Highlights From Newstalk Breakfast

From the pornification of sex and the time wasted on endless and pointless text ‘conversations’ to the horrendous lies told by middle-aged men, I believe online dating has made women not only less confident but less likely to find a long-term partner. Author Lisa Hilton joined us on Newstalk Breakfast.

A ban on installing gas and oil boilers to heat new and existing homes is among the measures the Government is finalising as part of a package of energy-crisis responses to be unveiled in the coming weeks, according to today’s Independent. Jonathan Healy was joined on the show by Caroline O’Doherty, Environment correspondent with the Irish Independent.

Electric Picnic begins today with a record 70,000 people attending after a 2-year Covid-hiatus. However, forecasters warn that this year's festival goers may want to pack sensibly, as this year's festival is likely to turn into a ‘mudfest’ due to heavy overnight rain. Met Eireann Forecaster Matthew Martin joined Jonathan Healy on the show.

Navan Hospital’s emergency department will not be closing in September, Minister of State Damien English has insisted. His remarks come after it had been revealed that the HSE signaled that it intends to go ahead with a planned reconfiguration of Our Lady’s Hospital in Navan despite a pause and review ordered by Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly. Aontú Party Leader & Chair of the Save Navan Hospital Campaign Peadar Tobín spoke to Ciara on the show.

Tomorrow’s Leaving Certificate grades will be at least as high as last year’s record-breaking set of results, which has fuelled concern within universities over the use of random selection for high-points courses. Betty McLaughlin is the Former President of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors spoke to Ciara this morning on the show.

Large energy bills are unavoidable for households this winter and government will have to act to introduce support. That was the warning from Environment Minister Eamon Ryan yesterday Newstalk Breakfast spoke to Lisa Ryan, Professor in Energy Economics at the UCD School of Economics and the UCD Energy Institute, and also Darren O'Rourke Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Climate Action, Communications Networks, and Transport.

 Taxi fares will rise by an average of 12% from today, marking the first increase for cab drivers since 2018. But are these fare hikes necessary? To discuss, Newstalk Breakfast spoke to Neale Richmond, Fine Gael TD, and Jim Waldron, Spokesperson for the National Private Hire & Taxi Association.

A protest took place last night in Dublin’s North Inner City calling on the Dublin City Council to renovate derelict homes. The protest was located outside 2 derelict properties owned by the City Council located on Connaught Street which is located just 2km from O’Connell Street in the heart of Dublin City Centre. Shane headed along to Connaught Street last night to find out why exactly people were protesting.

Major western leaders are totally unprepared for a new age of great-power rivalries and are fuelling tensions with Eastern Powers. That’s according to Frank Furedi the Emeritus Professor of Sociology at the University of Kent and author of the upcoming book “The Road to Ukraine: How the West Lost its Way” who spoke to Shane this morning on the show.

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has revealed that judges will be able to set minimum tariffs for life sentences of up to 30 years for the most serious crimes. As part of the plans set to be brought forward in the coming weeks, the Minister said she also wants fewer petty offenders to go to prison. Saoirse Brady Executive Director of Irish Penal Reform Trust spoke to Ciara this morning on the show.

On this day 25 years ago the world mourned the loss of a Princess. Princess Diana was 37 when she was killed in a car accident in Paris. Former BBC Royal Correspondent Jennie Bond spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Ireland has a new world champion! Sligo native Ceola McGowan has become the women's World Axe Throwing Champion in Canada in recent days and Ceola joined Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Mickail Gorbachev, the final leader of the Soviet Union and the man widely regarded as ending the Cold War has died at the age of 91. Dr Shane O’Rourke, Senior Lecturer in Modern Russian History in the University of York joined Newstalk Breakfast to look at the legacy of Mikhail Gorbachev.

Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris has today launched a new plan that will aim to drive equality of access to higher education. The new plan comes ahead of the return of students to colleges and universities in the coming weeks. And Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris

Over-the-counter sleeping aids may be ‘too easy’ to get and become an issue when used for too long by those desperate for a quick fix to a much deeper issue. That’s the opinion of Health Scientist and Sleep Coach, Tom Coleman who spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Last week on the show we debated single-sex schools and whether they have a place in society today. Teacher, Assistant Principal and Aontu Spokesperson on Education, Eric Nelligan put the counterargument forward to Shane this morning on the show.

The government faces a delicate balancing act managing high inflation, protecting poorer households, and delivering major policies - so says the Irish Fiscal Advisory council who have today released their pre-budget statement The Chairperson at the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, Sebastian Barnes spoke to Ciara this morning on the show.

Government leaders met yesterday evening to discuss Ireland’s impending energy crisis. Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue joins us now live from Japan where he is on a trade mission.

Local authorities across the State are owed almost €105 million in unpaid rent, with 285 social housing tenants having arrears in excess of €20,000 each. That’s according to new figures compiled by The Irish Times, which also reveal that Dublin City Council, the largest local authority, is owed the highest amount of arrears at over 38 million euro. David McManus is a Fine Gael Councillor for Rathfarnham-Templeogue and spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

More than 7,000 births were registered as outside marriage or civil partnership in the country, accounting for 43.6 percent of all births in the first quarter of the year. That’s according to the latest CSO stats. So, have we lost sight of the importance of marriage? For more on this Ciara spoke to Broadcaster & Columnist Wendy Grace.