Newstalk Breakfast

A recent survey has placed Ireland in the top 10 countries most pessimistic about the future. We asked Brendan Kelly, Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin why are we so gloomy? 

House prices nationally rose by an average of 5.5% during 2025, with prices now 41% above their pre-covid levels and just 10% below their Celtic Tiger peak.  

That’s according to a new report from Daft.ie.  Ronan Lyons Professor in Economics at Trinity College Dublin and author of the report discusses these findings.

A best-selling crime writer, a retired police detective and a communications expert from County Down are among the contestants on the new series of The Traitors in the UK, which kicked off last night on BBC One.  

We heard from Niamh O’Reilly, Freelance Journalist and Traitors Superfan.

The first victim of the tragic fire at a ski resort in Switzerland has been named as Emanuele Galeppini, an Italian teen golfer.  Officials continue to investigate the exact cause of the fire in which over 40 people were killed and 115 were injured, although they have already ruled out a terror attack. 

Speaking to Ciara this morning was Felix Smith a journalist for Bauer Media Copenhagen. 

The government should create an independent expert group to fix its fragmented energy policy, which is punishing consumers.  
 That’s the call from industry group Fuels for Ireland, whose CEO Kevin McPartlan explained why to Newstalk Breakfast.

get your scarves and gloves at the ready as we look ahead to this weekend’s weather with Alan O’Reilly of Carlow Weather.

Mental health charity Turn2Me warns that overly ambitious resolutions can actually do more harm than good, and we should instead adopt a more realistic and compassionate approach. All to discuss with Turn2Me CEO Fiona O’Malley.

Gardaí believe the petrol bombing of a family home in north Dublin was a botched attack actually intended for a man living in the Finglas area who is suspected of involvement in organised crime.  

 A family of five were injured in the blaze but managed to escape their burning home. We get more details on this with Conor Lally, Security and Crime Editor for the Irish Times. 

A classic Christmas tale... thoughts about getting presents for our loved ones go from ‘I have plenty of time’ to ‘Oh no’ in the blink of an eye.   

 But how do we course correct now that the damage has been done and the time lost?   

 Lifestyle Editor and Saturday Weekend Magazine Columnist with The Irish Examiner, Esther McCarthy joined us on Newstalk Breakfast to present thoughtful last-minute gifts that just might save your Christmas... 

Tomorrow, boys and girls will find gifts under the tree as Santa delivers presents across the world. But has he been cleared to enter Irish airspace, and where is he now?  

 Aisling Duff is an Air Traffic Controller with AirNav, and joined Jonathan Healy on the show.

A judicial review of the Metrolink project has been withdrawn in what Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien has called "an early Christmas present". 

Paul Hosford, Acting Political Editor of the Irish Examiner, joined us on the show this morning.

Two police officers and another person have been killed in a car blast in Moscow, Russia's investigative committee has said. It happened close to the scene where a Russian general was killed by a bomb on Wednesday. 

 Meanwhile Russia has continued to launch strikes targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure, while peace talks between the two nations have thus far yielded little progress. 

 Emmanuelle Chaze, Ukraine correspondent for Radio France Internationale and France24 joined us on Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

At least 8,000 new documents related to the case of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were made available yesterday on the US Department of Justice's website.  

 This latest release includes many references to Donald Trump, including a claim by a senior US attorney that the US president was on a flight in the 1990s with the now-deceased convicted child sex offender and a 20-year-old woman.  

 Larry Donnelly Law lecturer from University of Galway and Columnist with The Journal spoke to Shane Coleman on the show.

88 per cent of people believe that there is a worrying amount of anxiety in society. That’s according to a new report from St Patrick’s Mental Health Services. So, why are we becoming increasingly anxious?    

Psychotherapist and Author Iseult White joined Shane Coleman on the show to discuss.

Nearly two million people are travelling through Dublin Airport over Christmas.  
 
Henry McKean met with a number families reunited at the arrivals hall, including some meeting new baby relatives for the first time. He sent us this report…

It’s Christmas Eve, which means many people will be packing up and travelling to see family and friends for the Christmas break. But what details do you need to know before you go?   

 Barry Kenny, Corporate Communications Manager, Iarnród Éireann and Graeme McQueen, DAA Media Relations Manager joined Jonathan Healy on Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

If you were dreaming of a White Christmas this year, I’m sorry to say you’ll be disappointed.   

 For our festive forecast, Carlow Weather’s Alan O’Reilly joined Shane Coleman on the show to see what the weather has in store. 

Comedian and actor Russell Brand has had two further charges of rape and sexual assault brought against him.   

 Brand already has five previous counts of sexual offences, pertaining to the period between 1999 and 2005.   

 Enda Brady, International TV Anchor with TRT World, joined us on Newstalk Breakfast to give us an update…

There’s no question about the kind of food you cook on Christmas Day – but what should you do with all the leftovers after you’ve cooked enough to last to New Year’s Day?  

 Shane Coleman was joined on the show by JP McMahon, the chef, restaurateur, and author from Galway, who brought us some tips, tricks, and trimmings.

The family of Sophie Toscan du Plantier will mark the 29th anniversary of her death with a private ceremony this Christmas as a garda cold-case review into the killing nears completion. 

Ralph Riegel, Southern Correspondent with The Irish Independent and author of a Dream of Death about the tragic case spoke to Shane Coleman on the show this morning.

