Highlights From Newstalk Breakfast

Sinn Féin must answer serious questions about the party’s links to a criminal convicted for facilitating one of the most high-profile gangland murders in this country. That’s the view of Fine Gael TD, Jennifer Carroll MacNeal who spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Ireland must not let long-term optimism on the potential of offshore wind or hydrogen blind us to the short-term vulnerabilities of our energy supply – so says Paul Deane, Research Fellow in clean energy in UCC. He will address the Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs later today on issues affecting our energy security. In advance of the committee meeting, Paul spoke to Shane this morning.

The Central Bank later today is set to announce that it will ease its mortgage rules to allow households to borrow up to four times their income in taking on a home loan. Is this a positive step for people trying to get on the property ladder? Speaking to Ciara this morning was Brendan Burgess, Founder of the consumer forum Ask about money.com

Business Editor Joe Lynam brought us all the business news live from Shannon Airport. Joe was also joined by Mary Considine is the Managing Director/Ceo of the Shannon Airport Group.

Minister Catherine Martin will bring measures to Cabinet colleagues today to promote gender balance on current affairs and music shows. This new media service code which will be made by Coimisiún na Meán could include a requirement for stations to transparently show or publish their levels of gender balance for music or current affairs. But is this necessary? To discuss this Ciara was joined by the features Editor with the Irish Mirror, Larissa Nolan.

A ban on evictions is set to go before the cabinet today. The moratorium is expected to last until the end of March however, it is unclear when it may kick in. To discuss Ciara spoke to the Chairperson of the Irish Property Owners Association, Mary Conway and also People before profit TD Paul Murphy.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has said Ireland will participate in the European Union's training mission for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which is expected to get underway in mid-November. Does this compromise our neutrality? To discuss further Shane spoke to Mark Price, steering committee member of the Irish Anti-War Movement, and Ger Aherne, Retired Brigadier General.

Tens of thousands of students who sat Junior Cycle exams last June have yet to receive their results. Is the end in sight for those who anxiously await? To discuss further Ciara was joined on the show by Carl O’Brien, Education Editor of The Irish Times.

"Give her a chance" - That’s the message Jeremy Hunt has given to Conservative MPs who have questioned Liz Truss’s Leadership. The new chancellor believes she will still be prime minister at Christmas - despite five Conservative MPs already publicly calling for her to leave Number 10. Lauren McEvatt, Former UK Government Special Advisor spoke to Ciara this morning on the show.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has confirmed the Finance Bill will include a new levy on concrete, in an effort to reduce some of the burden on taxpayers, despite Fianna Fáil TDs previously claiming it was “dead in the water”. Tom Parlon, Director General of the Construction Industry Federation spoke to Shane this morning.

Vaccines that target cancer could be available before the end of the decade. That’s according to the husband and wife team behind one of the most successful Covid vaccines of the pandemic. For more on this Shane was joined by Professor Seamus O’Reilly at Cork University Hospital.

A new study carried out by the ESRI has found the likelihood of deprivation in adulthood was 35% higher among individuals who grew up in poverty when compared to individuals who grew up in ‘very good’ financial circumstances. Dr Katriona O’Sullivan is Associate Professor in Psychology in Maynooth University and she joined Ciara on the show.

Gardaí are investigating an incident in which a young boy was allegedly grabbed by the throat by an adult man during an Under 9s hurling blitz in Co Tipperary on Saturday. Does this incident reflect a broader trend of violence in the GAA? Sean Kelly MEP and Former President of the GAA talked to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has launched the inaugural Menopause Awareness Week. The week is centered around World Menopause Day which takes place tomorrow. But why is this campaign needed? Ciara was joined by Founder of the Menopause Hub, Loretta Dignam.

Irish gardens will have to shrink, plots of land will need to get much smaller, and homes must be built closer together if we are going to solve the county’s housing crisis – that's the view of architect Dermot Bannon. Is he right? Joining Ciara was Financial analyst Karl Deeter and Hugh Wallace, Director at Douglas Wallace Architects.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D, has reiterated Ireland’s commitment to eliminating global hunger. He joined Ciara on the line today. He also discussed plans to charge refugees nominal rent if they are employed in Ireland.

Ireland will fail to meet the EU and national goal of restoring all waters including rivers and lakes to good or better status by 2027, the Environmental Protection Agency has warned. EPA’s Mary Gurrie told Newstalk Breakfast that agriculture is having a “disproportionate” impact on declining water quality standards. To discuss this further, Shane was joined on the show by President of the Irish Farmers Association, Tim Cullinane and also Environmental journalist and commentator, John Gibbons.

The congressional committee investigating the attack on the US capitol on January 6th is to Subpoena former president Donald Trump for testimony and documents For more on this what this means, Newstalk Breakfast spoke to Boston lawyer and law lecturer at the University of Galway Larry Donnelly.

Hundreds of thousands of people have yet to contact Revenue to sort out how they will pay taxes owed on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment received during lockdowns. Consumer tax manager at Taxback.com Marian Ryan spoke to Newstalk Breakfast with some guidance for those who have to pay taxes due.

This weekend celebrates the International Day of rural women. Mairead Lavery, Journalist with Irish Country Magazine spoke to Ciara on the special celebration.