Newstalk Breakfast

A first-of-its-kind empathy education programme from the University of Galway is being rolled out to Transition Year students nationwide, aimed at boosting compassion and emotional skills in schools across the country. We discussed this with  Brendan Kelly, Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin. 

The internet is rife with commentators and self-proclaimed nutrition “experts” promoting products with the promise of health benefits but how do you separate the fact from the fiction?  All to discuss with Aileen McGloin, Director of Nutrition at Safefood.

More than €22 billion will be spent building 30 new major roads, 15 railway lines and five new Bus Connects projects across the country over the next five years. But does the plan fall short in some areas? Ciara discusses this with both  Brian Caulfield, Professor in the School of Engineering at Trinity College Dublin and FG TD for Tipperary South and Transport Committee Chairman Michael Murphy.

A decade after the show first hit Netflix, the grand finale of Stranger Things is here, bringing a conclusion to one of Netflix’s most popular series of all time. All to chat about with Sarina Bellisimo, Broadcaster and Entertainment Journalist.

US President Donald Trump said he is sending his envoy Steve Witkoff to meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Moscow next week as President Trump seeks to close out a deal to end the war in Ukraine. Speaking to Ciara with more on this was Duncan Bullivant, CEO of Henderson Risk Group, Former British Army Officer and Former UK Diplomat. 

The Government is budgeting like there’s no tomorrow and adding more money to an already-strong economy. That’s according to the latest assessment by the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Seamus Coffey, Chair of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council.

Ireland is now home to an unprecedented wave of learner drivers, with nearly four hundred thousand novices behind the wheel. All to discuss with Ger Hyland President of the Irish Road Haulage Association. 

Ireland is an unfortunate outlier in Europe when it comes to early childhood education and care and family leave.  That’s the view of the National Women’s Council, who are today hosting a conference discuss how Ireland can develop an integrated model of public early education and care and adequate family leave.  To discuss further we heard from Donal Swan, Women’s Economic Equality Co-ordinator, with the National Women’s Council. 

Construction of the MetroLink rail line is now facing an ‘inevitable delay’ according to Transport Infrastructure Ireland, after a number of residents in Ranelagh lodged a High Court challenge against the decision to grant permission for the multibillion-euro project. We discussed further with Tom Phillips, from Tom Phillips and Associates and Adjunct Associate Professor of Town Planning, UCD.

British Finance Minister Rachel Reeves will today publish the UK government’s Autumn Budget. Speaking to Shane about the budget was Lauren McEvatt, former Conservative government Special Adviser and Co-host of the Welsh Politics Podcast.