Highlights From Newstalk Breakfast

Boris Johnson has reportedly refused to quit as British prime minister despite calls from cabinet colleagues. 48 government members have now resigned in a dramatic 24 hours in Westminster. Lauren McEvatt, a former UK government Special Adviser spoke to Ciara on the show.

International Surrogacy may be recognised in Ireland for the first time under a system of parental orders and guidelines, a special Oireachtas committee are set to recommend today. Senator Mary Seery Kearney, Member of the Joint Committee joined Ciara on the show this morning.

A touring Irish fan gave the kiss of life to a Waikato rugby stalwart Dean Herewini whose heart stopped beating ahead of Saturday night's clash between Ireland and the All Blacks at Eden Park in New Zealand. Limerick woman Sarah Hartigan was that fan who saved Dean's life and she spoke to Shane this morning on the show.

The Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien joined Ciara and Shane this morning in the studio to answer our listener's questions on housing.

Some Dublin communities are “teetering on the edge of lawlessness” and feel increasingly isolated since the Covid-19 pandemic Sinn Fein Cllr Daithí Doolan says that due to various social problems some of the areas he represents are “communities in trauma”, similar to conflict zones around the world. Cllr Doolan spoke to Ciara this morning on the show.

Why should we give our money to banks and service providers when they refuse to provide real people to help you when you have a question for them? It’s a question Liam Collins, Columnist with the Sunday Independent has posed recently and Liam spoke to Shane on the show this morning.

The rate of the back-to-school allowance is set to increase by €100, while school transport fees will be waived for primary and secondary students. The new plans were unveiled by Ministers yesterday evening in response to rising school costs amid the ongoing cost of living crisis. Karen Kiernan is CEO of OneFamily, Ireland's national organisation for one-parent families and Karen spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Boris Johnson’s reign as UK prime minister looks to be in a very perilous position this morning after two key ministers in his cabinet resigned. Chancellor Rishi Sunak and health secretary Sajid Javid have quit their roles in cabinet saying they no longer have confidence in Boris Johnson to lead the country. For more on this Shane spoke to David Mellor – Former Conservative Cabinet Minister.

A joint committee on autism will today hear from school unions on the needs for resources if they are to open more special education classes. Assistant General Secretary of the Irish National teachers organisation and Director of Education, Research and Learning, Mairín Ní Cheileachair spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

The long-delayed Dublin Metrolink is to cost €9.5 billion, and the first trains are set to run by 2034. So the cabinet was told yesterday. The 19 kilometre rail line is set to run from near Ranelagh on the southside of the city to Swords on the northside, serving Dublin Airport along the way. Joining Shane for more on this was Brian Caulfield, Associate Professor School of Engineering at Trinity College Dublin.

Government spending will increase by €6.7 billion in this year’s budget as part of the government’s plan to tackle the cost of living. The date for the budget has also been brought forward by two weeks to Tuesday, September 27th. Paschal Donohoe Minister for Finance & President of the Eurogroup

With staff shortages being an issue across many sectors since the beginning of the pandemic, is it time that businesses start to open themselves up to employing reformed ex-prisoners? Wayne Hart, Academic, ex-offender, who has worked as a probation support worker and in a garda youth diversion programme spoke to Shane this morning on the show.

Outdoor dining developments in Dublin’s Merrion Row, Capel Street, and Suffolk Street have been delayed, as Dublin city council has yet to spend the €1.3 million in funding it received last September from Failte Ireland to transform the three streets for outdoor dining. Joining Ciara to discuss this is Gina Murphy, Owner of Hugos Restaurant on Merrion Row.

Government spending will increase by €6.7 billion in this year’s budget as part of the government’s plan to tackle the cost of living. But is the Government in danger of overheating the economy? To discuss further Ciara was joined on the show by Sebastian Barnes Chairperson at the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council.

At least six people have been killed and more than two dozen have been injured after a gunman opened fire at a July 4th Independence Day parade in Highland Park, near Chicago. For more on this, Shane was joined by Gregory Pratt, Chicago Tribune reporter to explain what has happened overnight.

The Government will today publish the Summer economic statement but what can we expect from it? Ciara was joined on the show by Daniel McConnell Political Editor with the Irish Examiner.

An “appalling” smell, sticky door handles, and a driver’s refusal to allow a blind passenger’s guide dog in his cab were among the taxi regulator's complaints so far this year. In reaction Newstalk Breakfast spoke to Jim Waldron of the National Private Hire & Taxi Association.

WhatsApp is working on a number of updates for the platform to give users more control of how they use it. Newstalk's Technology Correspondent, Jess Kelly joins Newstalk Breakfast with the details.

SIPTU said its representatives have been given assurances about the deployment of the Defence Forces at Dublin Airport. The union says that its members will not be asked, or required, to work alongside Defence Force members or to train them. SIPTU Aviation Sector Organiser, Niall Phillip spoke to Ciara this morning.

Ministers are expected to discuss a new timeframe for the Budget when they meet later today. An announcement to bring forward the Budget is expected to be made in tandem with the publication of the Summer Economic Statement. So what should the government do to deal with the current cost of living crisis? Shane was joined on the show by Gerard Howlin Public affairs consultant and former political advisor Paul Murphy, People Before Profit TD for Dublin South West.