Newstalk Breakfast

Newstalk
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Jan 19, 2026 • 4min

77 cases of children subject to care orders highlighted in Child Law Report

77 cases of children subject to care orders have been released by the child law project today. The reports contain information from anonymized reports on child law cases that are closed to the public in the Irish Courts. It includes a case where a three-month-old boy sustained “several fractures”, including to his skull,l under his parents' care.  Executive Director of The Child Law Project, Dr Carol Coulter, joined Ciara Kelly on the show to discuss.
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Jan 19, 2026 • 13min

EU prepares €93billion tariffs after US threats 

EU envoys have been summoned for emergency talks in Brussels today, as the UK and its EU allies face a new round of tariffs imposed by Donald Trump, this time linked to Greenland. The move has been branded “unacceptable”, and opposition is also growing at home.  Matt Mayer, Conservative Policy Expert and Former Bush Administration Senior Official and Dan Mulhall, Former Ambassador of Ireland to the United States, joined us on Newstalk Breakfast this morning.
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Jan 19, 2026 • 6min

Is retirement “the greatest con job inflicted on Irish society”?

“Retirement is ‘the greatest con job’ inflicted on Irish society.” That’s according to Terry Prone, Chairman of the Communications Clinic, on her new podcast “Grey Matters” with Fergus Finlay and who joined us on Newstalk Breakfast this morning.
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Jan 19, 2026 • 6min

Henry McKean heads out to turn some frowns upside down this Blue Monday

It's Blue Monday, the flawed theory made up 20 years ago, which says today is the most depressing day of the year. But for many, today actually is a sad, blue, depressing day. We sent Henry McKean to try cheer people up at a bus stop in Blackrock and Fad Saoil Sauna. He starts by speaking to a psychologist…
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Jan 19, 2026 • 4min

Spanish train collision kills at least 39 with over 100 injured

At least 39 people were reported killed, and dozens have been injured in a collision between two high-speed trains carrying hundreds of passengers in southern Spain, Spanish broadcaster RTVE has reported. Graham Keeley, Freelance journalist in Spain, joined Jonathan Healy on the show with the latest.
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Jan 19, 2026 • 5min

NATO rallies around Greenland

US President Donald Trump ⁠has said that Denmark has not been able to do anything to get the "Russian threat" away from Greenland. This latest remark comes as EU leaders will convene an emergency summit this week to consider how to push back the US president’s ambitions to take over the island and hit allies with fresh tariffs.    Adrienne Murray, a Copenhagen-based journalist, joined Ciara Kelly on the show to discuss.
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Jan 16, 2026 • 4min

Why are learning drivers failing tests?

Learner drivers are 'failing tests' due to severely faded road markings. That’s the warning from Ladybird Driving School. We discuss further with Brenda Bolger, Owner of Bolgers Motoring Schools. 
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Jan 16, 2026 • 5min

Adrian Chiles on why wearing glasses can be a nightmare

“When I was a boy, glasses were a source of shame that ruined my self-esteem. Now that contact lenses have failed me too, all that’s left is to embrace the blurriness”  So writes Adrian Chiles, broadcaster and Guardian columnist who spoke to Newstalk Breakfast.
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Jan 16, 2026 • 8min

X to face “full rigours of the law” in Ireland over Grok 

X “will face the full rigours of the law” over Grok being used to create explicit photos, according to Niamh Smyth, the Minister of State responsible for AI.  She will meet with executives from the social media giant later today.  For more on this we heard from Sinead Gibney, Social Democrats TD for Dublin-Rathdown who sits on the media and AI committee and Brian Brennan Fine Gael TD for Wicklow-Wexford who sits on the Media Committee.
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Jan 16, 2026 • 9min

The new ICCL guide for schools

Schools must use the preferred name and pronouns of transgender students, who should also be allowed to use the bathroom of their preferred gender. That’s according to a new guide on the rights of trans people produced by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties with support from the State’s human rights watchdog the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. Joining Ciara to discuss this is Prof Donal O’Shea, Consultant Endocrinologist who works with the National gender service.  

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