Highlights From Newstalk Breakfast

The long-delayed Dublin Metrolink is to cost €9.5 billion, and the first trains are set to run by 2034. So the cabinet was told yesterday. The 19 kilometre rail line is set to run from near Ranelagh on the southside of the city to Swords on the northside, serving Dublin Airport along the way. Joining Shane for more on this was Brian Caulfield, Associate Professor School of Engineering at Trinity College Dublin.

Government spending will increase by €6.7 billion in this year’s budget as part of the government’s plan to tackle the cost of living. The date for the budget has also been brought forward by two weeks to Tuesday, September 27th. Paschal Donohoe Minister for Finance & President of the Eurogroup

With staff shortages being an issue across many sectors since the beginning of the pandemic, is it time that businesses start to open themselves up to employing reformed ex-prisoners? Wayne Hart, Academic, ex-offender, who has worked as a probation support worker and in a garda youth diversion programme spoke to Shane this morning on the show.

Outdoor dining developments in Dublin’s Merrion Row, Capel Street, and Suffolk Street have been delayed, as Dublin city council has yet to spend the €1.3 million in funding it received last September from Failte Ireland to transform the three streets for outdoor dining. Joining Ciara to discuss this is Gina Murphy, Owner of Hugos Restaurant on Merrion Row.

Government spending will increase by €6.7 billion in this year’s budget as part of the government’s plan to tackle the cost of living. But is the Government in danger of overheating the economy? To discuss further Ciara was joined on the show by Sebastian Barnes Chairperson at the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council.

At least six people have been killed and more than two dozen have been injured after a gunman opened fire at a July 4th Independence Day parade in Highland Park, near Chicago. For more on this, Shane was joined by Gregory Pratt, Chicago Tribune reporter to explain what has happened overnight.

The Government will today publish the Summer economic statement but what can we expect from it? Ciara was joined on the show by Daniel McConnell Political Editor with the Irish Examiner.

An “appalling” smell, sticky door handles, and a driver’s refusal to allow a blind passenger’s guide dog in his cab were among the taxi regulator's complaints so far this year. In reaction Newstalk Breakfast spoke to Jim Waldron of the National Private Hire & Taxi Association.

WhatsApp is working on a number of updates for the platform to give users more control of how they use it. Newstalk's Technology Correspondent, Jess Kelly joins Newstalk Breakfast with the details.

SIPTU said its representatives have been given assurances about the deployment of the Defence Forces at Dublin Airport. The union says that its members will not be asked, or required, to work alongside Defence Force members or to train them. SIPTU Aviation Sector Organiser, Niall Phillip spoke to Ciara this morning.

Ministers are expected to discuss a new timeframe for the Budget when they meet later today. An announcement to bring forward the Budget is expected to be made in tandem with the publication of the Summer Economic Statement. So what should the government do to deal with the current cost of living crisis? Shane was joined on the show by Gerard Howlin Public affairs consultant and former political advisor Paul Murphy, People Before Profit TD for Dublin South West. 

Childless people should pay extra taxes in order to encourage more people to start a family. That’s the view of Paul Morland, Demographer at St Antony’s College, Oxford, and the author of Tomorrow’s People: The Future of Humanity in Ten Numbers, and Paul spoke to Ciara this morning on the show this morning.

Ireland’s power system has been put into a “very dangerous” position after the British government last week threatened to cut off gas supplies to European countries. That’s according to Don Moore, Chair of the Energy and Climate Action Committee at the Irish Academy of Engineers who spoke to Newstalk Breakfast.

Several people were killed after a gunman opened fire at a shopping mall in Copenhagen. Danish police have arrested a 22-year-old man in connection with the shooting. Nikolaj Skydsgaard Reuters reporter in Copenhagen spoke to Newstalk Breakfast with more details on the shooting.

As a parent swearing in front of your children is probably something we all are guilty of. But is it really all that bad to do so? Steve Cummins Co-Founder of Zoom party.ie and Comedian spoke to Johnathan on the show this morning.

The General Secretary of the National Bus and Rail Union has written to the head of the National Transport Authority to express 'disgust' at recent comments she made regarding absenteeism among bus drivers. Dermot O’Leary General Secretary of the National Bus and Rail Union spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Ministers are expected to discuss the timeframe for the Budget when they meet on Monday. Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan said yesterday he “would not object” to the Budget being brought forward to September from October. Minister for Public expenditure and reform Michael McGrath

With many jetting off on their summer holidays, spare a thought for the cabin crew who have to deal with so many different types of passengers 40,000 feet in the air. But how do you spot a difficult passenger from a distance? Paula Gahan works on a cabin crew with an International Airline and Paula spoke to Johnathan this morning on the show.

Today is the first of July, and with Summer well underway, many of us are wondering who forgot to tell the weather! Joining me now is Evelyn Cusack, Head of Forecasting with Met Eireann

A ban on insurance companies punishing customers who are loyal to them with higher renewal charges is set to come into effect today but what will this mean for your pocket? For more on this Shane was joined on the show by Siobhan Maguire, Consumer Journalist joins me now.