Highlights From Newstalk Breakfast

Dr David A. Kessler, former US FDA Commissioner, joins Newstalk Breakfast to discuss his new book 'Diet, Drugs and Dopamine' — and what the popularity of Ozempic says about our relationship with food.Listen here.

All things considered, is the Leaving Cert too much to stress about? Jonathan and Ciara discuss.

Conor Skehan, Sunday Independent columnist, joins Newstalk Breakfast to discuss proposed reforms to the Land Development Agency that could speed up the delivery of housing across Ireland.Listen here.

Fintan Phelan, Mayor of Carlow, and Christy Galligan, former Garda Sergeant  join Newstalk Breakfast as it’s revealed that a man who fired shots in a local shopping centre was already on bail and facing 13 firearms-related charges.Listen here.

Prof Donnacha Ó Beacháin of DCU joins Newstalk Breakfast as Russia and Ukraine agree to swap 1,000 prisoners each.But any discussions on a ceasefiure deal remain far apartListen here.

Psychotherapist and author Stella O’Malley joins Newstalk Breakfast with advice for students and parents ahead of the first day of the 2025 Leaving Cert.Listen here.

Claire Dunne, CEO of the Irish Travel Agents Association, joins Newstalk Breakfast to discuss why European airlines are calling for relaxation on compensation rules for flight delays.Listen here.

Vincent McAvinney, London-based journalist, joins Newstalk Breakfast as German police prepare to launch a fresh search in Portugal in connection with the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.Listen here.

Festival season Kicks off our own Ciara Treacy talks all things festival for 2025.

Friday Riff: Gardai on buses is it needed? Ciara and Jonathan discussed this morning.

This weekend, Gardaí will board buses across Dublin as part of a commitment to improve safety on public transport, after anti-social incidents have more than doubled in the last five years.    We discuss this and more with Blake Boland, Spokesperson for Dublin Bus. 

Parental intuition can predict child’s serious illness before doctors. That’s according to new research published in the journal Lancet Child and Adolescent Health. We discuss these findings with  Monaghan Based GP Illona Duffy.

The White House has said that Israel had accepted US President Donald Trump's proposal for a Gaza ceasefire, while discussions are continuing with Hamas.  Joining us for more on this is Alistair Bunkall Sky News Middle East Correspondent.  

Ireland will need specialised rehabilitation clinics and detox services to deal with phone addiction within the next five years. That’s according to Professor Colin O’Gara, Addiction Psychiatrist at St John of Gods Hospital and Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at UCD .

Tánaiste Simon Harris is set to contact the Israeli government over what he termed as an "utterly unacceptable" attack on Irish peacekeeping troops in southern Lebanon.  Joining us to discuss this is Cathal Berry Independent TD and Former Army Ranger.

Kinahan associate Sean McGovern has been charged with murder and directing organised crime at the Special Criminal Court, after he was extradited from the United Arab Emirates.We get the latest on this with Fank Greaney, Newstalk’s Courts Correspondent. 

Ireland’s largest gardening festival, Bloom kicks off today in the Phoenix Park.   This year, Bloom will launch ‘A Taste of Bloom, curated by Neven’, a very special new dining experience planned for this year’s festival in collaboration with Chef Proprietor of McNean House, Neven Maguire. Neven chatted to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

The head of UNWRA, the United Nations relief and works agency for Palestine has said the "clock is ticking towards famine" in Gaza as he warned that the new US-backed aid distribution model is a waste of resources and a distraction from "atrocities".  We heard from Jonathan Fowler, Spokesperson with UNWRA. 

Minister for Public Expenditure, Jack Chambers is launching public consultation on the National Development Plan Review today. Minister Chambers spoke to Shane this morning.

“The aggressive speed and silence of cyclists is a cultural problem that needs tackling in Ireland.”  Those are the words of Irish Times columnist Kathy Sheridan, and we got reaction to this with barrister, columnist and cyclist Brenda Power.