled at Crumlin Children’s Hospital due to bed shortages. The family had been waiting for the appointment since last April, and in September they received the date, allowing them to organise the logistics around the trip to Dublin given Michael’s complex needs only to be told it was cancelled. Jean O’Sullivan, Michael's Mum spoke to Vincent this morning on the show.

Almost half of insurance payouts in the first six months of the year were issued through the Personal Injuries Assessment Board rather than through litigation or the courts – a figure which is up from 34% for the same time the previous year. The report from the PIAB also shows that the overall average compensation award was €14,786, nearly 40% lower than the rate before the Guidelines were introduced. Stephen Watkins, director of corporate services for the Personal Injuries Assessment Board

Poultry flock owners will be obliged to house their birds indoors from next Monday onwards due to rising bird flu cases. The move has been described as a "precautionary measure". Charlie McConalogue Minister for Agriculture spoke to Poultry flock owners will be obliged to house their birds indoors from next Monday onwards due to rising bird flu cases. The move has been described as a "precautionary measure". Charlie McConalogue Minister for Agriculture spoke to Vincent this morning to explain why he is taking this measure.

Halloween cossies, pints of the black stuff and the dreaded return of the heel all make Louise and Sarah’s good and bad books this week. The book club check in takes a murderous turn while Letters from the Litterati sparks hot (water bottle) debates. If you have any book recommendations, feedback or questions you'd like to ask, do email the podcast at openbook@goloudnow.com. Join the book club and read along with the latest selection at @louisesbookclub on Instagram and follow the girls while you're there at @louisecooney_ and @sarahmaddening. Happy Reading, Listeners! Book List: Forever Home, Grahame Norton The God of Small Things, Arundhati Roy Magpie, Elizabeth Day Trouble, Marise Gaughan There’s been a little incident, Alice Ryan Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike, Phil Knight Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, Gabrielle Zevin

rish Christmas turkey is under threat of an avian flu virus which has decimated flocks across Europe, UK and US according to the Irish Independent. The cases of virus have been recently discovered in dead swans in Cavan. Irish Farmers Association had put “red alert” to its poultry producer members, and Brendan Soden, Poultry Vice Chair of the IFA spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

A two-day conference titled “Transforming Higher Education” will take place at the University of Limerick today and tomorrow. The conference will challenge whether traditional university degrees are a thing of the past and alternatives to innovate degree programmes Professor Ann Ledwith, Executive Dean of Graduate & Professional Studies, University of Limerick spoke to Vincent this morning on the show.

The family of a young boy who was struck in a hit-and-run incident last month has appealed to the motorist involved to come forward. 13-year-old Jack Duggan suffered severe injuries including to his head in the incident in Cork City. Jack’s older sister Donna Duggan spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

According to a Gas Networks Ireland report released yesterday, there will be no disruption to gas supply expected this winter but is it time for a grown-up chat about Ireland’s use of the UK’s LNG? Speaking to Vincent this morning was Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil Senator and John McElligot, Member of Safety before LNG