Highlights From Newstalk Breakfast

Gardaí call for State financial assistance to buy homes. Is this a good idea. Shane and Ciara discuss this morning.

Major changes are underway today for rail users in the Dublin area and beyond with the introduction of the “Dublin Commuter Zone". This will bring new fares with it. We get more details with Mark Gleeson, Spokesperson for Rail Users Ireland.

The eyes of the world were on St Peter’s Square this weekend for the funeral Mass of Pope Francis. Now, a nine-day period of mourning begins, after which the conclave to elect his successor will take place.   Speaking live from Rome was Vatican Correspondent for EWTN Colm Flynn. 

Old Barracks Coffee Roastery in Tipperary offers drinks for up to 15 euro for caffeine lovers and their dogs. but not for kids. Owner Alan Andrews offers customers a “child-free experience.

Maximum working temperatures, risk assessments and paid “climate leave” are among the proposals from Unite as part of their “Extreme Weather” package to protect workers  We hear more on this with Tom Fitzgerald, Unite Regional Coordinating Officer. 

In the UK, Kneecap are being investigated by counter-terror police in relation to a 2023 video allegedly showing one band member saying, “The only good Tory is a dead Tory”.  We discuss this further with Trevor Ringland, Former Unionist Politician. 

Clonskeagh, south Dublin, has temporarily closed to the public following an allegedly “deeply troubling” incident said to have occurred last Saturday    We heard from Dr Ali Salim, Chair of the Irish Muslim Board. 

The weather might have been a bit miserable this week. But there is light at the end of the tunnel, and warmer weather is on the way. Alan O’Reilly from Carlow Weather brings us some good weather news.

Why do we tend to lose our sense of play in adulthood, and how can we reclaim it?  All to discuss with Richard Hogan, Family Psychotherapist and author of “Home Is Where The Start Is”. 

There is no evidence linking an increase in short-term lettings and a fall in new rentals available, according to the latest research from the ESRI. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Dr Rachel Slaymaker is Author of the report.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia is "ready" to reach an agreement with Ukraine, according to an interview with CBS News posted online. We get the latest with Dr Jenny Mathers from the Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University.

The Irish Medical Organisation’s conference today will hear that ‘Pornography today is far more violent, degrading and humiliating than ever before’. We discuss further with Dr Madeleine Ní Dhálaigh Roscommon GP, member of the IMO GP Committee and speaker at the Conference.

Odour and noise complaints concerning industrial waste have reduced by nearly half in the last three years, according to the latest EPA report. Speaking to Ciara this morning to discuss this further was Pamela McDonnell, Programme Manager at the EPA Office of Environmental Enforcement.

Today will be the final day for the public to pay their respects to Pope Francis at St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, ahead of the popular pontiff’s funeral tomorrow morning. Our Chief Reporter Barry Whyte joined us from St Peter’s Square.

Public drinking water facilities should be introduced around Ireland, after a pilot project found it drastically reduces the amount of soft drinks children have. That’s according to Dr Grace O’Malley from the RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences  who explained why to Ciara this morning.

Attorneys delivered opening statements yesterday in the New York retrial of disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein, after his landmark 2020 rape conviction in New York was overturned.  Shane got the latest from Lauren Conlin Reporter and Host with Pop Crime TV.

Nine people have been killed and 70 are wounded following a Russian missile attack in the Ukrainian city of Kyiv, a day after US Vice President JD Vance delivered an ultimatum to both countries  Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Member of Parliament in Ukraine, Inna Sovsun. 

Doctors in the Irish Medical Organisation will gather in Killarney today to discuss the ongoing challenges facing the health system. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Dr Denis Mc Cauley, GP and outgoing President of the Irish Medical Organisation.  

Why are we still putting our children through this guilt grind? That is the question that Newstalk’s own Simon Tierney has about First confession. Simon discussed all with Ciara this morning.

Federico Minieri is an architect and town planner who has worked on major urban projects in cities like London and Barcelona. He believes Dublin needs to move beyond 'half measures' when it comes to reimagining its public spaces.  Federico explained his ideas to Newstalk this morning.