Newstalk Breakfast

Parts of the country that have been hit by flooding due to Storm Chandra are once again bracing for more heavy rain in the coming days. A status yellow rain warning will be in place for Carlow, Dublin, Kilkenny, Louth, Wexford, Wicklow, Waterford from 12pm this morning to midnight on Saturday.  We heard from Director of fire and emergency management at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government Keith Leonard. Also speaking to Jonathan was Cathoirleach of Enniscorthy Municipal District Councillor Barbara-Anne Murphy and live from Rathfarnham, Dublin - Newstalk reporter Emily Keegan.  

The average child’s birthday costs over 600 euros, according to the latest research. Between bouncy castles, party favours and lavish themes, are parents going to far to celebrate their kids? All to chat with Kirsty Ketley, parenting consultant and freelance writer. 

Today is the 54th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, when British troops opened fire on a civil rights march in Derry, killing 14 unarmed civilians. To this day, none of them have ever served a day in prison. All these decades on, the trauma of their bereavement, as well as the lack of justice, has left many family members of those killed struggling with their mental health. That report by James Wilson was supported by the Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism in the Republic of Ireland, in partnership with Shine.

Legislation to abolish the three-day waiting period for abortion on request has been introduced in the Dáil. For more on this Jonathan spoke to  Karen Sugrue, Psychotherapist and Sociology Lecturer at TUS and also Eilis Mulroy, Spokesperson for the Pro-Life Campaign. 

Met Éireann has warned that any additional rainfall, particularly in southeastern, northeastern and eastern areas, could cause further river flooding today.  A Status Yellow rainfall warning for counties Carlow, Dublin, Kilkenny, Louth, Wexford, Wicklow and Waterford comes into effect at 9am. We get the latest on the weather with Alan O’Reilly, From Carlow Weather.

Romantic partnerships and breakups are seen as a natural part of life, but few acknowledge the trials and tribulations of the “friendship breakup”. But is it okay to dump a friend?  We asked Dr Ann-Marie Creaven, Associate Professor in Psychology at the University of Limerick. 

Primary school enrolment has fallen by almost 6,500 over the past year, the largest decline in recent years. Remote rural schools are expected to feel this drop the quickest – but what does it mean for the future of rural Ireland? All to discuss with Edgar Morgenroth Professor of Economics at DCU.

Seven out of ten fast-track large-scale residential development applications made over the past four years have yet to begin construction. That is according to a new report from consultants Mitchell McDermott. Jonathan discusses this further with Paul Mitchell is co-founder And Director of Mitchell McDermott, and co-author of the report.

China has suspended imports of Irish beef following the detection of an outbreak of bluetongue in Co Wexford last week. While more cases of the virus have been confirmed in three additional cattle herds in the county. To discuss this and more Jonathan was joined in studio by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon.

A bill designed to regulate the use of commercial drones from Green Party Leader and TD for Dublin West Roderic O’Gorman will be debated in the Dáil this afternoon.   Roderic O’Gorman spoke to Jonathan ahead of the Dáil debate.