Highlights From Newstalk Breakfast

Barack Obama will visit Ireland in September and people can pay two thousand euro for a photo opportunity with him.  With us to continue the discussion is someone who might know the former US President a bit better than us. Henry Healy, Moneygall native and eighth cousin of Barack Obama.

Getting your partner flowers, making them coffee every morning, giving them presents six months before their actual birthday. Is this the bare minimum in a relationship, or the “princess treatment”? This is the question that has been all over social media recently. We ask is it just encouraging unfair standards in relationships? All to discuss with Alana Kirk, Author and Midlife Coach. 

Almost half of families going without or cutting down on basic essentials. So says Barnardos in their Cost of Living 2025 report. We discussed the findings with Barnardos National Policy Manager, Stephen Moffatt.

Former US President Barack Obama visit to Ireland. An evening with the former US President will take places in the 3Arena on Friday 23rd September along with a €2k photo opportunity. Ciara and Shane discussed this morning.

New names for the Áras are emerging every week, but what if the next president of this Republic was, in fact, you? That’s the proposal of our guest Joe Humphreys, Assistant News Editor at The Irish Times and writer of the Unthinkable philosophy column. 

The European Union is to be given an extra three weeks to negotiate an agreement with the United States, to avert an escalating trade war between the two sides.  Joining us now to discuss this further was Chief Economist at the Institute of International and European affairs and Columnist with The Currency, Dan O’Brien. 

There are fresh calls to scrap parking charges at Irish hospitals, after new figures revealed staff and patients paid nearly €19 million for spaces last year.  These figures were obtained by Labour’s social protection spokesperson and Kildare South TD Mark Wall who spoke to Ciara this morning.

A new domestic violence disclosure scheme could expose women and girls to an “unacceptable” risk of further abuse. That's  according to an internal Department of Justice analysis. To discuss further was Ellen Coyne, Political Correspondent with Irish times.

US President Donald Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for White House talks where the Israeli Prime Minister he has nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, presenting the US president with a letter he sent to the prize committee.  We get the latest on this with Gregg Carlstrom, Middle East Correspondent for The Economist. 

More than 1,800 teaching posts were left vacant this year, while many schools in the greater Dublin area are already struggling to fill positions for September.  That’s according to a review of teacher payroll from the Department of Education, and we heard from Michael Gillespie, General Secretary TUI. 

It’s a court case that the world has been watching. Australian mother, Erin Patterson, has been found guilty of murdering her estranged husband's parents and an aunt by serving them a beef wellington laced with poisonous mushrooms Marta Pascual Juanola, Crime reporter with The Age gave us the latest on this case. 

A reduction in the minimum size of studio apartments is among the measures that Cabinet will consider this week to encourage developers to build more. Speaking to Shane was Gavin Lawlor President of Irish Planning Institute.  

Consumers must be free to choose where they service their vehicles and what parts they use without fear of losing their warranty. That’s the call this morning from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, who are warning the motor industry to stop limiting consumer choice. We discuss this further with Craig Whelan Director of Antitrust for the CCPC. 

More than a year after new laws were introduced to regulate e-scooters, not a single prosecution has been brought for illegal modifications. Joining Shane to discuss this further was Barry Ward, Fine Gael TD for Dun Laoghaire. 

An Israeli delegation is in Qatar for talks on a possible Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal.  This comes as later today Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to visit the White House to meet with US President Donald Trump. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Mark Weiss Israel Correspondent with The Irish Times. 

The death toll from devastating floods in central Texas has jumped to at least 82 people, with ten girls still missing from the worst-hit Kerr County. We get the latest on the devastating floods with David Smith, Washington Bureau Chief with The Guardian.  

July is “Anti-boredom month”, first invented in the 1980s to encourage people to get more active, both physically and mentally.  But nowadays, do people need to embrace boredom a bit more?  All to chat to with Leslie Shoemaker, Counselling Psychologist and Lecturer in TU Dublin. 

Today is the fourth of July, which is traditionally a day to celebrate all things about America!   But has Ireland’s relationship with the United States soured as a result of our stance on Israel's actions in Gaza? All to discuss with Dan Mulhall Former Ambassador of Ireland to the United States.  

Bedsits suited students, single people, separated people and many others, and should not have been banned in 2013.  That’s according to Michael McDowell’s latest column in the Irish Times. To discuss further is Tom Phillips, Managing Director of Tom Phillips and Associates and Adjunct Associate Professor of Town Planning, UCD and also Rory Hearne, Housing Spokesperson for the Social Democrats, 

Four hundred flights were cancelled by Ryanair, including 170 Irish flights, following two days of Air Traffic Control strikes in France.  Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has said EU Commission President Ursula Von der Leyden should step down “if she’s not willing to reform Europe's failed ATC service”. Michael spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.