Newstalk Breakfast

As part of yesterday’s ministerial reshuffle in the wake of the departure from politics of Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe, Galway West TD Hildegarde Naughton has been appointed Minister for Education and Youth, marking her appointment to full Cabinet for the first time.   Minister Naughton spoke to Shane this morning.

According to a new survey, men would rather remain single than have to deal with women’s expectations and their desire to change them.   Is this fueling a great relationship recession?  To discuss further we heard from Alana Kirk, Author and Midlife Coach.

Today, the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food will meet to discuss State funding for horse and greyhound racing in Ireland.   Greyhound racing received 19.8 million euro in Budget 2026. Joining Shane to discuss more is Nuala Donlon, Greyhound Action Ireland Spokesperson and Michael Healy Rae, Independent Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and the Marine and TD for Kerry. 

31 per cent of taxi drivers feel unsafe while working. That's according to a new FreeNow report released today. We discussed further with  Danny O’Gorman, General Manager at Freenow Ireland. 

One in three adults who drink now drink at home alone at least once a week, while one in four report binge drinking in the past 30 days. That’s according to new research from Drinkaware, whose CEO Dearbhla O’Brien spoke to Ciara this morning on the show.

A public petition is calling for Mandatory singing of the National Anthem and raising the Irish Flag in schools . We discuss this with Máire Ní Churraoin, native Irish speaker and Irish content creator.

If you haven’t already, break out your hats and scarves as temperatures are set to plummet for the next few days. We get an insight into what we should expert from Alan O’Reilly of Carlow Weather.

The United Nations Security Council has voted in favour of a resolution endorsing US President Donald Trump's 20-point Gaza peace plan. Sean Bell, Former Fighter Pilot, Military Analyst and Co-Host of the Red Matrix Podcast.

Ireland may need to consider changes to asylum and immigration rules on foot of tougher changes being brought in by the British government.   That’s the warning from Minister Justice Jim O’Callaghan. This comes as coalition leaders met last night to sign off on a further tightening of migration rules, relating to the criteria for family reunifications.Ciara discusses this further Cathal Malone Immigration lawyer and Head of Legal Research at Thomas Coughlan & Co Solicitors.

Elephants should be completely removed from all zoos. That’s the call in a new report from advocacy group Freedom For Animals, who also argue that traditional zoos such as Dublin Zoo with “old-fashioned programmes and tiny enclosures are at risk of falling behind” modern best practice.  So are zoos still fit for purpose in the modern day? We asked Animal Advocate and Founder of Animals Behind Closed Doors, Gerry Boland and Biologist, Environmentalist, Broadcaster and Author, Eanna Ní Lamhna.