Newstalk Breakfast

US president Donald Trump has dropped his threat to impose tariffs on several European countries for their stance ‌on Greenland, and says he ⁠has reached a ‍deal with NATO on the island’s future.  We get the latest on this with Jack Power, Acting Europe Correspondent for the Irish Times. 

Today it was announced that sporting organisations will receive a boost of over €33 million in funding.  Speaking to Ciara this morning was Patrick O’Donovan, Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport. 

“I was in a work-commute-collapse cycle and didn’t know what to do. Then I began sampling hobbies I’d previously dismissed and it became oddly addictive.”  Those are the words of freelance journalist Amy Wild who spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Patient safety is at risk due a range of continuing failures in how Dublin’s children’s hospitals are run, according to a new report from the Medical Council. The report highlights how some doctors are afraid to report clinical mistakes amid fears of career repercussions, and how bullying continues at one hospital.  We discuss further with Dr Chris Luke, Retired Consultant in Emergency Medicine, Author and Columnist.

US President Donald Trump is arriving at the World Economic Forum in Davos today, where his threats on new tariffs and Greenland dominates global conversation.  EU leaders have met to discuss how they will respond to the US, but according to Barry Andrews, Fianna Fail MEP for Dublin and rapporteur for the EU Parliament’s position on EU-Greenland relations, “The only way to deal with Donald Trump is to stand up to him.” Barry Andrews, Fianna Fail MEP explained this further to Shane this morning.

Almost one in 10 Irish people aged between 18 and 29 believe the Holocaust is a “myth”. Ciara and Shane asked how can we explain ignorance?

Newbridge Cutlery has announced it will cease the production of silver-plated cutlery in April.  They say it comes after several years of falling sales driven by “changing tastes and dining habits at home”.  Is the traditional family dinner getting the axe? All to chat about with Noel Cunningham, Hotelier, TV personality and author of Guide to Modern Irish Manners. 

The government should introduce a right for employees to flexible and remote work in order to deal with the issue of congestion. That’s according to a new private members motion from the Labour Party.   Our reporter Sarah Madden asked commuters what they think of the proposal and we discussed further with Ciaran Ahern, Labour TD for Dublin Southwest and Spokesperson on Transport. 

The Justice Minister is facing criticism after securing approval for legislation to expand garda powers to intercept digital communications.. With the Irish Council of Civil Liberties warning the measures amount to “profoundly intrusive powers”.  To discuss this further Shane spoke to Olga Cronin, Surveillance and Human Rights Senior Policy Officer with the Irish Council of Civil Liberties. 

An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin and Enterprise Minister Peter Burke are both in attendance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where the key focus is set to be US President Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs on countries that oppose his plans for Greenland.  We discuss further with Eoin Burke Kennedy, Economics Correspondent of The Irish Times in Davos.