Highlights From Newstalk Breakfast

We need to do more to protect clean air in towns, villages, and cities across Ireland. That’s the message from the Environmental Protection Agency as it publishes it’s latest Air Quality report  Speaking to Ciara this morning was Niamh Connolly, Senior Scientific Officer in the Environmental Monitoring and Surveillance Unit at the EPA.

In the wake of Maria Steen’s failed bid to get on the ticket for this year’s presidential election, Independent Ireland is now calling for a referendum to change the nomination process for future elections.  Jonathan discussed this further with Michael Collins is Leader of Independent Ireland and a TD for Cork South-West.

Now, 24 players entered Slane Castle three weeks ago, and last night we saw Kelley, Oyin and Vanessa emerge victorious as the very first winner of the Traitors Ireland.  The show has taken the nation by storm, but did the series finale deliver, and why was the series so iconic? Faye Louise Brennan, who made it all the way to the penultimate episode joined us on Newstalk Breakfast.

A Dáil debate today will discuss legislation around young people vaping, as the HSE lacks capacity or funding for those wishing to quit.  Ahead of this, Labour TD and Spokesperson for Health Marie Sherlock has called on the Minister for Health to ‘step up’. Marie spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

US President Donald Trump issued a scathing indictment of immigration in European countries, clean energy projects, and the efficacy of the United Nations in his speech at the UN General Assembly in New York yesterday. Our Political Correspondent Seán Defoe has this report.

HSE has 'no capacity or funding' to help people quit vaping.  Ciara and Jonathan discussed this further this morning on the show.

The Justice Department is today launching a new campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of fireworks as we enter the Halloween season. Are you noticing fireworks going off earlier each year? Residents in the suburbs of Dublin and Bray chatted to our reporter Henry McKean.

Men are 40 per cent more likely to die prematurely than women, while 97 per cent of GPs say they saw male patients presenting with suicidal behaviour in the past year.  That’s according to the “Real Face of Men’s Health” report ahead of Movember, and joining Newstalk Breakfast to discuss the findings is Denis McCauley, GP and former President of the Irish Medical Organisation and Coroner for the District of Donegal.

US President Donald Trump has made a disputed link between pregnant women using paracetamol and autism in children.  He has warned women to not take the pain killer known as Tylenol in the US when they have a high fever.  We get reaction to this with Dr Monique Botha, Associate Professor in Social and Developmental Psychology at Durham University.

Arab governments and regional organizations have welcomed the recognition of a Palestinian state by Britain, Canada, France and Australia.  The was ahead of yesterday’s Saudi-French summit in New York to revive the two-state solution. It marked the beginning of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly.  We heard from Newstalk's Political correspondent Sean Defoe in New York. Also Gershon Baskin, Middle East Director of the International Communities Organisation and Co-Founder and Co-Director of Alliance for Two States. 

Election Posters should be banned nationwide. That’s the call in a public petition up for consideration in the Oireachtas today.  But is it a good idea? Joining Jonathan to discuss were  Alan Kinsella, Election Historian, and Dr Clare Moriarty, visiting researcher at Trinity's Long Room Hub.

The Irish Council for Social Housing will today warn TDs and Senators that a falloff in planning permissions for new homes risks prolonging Ireland’s housing crisis.   Speaking to Ciara to discuss further was  Donal McManus, CEO of the Irish Council for Social Housing. 

Jimmy Kimmel's late-night talk show, which was abruptly pulled from the air last week after the US government threatened broadcasters, will be back today We get the latest on this with.David Smith, Washington Bureau Chief of The Guardian 

Gareth Sheridan has bowed out of the presidential race after failing to secure a third and fourth nomination from local authorities yesterday.  However, Independent Ireland TDs are set to decide today whether they will give their support to barrister Maria Steen, which is crucial to her own bid for the Áras.  All to discuss with Pat Leahy, Political Editor for the Irish Times. 

Home cervical screening tests are being trialed in the NHS in England where they have had a positive reception from clients and clinicians. But how do they work, and could they be introduced in Ireland?  All to discuss with Professor Nóirín Russell, CervicalCheck Clinical Director and Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist. 

Disruption continues at airports around the world as a result of a cyber attack. So what’s behind the cyberattacks disrupting flights around the world? All to discuss with Newstalk's Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly.   

This morning Ciara and Jonathan asked the question has religion had its day in schools?

Minister for Education and Youth Helen McEntee has today launched the Redeveloped Primary Curriculum specifications for all primary and special schools  The New curriculum will place a focus on fun, engagement and play-based learning. Minister McEntee explained more about this new curriculum.

Britain, Australia and Canada have recognised a Palestinian state in a seismic shift in decades of western foreign policy. We discuss with Dr Jilan Abdalmajid, Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland.

“Why do the Irish still think it’s charming to be late for everything? It is not charming. It is rude.”  So wrote Donald Clarke in the Irish Times and with us to discuss more is Leslie Shoemaker, Counselling Psychologist and Lecturer in TU Dublin.