Highlights From Newstalk Breakfast

Parents of young kids should not celebrate Hallowe'en with wanton displays of throwaway plastic tat. That’s according to Environmental journalist and commentator John Gibbons who spoke to Shane this morning.

Men and women have more similar levels of ‘dark’ personality traits - including machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy when they are faced with harsh economic conditions – that's according to a new study by Queen University Belfast. For more on this Ciara was joined on the show by Counselling Psychologist and Lecturer in TU Dublin, Leslie Shoemaker.

Ireland’s water services remaining in the state’s hands should be enshrined in the constitution. That is the view of a group of trade unions that have come together this morning to launch the ‘Keep Water Public’ campaign, which calls on the Government to confirm a date for a referendum on the issue. John King SIPTU Deputy General Secretary spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Yet another assembly election is expected to be called in the North tomorrow as the DUP continue to refuse to re-enter power-sharing due to their opposition to the Protocol. For more on this Ciara spoke to Ben Lowry Editor of The Belfast Newsletter and also Brian Feeney Irish News Columnist and Political Commentator.

Everywhere, Any Day, You Can Play!” that’s the message Dublin City Council are sending out ahead of launching a new Play Strategy that will focus on the planning of play spaces throughout the city for children and young people. Earlier we spoke to Deborah Clarke, DCC’s Play Officer who explained what this strategy entails and also joining Shane was Catherine Woods, Professor of physical activity for Health at the University of Limerick.

“Cohabiting couples deserve the same compassion as married couples” that’s the message The Labour Party will be bringing to the Seanad today as they call for support on their Surviving Cohabitant’s Pension Bill. Labour Senator Mark Wall spoke to Shane with more on this.

Too many owners of large dogs are careless about keeping their pets on a leash. That’s according to Irish Independent Columnist Frank Coughlan who spoke to Shane on Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Families who are looking to bring their little ones along to see Santa this year could run into some challenges. We are hearing from listeners that spaces are booked out and demand is higher than ever for Christmas experiences. Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie has already put his Christmas hat on and went along to one of these events.

Fines for speeding, driving while using a mobile phone, and not using a seatbelt are set to be doubled from tonight in a bid to tackle the increasing number of road deaths and injuries in Ireland. Is this a welcome move or just a money-making exercise? JoiningShane this morning was former Transport Minister Shane Ross Independent TD Michael Healy Rae .

Employees’ rights to request remote working are set to be strengthened following a review of new draft laws. Employers may be given fewer grounds to turn down applications for home working after the Department of Enterprise puts the finishing touches to the proposals. Mary Connaughton is the Director of the professional body in Ireland for HR and spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Experts have said that by forgoing the winter clock change, households could potentially save up to €400 a year on energy bills. Is that reason enough to consider scrapping the clock change? To discuss this, Ciara spoke to Richard Guiney, CEO of Dublin Town Adjunct Professor in Economics at Trinty College Dublin, John Fitzgerald

There is a severe teacher recruitment and retention crisis across the education sector. That’s according to a survey carried out by the Teaching Union of Ireland. Liz Farrell is the TUI President and spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

From midnight tonight fines for 16 road safety offences will double. Some of the fines that are doubling include speeding and learner permit holders driving unaccompanied which will increase from €80 to €160 while mobile phone use and non-wearing of seatbelts will go from €60 to €120. Hildegarde Naughton Minister of State at the Department of Transport spoke to Ciara

Doubling the payment for families who take in refugees from €400 to €800, that’s just one option over a series of proposals that the cabinet discussed last night to tackle the growing crisis in providing for those fleeing the war. But do these measures alleviate the problem? Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik spoke to Shane this morning.

Under plans being brought to the cabinet by Justice Minister Helen McEntee to reform licencing laws, clubs could serve alcohol until 5am but stay open until 6. Pubs would also see their closing times extended to 12:30am seven days a week while closing times for late bars will remain at 2:30am. With reaction to this Newstalk Breakfast spoke to Sunil Sharpe Spokesperson from the Give Us The Night campaign and also Dr Garrett McGovern GP specialising in addiction medicine and Medical Director of the Priority Medical Clinic in Dundrum.

New treatment guidelines that redefine care for more than a million people in Ireland who live with obesity have been launched today. Dr. Donal O’Shea is the HSE Lead for Obesity and he joined Shane this morning on the show.

Sinn Fein are to bring forward a motion in the Dáil this evening, to deliver what they deem “affordable, reliable and safe public transport.” The motion includes a range of proposals, one of which is the introduction of a dedicated transport policing unit. For more on this Newstalk Breakfast spoke to Sinn Fein Spokesperson on Transport, Darren O’Rourke.

Rishi Sunak will today be crowned UK Prime Minister after he became the only candidate in the Conservative Leadership race to get the backing of over 100 MPs. He becomes the first British Asian prime minister and at 42, he will be the youngest to hold the role since 1783. Lauren McEvatt Former Conservative government Special Adviser spoke to Jonathan this morning on the show.

“Erasing ‘women’ from a controversial clause in the constitution is dishonest” That’s according to Sunday Times Columnist Brenda Power This comes after Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he would like a referendum to be held next year to remove the ‘women in the home’ clause from the Constitution. Brenda Power, Columnist with The Sunday Times and The Daily Mail gave her view.

Reports this morning have suggested that the long-awaited report on planning decisions by former deputy chairman Paul Hyde and “further allegations of wrongdoing” to the planning board’s chairman, Dave Walsh has been completed. The Irish Examiner’s Special Correspondent Mick Clifford has some of the detail in today’s paper and spoke to Newstalk Breakfast.