Highlights From Newstalk Breakfast

Listening to patients’ preferences will help reduce long-term obesity in Ireland.  That’s according to the Irish Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. Speaking to Shane this morning is one of their memebers Dr Mick Crotty, Clinical lead for Obesity at the Irish College of GPs. 

US President Donald Trump is set to outline his radical new vision for the country in his first address to Congress tonight. Here to give us a run through what we can expect is David Smith Washington Bureau Chief of The Guardian. 

Recently the minister for transport Darragh O'Brien revealed plans to introduce a bike to college scheme. Similar to the bike to work scheme it will aim to get more third level students on the saddle. But will college students embrace the scheme and is it the best way to promote sustainable travel?  To discuss further Ciara spoke to Martina Callanan  representing the Irish cycling campaign.

Microsoft has announced that Skype will be no more from May of this year. Why is it being scrapped and what will take its place? Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly brings us all the details.

Europe must turn Ukraine into a “steel porcupine”. Those were the words of Ursula von der Leyden at a summit between European leaders on the war yesterday.  To tell us what this means and whether Ukraine is closer to peace we spoke to Duncan Bullivant, CEO of Henderson Risk Group, Former British Army Officer and Former UK Diplomat.

Tánaiste Simon Harris will bring draft legislation to Cabinet tomorrow to modify the triple lock on Irish troop deployment and remove the need for UN Security Council approval for peacekeeping missions abroad.  To debate this Shane was joined on the show by Neale Richmond Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Lynn Boylan Sinn Féin MEP. 

Ireland’s first cohousing initiative to provide transformative housing options for people aged 55 and over has been launched today.  Cohousing Communities Ireland is actively considering a number of potential sites in Dublin, including one in Dublin 6, and is ready to engage with key stakeholders.   Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Ana Dolan the Co- Founder of Cohousing Ireland.    

Yesterday world leaders met in London for a summit on peace in Ukraine, which UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said was necessary to ensure the security of every nation attending. Speaking to Shane this morning was Patrick Bury, Defence Expert at the University of Bath, former NATO analyst. 

Independent film Anora sweeps the Oscars, winning five awards including best picture and best actress for lead star Mikey Madison. We heard about the winners and losers from the Oscars with Debra Birnbaum, Editor-in-Chief of Gold Derby and former Head of Awards for Amazon-MGM. 

On Friday morning, we spoke to Charlotte Cahill, one mother among a group of parents of children without suitable Special Education Needs school placements, who staged a 24-hour sleep out at the Department of Education over the weekend.   So why is it that so many parents find themselves in this situation?  Speaking to Shane this morning was Carl O'Brien Education Editor of the Irish Times. 

A University of Limerick research project examining e-bike usage has shown how they could change transport behaviours, improve health, reduce environmental impact and be “a plausible car replacement.”   We discuss further with Professor James Green, lead investigator at I-Cycle at UL’s School of Allied Health and Health Research Institute.  

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet US President Donald Trump in Washington today to sign an agreement on sharing his country's mineral resources. Zelensky has described the bilateral deal as preliminary, and said he wants further agreements which include US security guarantees to deter renewed Russian aggression. We get reaction to this historical meeting taking place later today with Lesia Vasylenko Ukrainian MP.    

An official invite has been extended to An Taoiseach to visit the White House for St Patricks Day. Ciara and Shane discussed this further this morning.

ADHD prescriptions have seen an 87 per cent surge in the last five years as a ‘tsunami’ of demand is overwhelming services, according to the HSE. Speaking Ciara this morning was Dr Patricia Byrne, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. 

The Taoiseach has been formally invited to the White House for the annual St Patrick's Day bilateral meeting. US President Donald Trump has written to Micheál Martin, inviting him for a meeting in the Oval Office on March 12th. We get reaction to the invite with Ray Bassett, Former Senior Irish Diplomat.  

People often fall into the trap that news that happens outside Dublin is no news at all. That’s according to Irish Examiner Columnist and Cork native Michael Moynihan who spoke to Shane this morning. 

A group of parents of children without suitable SEN school placements will stage a 24-hour sleep out at the Department of Education today  Speaking to Shane this morning was Charlotte Cahill is the one of the main organisers of the sleepout.

Ukraine President Zelensky is in the US to meet President Trump and sign a minerals deal. How significant is this meeting and will it be the end of the war? How significant is this meeting and will it be the end of the war?   Speaking to Ciara to discuss this meeting was Donnacha Ó Beacháin, Professor of Politics at DCU and author of forthcoming book "Unfinished Empire: Russian Imperialism in Ukraine and the Near Abroad". 

Italia 90 heroes are set for a stage show honouring 35 years after the iconic World Cup. Italia 90: An Evening With The Greatest Football Team will take place in the RDS on Friday, March 14 and the Cork Opera House on Sunday, March 16.   Shane spoke to Ireland football legend Ray Houghton who was on the iconic football team. 

Legendary Hollywood star Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa have been found dead in their Santa Fe home. We get the latest on this breaking news with Film Critic Brian Lloyd.