Highlights From Newstalk Breakfast

Fierce street fighting and Israeli bombardment continue in Rafah a day after tanks rolled into the centre of the southern Gaza city sheltering hundreds of thousands of civilians. We speak to Alistair Bunkall, Sky’s Middle East News Correspondent.

Primary school children usually feel happy and safe, but their positive emotions about themselves tend to decrease as they get older, a new study has found. To explain more about this we heard from Leslie Shoemaker, Counselling Psychologist and lecturer in TU Dublin.

It is understood that Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly will give the commitment today for 1,500 new beds to be introduced between 2025 and 2028. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Dr. Peadar Gilligan, Member of the Irish Medical Organisation Consultant Committee.

Israeli forces have reportedly reached the centre of the southern Gazan city of Rafah, and seized a strategically important area overlooking the nearby border with Egypt. We get the latest from Alistair Bunkall, Sky’s Middle East News Correspondent.

There’s nothing bad about being a boymum, despite how they’re portrayed on social media, women who have sons should not be treated as second class mothers. That’s the claim of New York Times writer and Author of Boy Mom, Ruth Whippman who spoke to Shane this morning.

Is Ireland’s policy for defence working? One opinion is that Ireland is totally defenceless, unable to protect critical infrastructure or even pretend to secure its own borders.  That’s according to Eoin Drea, Senior research officer at the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies who spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

The Climate Change Advisory Council is urging Government to take immediate action to implement sustainable construction methods to reduce emissions in the sector. Speaking to Ciara this morning was it's Chair Marie Donnelly.

Thirteen-year-olds have better relationships with their parents, but fewer friends than they did a decade ago, according to a report released by the ESRI this morning. We get reaction to these findings with Brendan Kelly Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin.

Most of us will be heading to a beauty spot this summer, but are we treating the great outdoors with the respect it deserves?   The 2024 Love this Place campaign has launched today and is asking the public to respect Ireland’s outdoor spaces. We spoke to Maura Kiely, CEO of Leave No Trace Ireland. 

Ireland is on course to fall short of its carbon emissions targets – That's according to The Environmental Protection Agency’s latest findings. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Mary Frances Rochford, spokesperson for the EPA.  

Finance Minister Michael McGrath hosted the National Economic Dialogue yesterday. Minister McGrath joined Shane this morning on the show and was asked will we see another big giveaway budget?

Gordon Ramsay's flagship Chelsea restaurant has reminded patrons of the dress code on its website: “Feel free to express your style, but please avoid shorts, tracksuits, and hoodies."  Should restaurants always have a dress code? We asked Noel Cunningham, TV Personality and ambassador to Harvey's Point Hotel Donegal. 

1,224 vacant or derelict properties have been approved under The Urban Regeneration and Development Fund. That's according to an update that will be brought to cabinet later today.   We speak to Claire McManus, Director of JFOC Architects and Housing Spokesperson for the Royal Institute of Architects.

Is it time for the GAA to introduce VAR the video assistant referee to help settle match disputes? Speaking to Shane this morning was Brian Gavin, former all-Ireland referee, and Liam O’Neill, former GAA President.

Ireland will recognise the State of Palestine, effective today. For reaction to this, Clare spoke to Dr Jilan Abdalmajid, Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland.

Lack of action on water charges seven years after special committee is ‘beyond disappointing’. That’s the view of Former Independent Senator Pádraig Ó Céidigh who spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning

If you’re a Facebook or Instagram user, you may have noticed posts in recent days claiming that the parent company Meta is using your photos to train its AI models. Is this true and should we be concerned? For more on this we heard from Newstalk’s Technology Correspondent, Jess Kelly.With thanks to Bird & Bird.

An Israeli Airstrike on Rafah has reportedly killed 35 people. This comes as Hamas launched rocket attacks towards Tel Aviv for the first time in months Speaking to Shane this morning on the show was Sean Bell, Retired former fighter Pilot, current Defence Consultant and Co-Host of the Red Matrix podcast and also Bushra Khalid, Oxfam OPT Country Office Lead in Jerusalem. 

Taoiseach Simon Harris will signal today that cost-of-living measures need to be an intrinsic part of Budget 2025. He will make the announcement at the National Economic Dialogue conference this morning, saying he believes Ireland's strong economic performance has yet to translate into tangible benefits for some people. What meaningful difference could the budget make to the cost-of-living crisis?  Speaking to Jonathan this morning was Cormac Lucey Economist Columnist with Sunday times Ireland and independent local election candidate in Blackrock.   

Fianna Fáil and the Green Party are seeking to improve the DiscoverEU pass, offering a free interrail ticket for all 18-year-olds on an annual basis. Should all 18-year-olds be given a free interrailing pass? We asked Sinead Kennedy, Author and Travel Writer.