Highlights From Newstalk Breakfast

Only half of fathers take paternity leave. That's according to a new report from The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and the Economic and Social Research Institute. Speaking to Shane this morning was Dr Claire Keane, Associate Research Professor with ESRI & Co-Author of the report.  

The European Union continues to prepare a response to 20 per cent tariffs from the US. But what role will Ireland play in plans?  We askedSeamus Coffey, Chair of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council.

Gardaí have denied they strip searched a woman who was arrested after a protest outside Leinster House – despite claims from People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett made under Dáil privilege.We ask Has Dáil privilege become over-used in recent years? We discussed this with Mick Clifford, Irish Examiner Special Correspondent. 

As you know by now, it’s Wish Week here on Newstalk and we want to raise as much money as possible. Make A Wish creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illness. Joining Ciara on the show was b Mary Byrne, Singer & Make A Wish Ambassador.Let’s make 2025 the biggest Wish Week yet. Every cent matters. Donate online at makeawish.ie/donate. 

Donald Trump has announced plans for tariffs on goods imported by the US. We get more reaction to these tariffs with Ryanair Boss Michael O’Leary Adjunct Professor in Economics at Trinity College Dublin, John Fitzgerald. Also joining us was Regina Doherty, Fine Gael MEP.

Brad Setser is a Senior fellow with the Council on Foreign Relations and former adviser to Barack Obama. Newstalk's Business Editor Joe Lynam spoke to him last night immediately after the Trump speech and began by asking for his initial thoughts.

Is it too much to ask businesses to police dress codes? That's the question posed by our very own Sinead Ryan, Presenter of The Home Show and consumer columnist with the Irish Independent.

Israel is beginning a major expansion of its military operation in Gaza and will seize large areas of the territory, according to the country’s Defence Minister. We get the latest on this with Sky News Middle East Correspondent Alistair Bunkall.   

US President Donald Trump has finally announced sweeping new tariffs he hopes will “Make America Wealthy Again”.  To take an deep dive into what these tariffs mean for businesses was Washington Bureau Chief from The Guardian David Smith. Also joining Shane and Ciara was IBEC’s Executive Director of Lobbying and Influence Fergal O’Brien and Simon McKeever, Chief Executive Officer, Irish Exporters Association.

The free school meal scheme is a great initiative. But it needs to pay more attention to the nutritional needs of students.  That’s according to Darina Allen, Chef, Author and founder of Ballymaloe Cookery School.

Education Minister Helen McEntee joined Ciara on the show this morning to discuss school places and what to do about the leaving cert grade inflation problem.

 Animal welfare groups are calling for reforms to laws around exotic animals in Ireland after a zebra was spotted in a pub in county Clare over the weekend. We get reaction from Martina Kenny, Co- Founder of My Lovely Horse Rescue.

Most of Europe hoped this day would never come. But US President Donald Trump is set to announce a range of tariffs at nine o’clock Irish time tonight.  We ask how Ireland is prepared with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Jack Chambers. 

A marked drop in the number and value of personal injuries claims over the past five years should be reflected in lower insurance premiums. So said Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke after the latest report from the Injuries Resolution Board showed claims were 35 per cent lower than in 2020.  We discuss this with Brian Hanley is CEO of the Alliance for Insurance Reform. 

Esther McCarthy, Lifestyle Editor and Saturday Weekend Magazine Columnist with The Irish Examiner, joins us once again for our Red Carpet Round Up. 

There have been calls for greater regulations around noise pollution." The WHO says that each year Europeans lose at least one million healthy life-years from traffic related noise. Our reporter, Josh Crosbie has been examining the sounds of noise pollution:

Today is Liberation Day where US President, Donald Trump has vowed to impose tariffs on countries across the world.  So, what can we expect?   To discuss further with Ciara was Greg Swenson, Chair of The Republicans Overseas UK & Ireland snd Commentator on Markets, Economics and Politics. 

Tanya Monaghan’s daughter Beth had her dream come true with the help of Make A Wish. Beth has cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, and a learning disability. Her wish was to go to a Taylor Swift concert and Make A Wish made her wish come true. Beth's mum Tanya told us all about her special wish.Let’s make 2025 the biggest Wish Week yet. Every cent matters. Donate online at makeawish.ie/donate. 

More than half of all third-level students could face an increase in college fees this year. To discuss this further with Newstalk Breakfast was the Minister for Higher Education, James Lawless.

Marine Le Pen was barred from running for office for five years after being found guilty of embezzlement of EU funds yesterday. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Lisa Louis a Freelance Journalist in France.