Newstalk Breakfast
Newstalk
Presented by Anton Savage, a seasoned broadcaster and communications expert, this show has everything you need – and want – to know first thing each morning, brought to you with insight, intelligence and wit. CONVERSATION THAT COUNTS | Ireland’s national independent talk station for news, sport, analysis and entertainmentListen to Newstalk at http://newstalk.com/listenlive | Download the GoLoud app now, the new home for Newstalk
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 13, 2026 • 5min
More delays expected as the children’s hospital saga rolls on
Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill will meet today with the CEO of the construction group BAM to discuss the progress and pace of construction of the National Children's Hospital. The project has been mired by consistent changes to costs and timeframes, and joining Anton to talk about how we’ve got to this stage is Paul Davis Public Procurement Expert from DCU.
Mar 13, 2026 • 9min
Short-term lets outnumber homes to rent by 4 to 1 nationwide
Short-term lets outnumber homes to rent by 4 to 1 nationwide. That’s according to new figures released this morning by National housing charity Threshold, whose CEO John-Mark McCafferty spoke to Anton. Also to discuss these figures was Noelle Casey Vice-chair of the Self-Catering Federation and owner of Knockcarrig House in Killarney.
Mar 13, 2026 • 6min
Did You See?
It’s time for "Did You See”. Where we take a closer look at some of the stories you may have missed in the news this morning. Joining Anton this morning was Gerard Howlin, Public Affairs Consultant and former Senior Political Advisor.
Mar 13, 2026 • 4min
Who does most of the “thinking work” in our house?
“Even in households where chores are shared, the invisible ‘thinking work’ of parenting still falls to women”, writes Freelance journalist Niamh O’Reilly in The Journal.ie. Niamh joined Anton to discuss this further.
Mar 13, 2026 • 4min
Calls to clampdown on ticket touting
Rugby fans will be heading to the Aviva this weekend to watch Ireland take on rugby and some of those fans could have paid €3,000 for their ticket. Anton discusses this further with John Clendennen, Fine Gael TD for Offaly.
Mar 13, 2026 • 3min
Crufts 'Best in Show' winner previously convicted of animal cruelty
Lee Cox, along with his Clumber spaniel, Bruin, beat around 18,000 other competitors to the top spot at Crufts on Sunday. However, it has since been revealed that the champion handler was previously found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a dog in his care. We get the details on this story with Vinny McAvinney, Broadcaster and Journalist.
Mar 13, 2026 • 4min
A call for higher on-the-spot litter fines
Dublin Lord Mayor Ray McAdam is calling for an increase in litter fines from 150 euros to 250 euros to reduce waste on the streets. With more on this Anton spoke to Conor Horgan, Spokesperson of Irish Business Against Litter.
Mar 13, 2026 • 7min
Iran will keep blocking the Strait of Hormuz
Iran will keep blocking the Strait of Hormuz according to a statement read on state TV attributed to the new Iranian supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei and a rescue mission is underway after a US military refuelling aircraft crashed in Iraq.Anton gets the latest on the war on Iran with Mark Weiss, Israel Correspondent with the Irish Times.
Mar 12, 2026 • 3min
The hidden superpower of the bumblebee queen!
A few months ago, scientists at the University of Ottawa accidentally flooded their fridge. That unfortunate accident led them to an interesting discovery. Bumblebee queens can survive underwater for days. Collie Ennis, Biodiversity Officer and Zoology Research Associate at Trinity College Dublin is here to demystify this today.
Mar 12, 2026 • 6min
Are EU food labels unfair to those with plant-based lifestyles?
No one believes a bean burger contains beef, and nobody assumes a veggie sausage came from a pig. So why are EU rules for food labels assuming people do? That’s the question from Deidra Barr, Director of Communications for the UK Vegetarian Society who spoke to Anton this morning.