Last week we heard that the UK is going to re-join the study abroad ‘Erasmus’ programme in 2027 but now they might be going a step further. Their Health Secretary Wes Streeting said that he would support re-joining the EU customs union in order to grow their economy.  

Adam Boulton, a political commentator, columnist with the I paper, and presenter on Times Radio joined us on Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

Just 30 per cent of the Government's target for new social homes was met in the first nine months of this year.   
  
That’s according to new figures from the Department of Housing. Eoin O’Broin TD and Sinn Fein Spokesperson on Housing joined Shane Coleman on the show.

“The best parts of Christmas in Ireland have nothing to do with alcohol - but we forget that.” That’s according to Colleen Frawley, Irish-American writer and child health policy advocate. 

Shane Coleman caught up with Colleen and asked what her experience was of Christmas in Ireland... 

Judges will be obliged to consider community service for crimes that would normally warrant a two-year jail sentence, according to reports in the Irish Daily Mail this morning. 

These new plans from the Department of Justice are aimed at reducing prison overcrowding. Michael Fitzmaurice, Independent Ireland TD for Roscommon-Galway, joined us on Newstalk Breakfast to discuss.

The prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland have demanded respect for their borders after US President Donald Trump appointed a special envoy to the Danish territory, which he has said repeatedly should be under US control.  

 So, has Trump put himself on a collision course with the EU yet again? David Smith Washington Bureau Chief, The Guardian joined Shane Coleman on the show this morning.

In the 2024 to 2025 academic year, over 73,000 students in primary and secondary schools were exempt from learning Irish, according to the Irish Times. 

But are students with dyslexia being ‘denied’ the right to learn Gaeilge through this exemption? Rosie Bissett, CEO of Dyslexia Ireland joined Shane Coleman on the show to discuss.

Gardaí are continuing to question a woman in connection with the disappearance of Daniel Arubose four years ago. The woman, who is in her twenties, was arrested yesterday.  
 
Chief Reporter Barry Whyte, brought us the latest on the development.

The GAA’s argument for maintaining its links to Allianz is flawed – tainted money is not worth having. So writes Sunday Independent Columnist and former Meath footballer Colm O’Rourke, who joined us on Newstalk Breakfast to discuss.

Now it’s time for Tech Check! This week we are joined by Ciara O’Brien, Technology Journalist for the Irish Times, who is sharing her top tips for giving tech gifts... 

Talks being held between ⁠US, European and Ukrainian officials in Florida aimed at ending Russia's war in Ukraine have “productive and constructive” so far, according to US special envoy Steve Witkoff.  

But as Russian officials renew criticism of European proposals, how far away is meaningful progress? 

 Jenny Mathers of the Department of International Politics at Aberystwyth University joined us on Newstalk Breakfast to discuss... 

Up to 1,100 people hit by the so-called superflu are predicted to be in hospital over Christmas week.  

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Minister For Health, Fine Gael TD for Dún Laoghaire joined us on Newstalk Breakfast.

 John Whelan of the Sentencing and Victim Equality Group SAVE, has described how his family are being ‘retraumatized’ at the biennial parole hearing of his sister’s murderer.   

 Sharon Whelan and her two daughters, Nadia and Zara, were murdered on Christmas Day 2008, and their murderer Brian Hennessy has applied for parole every two years since 2017. John Whelan joined Shane Coleman on the show to discuss.

360 Irish soldiers are set to spend their Christmas in South Lebanon, where they are stationed at Camp Shamrock. 134 members of the Defence Forces will be doing so for the first time. Our reporter Tom Douglas visited the camp over the weekend talk to soldiers serving there…

The government has failed to adequately address the rising cost of electricity, and we “risk pricing ourselves out of prosperity”. 

That’s the view of Conor Skehan Sunday Independent Columnist, who joined Ciara Kelly on the show this morning to discuss.

An extraordinary meeting of the board of the Dublin Airport Authority is to take place today to formally suspend its Chief Executive Kenny Jacobs with full pay, pending the outcome of an investigation.    
 

Daniel McConnell, Editor of the Business Post, joined Shane Coleman on the show.

Woman at the center of the viral "kiss cam" moment at a Coldplay concert has spoken out in recent interviews. Ciara and Shane asked this morning. Are we all far too quick to judge?

A new batch of 68 photographs related to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has been made public by Democratic US lawmakers. The photos include Epstein with director Woody Allen, and Bill Gates with an unknown woman.  

With more on this we spoke to David Smith, Washington Bureau Chief, The Guardian.  

Ireland’s economy has shown resilience in the last year, but the Government needs “prudent ambition” for long-term, sustainable growth.  That’s according to the Central Bank’s final Quarterly Bulletin of 2025, which found Modified Domestic Demand is projected to grow by just below 4 per cent in 2025.  

We discuss this and more with Barra Roantree, Assistant Professor of Economics at Trinity College. 

The likes of Kneecap, Paul Mescal and the humble spice bag have given Ireland a new, cooler reputation.  But around the world, is Ireland being overly-romanticised? That’s the concern of Aoife Byrne, an Irish writer who has lived in London for 10 years. 

You may have received your December wages today and you may be waiting another six weeks for your monthly wages hit your bank account  

So how do you make it stretch? All to discuss with Conor Pope, Irish Times Consumer Correspondent.