Highlights From Newstalk Breakfast

Almost 11 and a half thousand contacts were made with Rape Crisis Networks across the country in 2021. According to the Network’s annual report, 2020 saw a massive surge in contacts Rape Crisis Centres from those seeking support, however, numbers in 2021 did not return to pre-pandemic levels. Cliona Sadlier Executive Director Rape Crisis Network Ireland spoke to Jonathan on the show this morning.

Rishi Sunak looks set to become the next Prime Minister of the UK after Boris Johnson pulled out of the Conservative leadership race last night. Penny Mourdant is his remaining challenger but it looks likely that she will not receive the backing a hundred Tory MPs needed to make it to the ballot paper while Sunak has the backing of over 150 MPs. To discuss Philip Webster Former Political Editor of the Times joined Shane on the show this morning.

The European Union is preparing to set stricter energy requirements on TVs from March 1, 2023. This could cause severe disruption to some of the biggest manufacturers in the TV space. Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent, Jess Kelly brings us more details on this.

“Not acceptable” that’s the response from Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney after 43 people from Ukraine were told there was no accommodation for them on Friday and Saturday after the Citywest transit hub was closed for new arrivals. Where do we go from here? Speaking to Shane this morning was Dr Lorcan Sirr, Senior Lecturer in Housing, Planning, and Development at the Technological University Dublin.

Rishi Sunak looks set to become the next Prime Minister of the UK after Boris Johnson pulled out of the Conservative leadership race last night. Penny Mourdant is his remaining challenger but it looks likely that she will not receive the backing a hundred Tory MPs needed to make it to the ballot paper while Sunak has the backing of over 150 MPs. One of those Conservative MPs who have backed Rishi Sunak is Stephen Hammond spoke to Newstalk Breakfast with his reaction. We also heard from Adam Boulton Political Commentator.

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe yesterday published the finance bill the legislation underpinning Budget 2023. Minister Donohue spoke to Shane with ore on this.

People will no longer be able to smoke in public parks or on beaches under plans being considered by Government. Tobacco control officials have set their sights on extending a zero-tolerance approach to more sites, 18 years after Ireland became the first country in the world to outlaw smoking in the workplace. Finian McGrath Former Independent TD and Junior Minister spoke to Ciara this morning with his reaction.

Liz Truss’s resignation yesterday has thrust the Government in the UK into chaos. There’s been calls for a general election, talk of a return of Boris Johnson and a new Conservative party leader by this day next week The presenter of the Hard Shoulder Kieran Cuddihy is in London and gave an insight on what it is it like on the ground there. Also, Ciara and Shane spoke to Daniel Moylan, member of the UK House of Lords and Former Political Editor of the Times Philip Webster.

Cork should “prepare the ground” for a supervised injection facility in the city by identifying potential locations and debating the issue. That was the call from a meeting of Cork City Council earlier this week.

We need countryside that is home to native plants, flowers, trees, and shrubs but don't be cajoled into turning your tiny garden into a wilderness” That was the view of UK Celebrity gardener Alan Titchmarsh who says that the trendy ‘rewilded’ gardens are actually ‘diminishing’ wildlife. We get the view of Ireland’s most renowned gardener Diarmuid Gavin

A stark statement released last night by the Department of integration revealed that Citywest is now full to capacity. This means people fleeing the war in Ukraine and asylum seekers who arrive at Dublin Airport may have to stay there overnight. Ciara spoke to Co-founder of the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland Lucky Khambule with more on this.

Liz Truss has just become the shortest-serving British prime minister in history. A new leadership contest will take place within a week, Liz Truss said in her resignation speech outside Downing Street yesterday. But who might the next leader be? Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast were Dominic Grieves, Former UK Attorney General, and Conservative MP, and Peter Cardwell, former Special Advisor to James Brokenshire, TalkRadio Presenter and Political Editor.

The Tour de France will not be welcome back in Ireland until it can prove it is clean”, that’s what then Minister for Tourism and Sports Dr Jim McDaid said in 1998 off the back of the doping scandals that overshadowed the event. Is it time we welcome it back to our shores? Joining Shane this morning was Ian O’Riordan, Sports Journalist with The Irish Times.

Women going through the menopause who have complex needs such as high blood pressure or a history of breast cancer will now have access to specialist care in the Rotunda Hospital. Two further clinics are due in Cork and Galway in addition to those in the National Maternity Hospital, the Coombe Hospital, and Nenagh Hospital. ]Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Just half of Ireland’s sewage was treated to EU standards - well below the EU average of 90 percent. That’s according to a new wastewater report from the Environmental Protection Agency. Noel Byrne, Programme Manager with the EPA, spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Liz Truss’s UK government was plunged into complete disarray yesterday as Suella Braverman was forced to quit as home secretary and party discipline collapsed in the House of Commons. Could Truss’s run as Prime Minister be coming to an end already? Columnist with The Times and former Conservative MP, Matthew Parris spoke to Shane this morning.

There's a call for the winter homeless beds to be brought on stream sooner to bring people in from the cold. The Dublin Region Homeless Executive is set to publish arrangements next week for The Cold Weather Strategy. Newstalk reporter Josh Crosbie spent a night with the Feed our Homeless outreach team. The charity says the system is often at full capacity.

Minister of State for Transport Hildegarde Naughton is today launching new bus routes for the midlands and the northeast and the minister spoke to Ciara with more on this announcement.

If you struggle with cutting back on your weekly alcohol intake, you’re not alone. Broadcaster Adrian Chiles used to knock back 100 units a week, and while he knew he couldn’t quit alcohol cold turkey, his new book “The Good Drinker: How I Learned to Love Drinking Less” outlines a number of ways to cut back on the sauce.

Dogs from Dublin are being sent as far afield as Sweden and Italy in efforts to rehome animals following the removal of Covid-19 restrictions and the closure of Ashton dog pound. Almost 1,000 dogs have been delivered to the new Dublin county and city dog shelters over the last year following the closure of the Dublin 15 pound, which had been providing animal shelter services to Dublin’s local authorities. For more on this, Shane spoke to Bray base vet Pete Wedderburn.