Highlights From Newstalk Breakfast

Gardaí are investigating an incident in which a young boy was allegedly grabbed by the throat by an adult man during an Under 9s hurling blitz in Co Tipperary on Saturday. Does this incident reflect a broader trend of violence in the GAA? Sean Kelly MEP and Former President of the GAA talked to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has launched the inaugural Menopause Awareness Week. The week is centered around World Menopause Day which takes place tomorrow. But why is this campaign needed? Ciara was joined by Founder of the Menopause Hub, Loretta Dignam.

Irish gardens will have to shrink, plots of land will need to get much smaller, and homes must be built closer together if we are going to solve the county’s housing crisis – that's the view of architect Dermot Bannon. Is he right? Joining Ciara was Financial analyst Karl Deeter and Hugh Wallace, Director at Douglas Wallace Architects.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D, has reiterated Ireland’s commitment to eliminating global hunger. He joined Ciara on the line today. He also discussed plans to charge refugees nominal rent if they are employed in Ireland.

Ireland will fail to meet the EU and national goal of restoring all waters including rivers and lakes to good or better status by 2027, the Environmental Protection Agency has warned. EPA’s Mary Gurrie told Newstalk Breakfast that agriculture is having a “disproportionate” impact on declining water quality standards. To discuss this further, Shane was joined on the show by President of the Irish Farmers Association, Tim Cullinane and also Environmental journalist and commentator, John Gibbons.

The congressional committee investigating the attack on the US capitol on January 6th is to Subpoena former president Donald Trump for testimony and documents For more on this what this means, Newstalk Breakfast spoke to Boston lawyer and law lecturer at the University of Galway Larry Donnelly.

Hundreds of thousands of people have yet to contact Revenue to sort out how they will pay taxes owed on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment received during lockdowns. Consumer tax manager at Taxback.com Marian Ryan spoke to Newstalk Breakfast with some guidance for those who have to pay taxes due.

This weekend celebrates the International Day of rural women. Mairead Lavery, Journalist with Irish Country Magazine spoke to Ciara on the special celebration.

Tomorrow marks baby loss awareness day. In Ireland, there are approximately 380 babies who are stillborn or die shortly after birth each year; that is more than one baby every day. Féileacáin, the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Association of Ireland, is calling on people throughout the country to participate in the global ‘Wave of Light’ at 7pm tomorrow. By doing so they will encourage conversations about the loss of a baby and the impact it has on people affected by miscarriage, stillbirth, and neonatal death. Nina Farrelly, Grace and Liam’s Mam and coordinator of The Wave of Light on behalf of Feileacain joined Ciara on the show this morning to talk about her experience of loss and to give more details on 'The Wave Of Light'.

Dublin Bus is set to launch its 24-hour services this weekend. The new "G Spine" routes and Route 60 will replace the 79 and 79A buses as well as the western part of the number 40 route in the capital as a part of BusConnects' new network. Tim Gaston, the NTA’s Director of Public Transport services joined Shane this morning.

The water quality of our rivers, lakes, estuaries, and coastal areas has all continued to decline in the past five years. That’s according to a new report from the Environmental Protection Agency. Mary Gurrie Programme Manager with the EPA spoke to Ciara this morning.

Thousands of third level students are planning a series of walkouts from lectures this morning. This is in protest at the lack of accommodation available and the cost of living in Ireland. Beth O’Reilly President of the Union of Students in Ireland spoke to Shane ahead of the protests today.

Ireland’s First Digital Platform for Reusable Packaging is Piloting today! Customers of participating cafés and restaurants in North Co. Dublin can order takeaway food and drink, in specially produced packaging, which can be reused again and again, and returned to drop-off points reducing the number of single-use containers in circulation. To explain this further Shane spoke to Michelle Moloughney, Co-founder of Reuse Island which is trading as Vytal Ireland.

Some parts of the country are facing backlogs of almost 10 years for access to the HSE’s School Dental Screening Service, which means children who should be receiving three check-ups in primary school are not being seen until their fourth year of secondary school. That’s according to the Irish Dental Association, whose Chief Executive Fintan Hourihan spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

The question of how, when, and whether to cap gas prices dominated another meeting of European Union countries yesterday, as they pursue a joint plan to target high gas prices. Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan spoke to Newstalk Breakfast.

Concerns are already being raised about stockpiling of fireworks and flammable materials for bonfires ahead of Halloween at the end of the month. So what can be done to tackle the problem ahead of time? Daithi Doolan is a Sinn Féin Councillor for Ballyfermot-Drimnagh and Chairperson for the Joint Policing Committee and joined Shane this morning on the show.

In the wake of that historic victory, last night where Ireland beat Scotland 1- nil - We are now going to the World Cup! Speaking to Ciara this morning was Ireland Ladies Football Manager Vera Pauw.

THE HSE has announced a €169 million plan to address concerns about the provision of healthcare during the winter months. Chief Clinical Officer with the HSE, Dr. Colm Henry spoke to Shane this morning on the show.

A trial allowing soccer referees to wear body cameras in the adult grassroots game in England is expected to start in the first half of next year. Should the GAA be looking at a similar policy to tackle referee abuse? Maurice Deegan is a Former inter-county referee and joined Ciara this morning on the show.

RTÉ has questions to answer over its decision not to broadcast an interview with former Minister for Transport Shane Ross about his biography of Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald. That’s according to Taoiseach Micheál Martin, who said in the Dáil yesterday that development has a chilling effect on democracy. Shane Ross joined Shane this morning on the show with his reaction.