Highlights From Newstalk Breakfast

A united Ireland would cost €3 billion in the first year, but any financial burdens would disappear within a decade – so says a report published by Dublin City University and Ulster University.  To discuss further with Ciara was John Fitzgerald, Adjunct Professor in Economics at Trinity College Dublin. 

Ireland’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions decrease by 2 per cent in 2024. That's according to the latest report from the Environmental Protection Agency  Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Dr Eimear Cotter, Director of the EPA’s Office of Evidence and Assessment.  

A U.S. judge has denied Sean "Diddy" Combs' request to be released from jail ahead of his sentencing, after the music mogul was cleared of sex trafficking and racketeering charges that could have put him behind bars for life but found guilty of lesser prostitution-related offenses.  Ciara spoke to Alan Dershowitz , OJ Simpson's Defence Lawyer and started by asking him for his take on the verdict.

Environment minister, Darragh O’Brien, has ruled out developing nuclear energy as an answer to the country’s pressing need for clean electricity.  The Minister said it’s not even in the room, let alone on the table as an option.  We get reaction to this with Denis Duff, Chartered Engineer and Co-founder of 18for, a voluntary group of energy, nuclear, environment, medicine & Health experts. 

The Department of Education is launching a first-of-its-kind Single Application System for admission to secondary school, first being piloted in five towns across Ireland.  We hear from Helen McEntee, Minister for Education.

“A kilo of bananas or carrots costs less than a single cheeseburger, while five portions of fruit and veg a day can be met for as little as 30p.”  So wrote Freelance Journalist who contributes to the Daily Telegraph and The Spectator, Rob Crossan.

Gambling offers such as free bets and moneyback guarantees entice people to bet more often and with more money. That’s according to new research from the ESRI’s Behavioural Research Unit.  We discuss these findings with Dr. Shane Timmons Senior Research Officer, ESRI.

ASOS customers have reported receiving emails saying their accounts will be deactivated as part of a crackdown on “serial returners”.  Siobhán Maguire, consumer journalist, explained all.

Hamas is continuing to review what US President Donald Trump has called a "final" ceasefire proposal for Gaza. The US President said Israel has already agreed to a 60-day ceasefire.  To discuss the latest was Rushdi Abualouf, BBC Gaza Correspondent.

Organisers of the Run It Championship League are attempting to bring what they call the "world's fiercest, new collision sport" to global audiences.   It is a supercharged version of a one-on-one tackle game which originated in the backyards and school playgrounds of Australia and New Zealand. We discuss this with Alix Popham, former Welsh international who was diagnosed with early onset dementia at the age of 40.

The Coalition remains sharply divided on the issue of college fees after opposition parties united in anger at recent suggestions from Fianna Fáil Minister for Further and Higher Education James Lawless that the student contribution could increase by as much as €1,000 next year.  We discuss this further with Fine Gael TD John Clendennen.  

Large parts of Europe are on extreme heatwave weather warnings once again raising questions over public health, environmental hazards, and the impact of climate change.   We discuss further with John Sweeney, Emeritus professor in the Irish Climate Analysis and Research Units at the department of geography at Maynooth University. 

An ambitious plan for the future of the Luas in Dublin would see the development of two new circular lines running along the outskirts of the city centre. Is 2050 ambitious enough? Ciara and Shane discussed this morning.

Former Olympic swimming coach George Gibney has been arrested in the United States on foot of a Garda request to extradite him to Ireland. The arrest is part of an investigation into historical child sexual abuse.   We get the latest on this with Jack Power, Irish Times reporter. 

The Joint Committee on Health will meet this morning to discuss the management of waiting lists for hospital treatment, and of the insourcing and outsourcing of such treatment   We spoke to Sorca Clarke, Sinn Fein TD and member of the committee.   

After thousands tuned into Glastonbury on BBC this weekend, RTÉ have confirmed they will not be broadcasting any performances from Electric Picnic in August. The last time the Irish festival was filmed was 2017.  To discuss further was Jackie Conboy, Co-founder of Music and Entertainment Association of Ireland. 

Concerns have been raised by the Environmental protection agency on the slow progress being made removing lead from the public supply of water. Joining Shane for the latest on their annual report is Noel Byrne, Programme Manager in the EPA’s Drinking Water and Wastewater Enforcement team. 

Teenage girls are the loneliest group in the world, according to a new study from the World Health Organisation.  While adult men and women both reported similar levels of loneliness, nearly one in four teenage girls said they are lonely, compared to 17 per cent of teenage boys.   Dr Patricia Byrne, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist discussed these findings.

Tánaiste Simon Harris will tell Cabinet today that with just a week to go there is positive momentum in EU-US trade talks. But that 10pc baseline tariffs in some sectors will pose challenges for the Irish economy and businesses.  All to discuss with Dan O’Brien, Chief Economist at the Institute of International and European affairs and Columnist with The Currency. 

A criminal investigation has been launched into the Glastonbury performances of Kneecap and Bob Vylan.  During Bob Vylan's set, the duo led chants of "death to the IDF".  Kneecap call Israel war criminals. Police have not specified which part of Bob Vylan's or Kneecap's set would be subject to the criminal investigation.   Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Eylon Levy, Former Israeli Government Spokesperson.