Newstalk Breakfast

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?

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. 

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.  

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.

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. 

Two men and a woman have died in separate road crashes in counties Limerick, Monaghan and Tipperary. Recently, we discussed the decision not to disband the RSA, but are we doing enough for road safety?  We discussed further with Leo Leighio, Vice President of the Irish Road Victims Association. 

EU leaders struck a deal to provide Ukraine a €90 billion loan to plug its looming budget shortfalls, but failed to agree on using frozen Russian assets to come up with the funds. 

We discuss this further with Emmanuelle Chaze, Ukraine correspondent for Radio France Internationale and France24.

Season 5 of Emily in Paris is out today, and this rendition takes her story to the eternal city of Rome.  Here to explain why this show is so beloved is Dee Molumby, Pop culture expert.   

AIB has released new data today detailing the most common scams of 2025, with 57% of all payment fraud reported originated from text message fraud.   With last-minute parcels and packages arriving now with Christmas a week away today, it is an especially risky time to fall victim to a financial scam . With advice on how to avoid scams is Adrian Weckler, Technology Editor Irish Independent. 

The owners of St Stephen's Green Shopping Centre in Dublin are making a renewed bid to redevelop the landmark shopping centre.  The revised plan once again includes removing the existing facade of the shopping centre and adding office space.  

Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Dr Carole Pollard, Former president of the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland & Co- Editor of the book Irish Cities in Crisis.  

Housing output will remain below underlying demand, while average rent levels are set to rise again in 2026.  That’s the warning from the Economic and Social Research Institute in its quarterly economic commentary.  

We discuss this further with Dr. Conor O’Toole, Associate Research Professor at ESRI.   

There has been huge backlash against the Government’s u-turn on disbanding the Road Safety Authority, with road safety groups arguing that the organisation is still not fit for purpose.  

Muireann O’Dea, spokesperson for the “Love 30 campaign for lower speed limits” gave her reaction to this.

A British baker has caused a stir in Mexico after claiming on a podcast that the country lacks a real “bread culture.” The remark sparked outrage and places him alongside other British chefs who’ve upset food purists abroad, from Jamie Oliver’s chorizo paella to Nigella Lawson’s creamy carbonara.   

Sarah Madden reports on the question of cooking and cultural appropriation: 

An Garda Síochána will commence a Taser Pilot for Frontline Uniform Gardaí from today. It’s something we have debated many times on this show, but the ICCL say it is a dangerous step for community policing. For more on this Ciara spoke to Joe O’Brien, Executive Director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties.

CareDoc employees will begin a 24-hour strike today due to a dispute over HSE funding not being paid to workers.  

Caredoc provides GP out-of-hours services in the southeast of the country, Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford, Wexford and south Tipperary. We heard from   Ger McNally, SIPTU Health Organiser.

Up and down the country right now families and homes are facing up to a rampant dose of flu. Leaving many bedridden and unable to participate in normal life.  But what's the correct attitude to have if you do come down with the flu?  Esther McCarthy, Weekend Magazine Columnist with The Irish Examiner has been writing on this and chatted to Shane this morning.

Ireland’s energy emissions are down 16% since 2018, even as the population has grown, but a new SEAI report warns progress is far too slow. To meet 2030 climate targets, emissions cuts must now more than double, with transport and energy infrastructure under particular pressure. 

All to discuss with Margie McCarth, Director of Research and Policy Insights at SEAI.

Later today, Minister for Children Norma Foley will launch the Action Plan on Childcare.  Phase one of the plan includes increases to the income limit for the National Childcare Scheme, and a consultation aimed at reducing the cost of childcare to 200 euro per child per month in the lifetime of this Government.

We speak to Elaine Dunne, Chair of the Federation of Early Childhood Providers ahead of the launch.

A review into Fianna Fáil's presidential campaign has found that “nothing further was done” by party bosses after Jim Gavin told them he had no recollection of an issue with a former tenant, before he was selected as their presidential candidate.  

Parliamentary party members met yesterday to discuss these findings and shared their grievances with leader Micheál Martin. We discuss further with Seamus McGrath Fianna Fail TD for Cork South–Central  Barry Andrews, Fianna Fáil MEP for Dublin.  

The terrorist attack on Bondi Beach which targeted a Hannukah event, has killed at least 15 people. It highlights the rise in antisemitism globally, and raises concerns for the safety of the Jewish community in Ireland. 

We get reaction to this terrorist attack from  Chief Rabbi Yoni Wieder  and also Rabbi Levi Wolff of Central Sydney Synagogue.  

Sending and receiving letters has gone out of style in the digital age. But during the festive season, are people sending out Christmas cards? Newstalk’s own Ellen Kenny took to the streets of Dublin to find out: 

Today, the Minister for Health will introduce the Public Health (Single-Use Vapes) Bill, introducing a ban on the sale of disposable vapes.  

The Government also plans on developing legislation preventing the sale of any nicotine product to people under 18. Speaking to Sean this morning was  Professor John Crowne, Consultant oncologist at St Vincent's Hospital Group. 

Minister for European Affairs Thomas Byrne said he did not anticipate a vote on the Mercosur trade deal until January.  Adding that the agreement offers substantial benefits for Irish farmers and the broader economy. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast this morning was Dennis Drennan, President of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association.