Newstalk Breakfast

US President Donald Trump has declared “the war in Gaza is over” after a summit in Egypt, as the 20 living Israeli hostages have been released by Hamas, while Palestinians prisoners have also been released by Israel. We discuss further with Alexander Dragonetti, a former British diplomat who worked in Palestine and columnist with the i Paper,

Duration:00:06:45

Helen Fielding, author of the iconic Bridget Jones series

Helen Fielding, author of the iconic Bridget Jones series, made her character a household name with stories of dating in the modern world. Now she is stepping back in time and heading to Red Line book festival in Dublin to discuss the work of one of her heroes Jane Austin. Shane caught up with Helen ahead of her visit to Dublin.

Duration:00:18:29

Ireland has the highest electricity prices in Europe

A new report from the International Energy Agency has found that energy retail prices in Ireland are three times higher than wholesale prices, one of the highest gaps in the world. The report also confirms that Ireland has the highest electricity prices in Europe. We get reaction to this with Charlie Weston, Personal Finance editor with the Irish Independent.

Duration:00:05:05

Riff: Is the world as bleak as it appears?

Is the world worse now than years ago is it as bleak as it appears? Fionnula and Shane gave their view this morning.

Duration:00:03:35

Is the world as bleak as we think it is?

The news, so often filled with doom and gloom, can leave us feeling like we are living in an unprecedented time of global instability. But is the world really as bleak as we often think it to be? We asked Dr Dale Whelehan, Assistant Professor at Trinity College Dublin, School of Psychology.

Duration:00:06:52

Old electrical appliances a hidden treasure trove of raw materials!

Half of us don’t realise our old phones and laptops contain critical raw materials needed for new tech and green energy. That’s according to new research from Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Ireland. We discuss further with Leo Donovan is the CEO of WEEE Ireland.

Duration:00:03:10

200 surface water bodies are impacted by wastewater

Just under half of Ireland’s surface waters are failing to meet ecological standards. That’s according to a new Water Quality report from the Environmental Protection Agency, which estimates that we will fail to meet the EU and national goal of restoring all waters to good or better status by 2027. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Dr Eimear Cotter, Director of the EPA's Office of Evidence and Assessment.

Duration:00:05:04

Trump hails peace in the Middle East

US President Donald Trump has hailed “peace in the Middle East” and declared “the war in Gaza is over” after world leaders signed a peace plan in Egypt last night. We discuss further with Heba Saleh, Cairo Correspondent for the Financial Times.

Duration:00:06:22

How you can organise a Big Pink Breakfast!

This October, the Irish Cancer Society is calling for people to host a Big Pink Breakfast and help fund their vital cancer supports and services, like night nurses, counselling and life-changing breast cancer research. To hear more about the services the Irish Cancer Society provides, and how you can host a Big Pink Breakfast, we heard from Patrice Morrisey, a mother of three who was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2023, and Amy Nolan, Director of Clinical Affairs at the Irish Cancer Society. For more information www.cancer.ie/pink.

Duration:00:06:04

Windows 10 users urged to prepare for Microsoft pulling support

Microsoft users are being warned to check their devices and upgrade if they're running Windows 10. For more on this we spoke to Newstalk's Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly.

Duration:00:03:55

How are the presidential candidates performing?

Catherine Connolly remains the most popular presidential candidate, according to the latest poll from the Business Post and Red C at 36 per cent support. Heather Humphreys gains the most from Jim Gavin dropping out of the election, even if so far, it isn’t enough to get her ahead of Connolly in the polls. All to discuss with Sean Defoe, Newstalk Political Correspondent.

Duration:00:03:09

Hostages released by Hamas

Israel says it expects all remaining living hostages in Gaza to be freed on Monday under a new ceasefire deal with Hamas, while Palestinians await the release of hundreds of prisoners from Israeli jails. We speak to Bel Trew, The Independent's Chief International Correspondent.

Duration:00:07:52

The dual Irish and English signs in the city of Belfast

Just 3 per cent of residents on over 500 streets in Belfast are actively against dual Irish and English signs in the city while nine in ten support them. That’s according to new research from Conradh na Gaeilge. It comes as the PSNI are investigating “hate-motivated” damage to a street sign with Irish on it in east Belfast. We discuss further with Ciaran Mac Giolla Bhéin, Coordinator of the West Belfast Language Plan and President of Conradh na Gaeilge and Ben Lowry, Editor of the Belfast Newsletter.

Duration:00:10:03

Call for children to Walk to school this week

The Green-Schools Travel Programme is calling on people to ditch the car this week and walk to school. The theme for National Walk to School week is Connections and to explain more about the programme was Aengus Kennedy, Green Schools Travel Officer.

Duration:00:04:44

A new 'Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority'

Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has today announced the Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority. It aims to protect the health and legal rights of children born through assisted reproduction or surrogacy, as well as the rights of intending parents and donors involved. We got the details from Dr Brian Tobin, Associate professor at University of Galway and member of the board.

Duration:00:07:13

Hostage release will happen 'early on Monday morning', says Israel

Israel says it expects all remaining living hostages in Gaza to be freed today under a new ceasefire deal with Hamas. While Palestinians await the release of hundreds of prisoners from Israeli jails. We get the latest on this with Mark Weiss, Israel Correspondent with the Irish Times.

Duration:00:05:32

New waste compactors to be installed by DCC

Dublin City Council has announced the installation of new waste compactors, an initiative which will see the removal of one thousand plastic bags per day. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was the Executive Manager in Environment and Transport Derek Kelly.

Duration:00:05:17

What next after the Metrolink?

“Wouldn’t it be great if we could build rail lines as fast as roads?” Planning permission for the long-awaited Metrolink was given the go-ahead, but it may be another decade before we reap any benefits and Brian Caulfield, Professor in the School of Engineering at Trinity College Dublin.

Duration:00:05:13

Household incomes to shrink as a result of Budget 2026

Tax and welfare measures introduced in Budget 2026 will result in average 2 per cent loss in disposable income. That’s according to a new analysis published this morning by the Economic and Social Research Institute.

Duration:00:04:27

Israel and Hamas agree first phase of deal