Highlights From Newstalk Breakfast

In the Sixties, Japan was the unhealthiest country in the G7 but quickly turned around. Is it time for us to do the same? Helen Heneghan, a Consultant Bariatric Surgeon and Professor of Surgery at St Vincent’s Hospital, spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

A mural on the front of a period home in Sandycove featuring two ballerinas wearing boxing gloves must be removed. That’s what the planning appeals board of An Bord Pleanala has ruled. Cathy McGovern who owns the home and commissioned the artwork by street artist Solus spoke to Ciara this morning with her reaction to the ruling by An Bord Pleanala.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has suggested mandatory mask-wearing could be reintroduced on public transport and in shops as Ireland grapples with a summer wave of Covid-19. Liam Fanning, Professor of Immunovirology at UCC spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning with more on this.

Temperatures could reach a high of 25 degrees today, as Ireland enjoys it’s hottest day of the year so far. Joanna Donnelly is a Meteorologist with Met Eireann spoke to Shane this morning on the show.

Sir Paul McCartney will celebrate his eightieth birthday tomorrow. The former Beatle kicks off the next decade of his remarkable life by headlining Glastonbury next week and to look back at the Legendary musician’s legacy so far is Newstalk’s own Tom Dunne.

Campaigners and opposition politicians have urged people to take to the streets tomorrow in rallies protesting about the cost of living crisis. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald criticized the Government for failing to commit to further support measures before October’s Budget, while Tánaiste Leo Varadkar yesterday said they are not ruling it out. Is the Government doing enough to tackle soaring costs? Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government and Planning, Peter Burke & Sinn Fein’s spokesperson for Rural development, Claire Kerrane spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning

The World Health Organization today released its largest review of world mental health since the turn of the century. It provides a blueprint for governments, academics, health professionals, civil society, and others with an ambition to support the world in transforming mental health. How can Ireland improve when it comes to mental healthcare? We discuss with Brendan Kelly, Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin and Author of In Search of Madness joins me now.

Ireland should consider reducing the minimum legal drinking age to sixteen. That’s the view of Cork City Councillor Shane O’Callaghan who believes fresh thinking is needed to tackle binge drinking and improve our national relationship with alcohol. Shane spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

An elephant named Happy will have to remain at the Bronx Zoo after New York’s highest court ruled against an animal rights group that said she deserved the same rights as humans and should be freed. The case brings about the question of whether zoos are a force for good or evil in the world. To debate Newstalk Breakfast spoke to John Carmody, Animal Rights Campaigner and Commentator, and Gerry Creighton, Global Elephant Care Consultant.

Demonstrations will take place across the country tomorrow in protest at the cost of living. Rallies are planned for Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Sligo. One of those speaking at the rallies will be SIPTU Deputy General Secretary, Gerry McCormack who spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning ahead of the protests on Saturday.

Every music fan has dreamed of playing to a crowd of screaming fans with their favourite band but for one Irish music student this week, that dream became a reality. Twenty-year-old Sam Connolly from Monkstown in Dublin was brought on stage to play drums with The Killers at Malahide Castle on Tuesday and he told Ciara about his amazing experience.

Irish tourists could be in for chaos as Ryanair staff to strike in Spain, Portugal and Italy are to strike at the end of this month. Ryanair’s Director of Marketing Dara Brady spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

The Oireachtas Media and Culture Committee have asked RTE bosses to appear before them after Dublin Pride severed ties with the state's broadcaster over what it describes as “anti-trans” discussions on Joe Duffy’s Liveline programme. Was this the right decision for TDs and Senators to make, or does it spell danger for free speech in Ireland? To debate Newstalk Breakfast spoke to Stella O’Malley, Psychotherapist and Author and Annie Hoey, Labour Senator.

Energy poverty is now at its highest recorded rate - that’s according to a new report from the ESRI. Joining Newstalk Breakfast this morning for more on this was Lisa Ryan, Professor in Energy Economics at UCD School of Economics and UCD Energy Institute and Pippa Hackett,, Minister of State of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Restoring native predator mammal populations, including reintroducing the lynx to Europe and even Ireland, could help to keep in check the most problematic invasive species around the world, according to a study led by Queen’s University Belfast and Cornell University in the US. Wildlife expert and author Eanna Ní Lamhna spoke to Newstalk Breakfast with more on this.

Ministers at the Cabinet subcommittee on Ukraine this week discussed plans to build hundreds of modular homes to house Ukrainian refugees. To discuss modular housing and whether or not it could be a solution to the housing crisis, Ciara spoke to Financial Adviser and Analyst, Karl Deeter.

Energy poverty is now at its highest recorded rate that’s according to a new report from the ESRI. Joining Shane was one of the authors of the report, Dr. Barra Roantree.

The average waiting time for patients accessing emergency departments last month was over 11 hours, according to new figures. Mercy University Hospital in Cork was the highest in the country, with an average wait time of nearly 22 hours. So why do waiting times remain so stubbornly high? Priscilla Lynch is Clinical Editor with the Medical Independent spoke to Newstalk Breakfast.

Whale watching, hot tub tours and kayaking by moonlight these are just some of theoutdoor activities available to staycationers this summer

A cross-party group of Ukrainian MPs have praised Ireland’s response to the war in Ukraine and urged the Government to support their effort to join the European Union in an address to the Seanad yesterday MP Lesia Vaslyenko spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.