Newstalk Breakfast

Wednesday Riff: Teens throwing house parties ! How do you cope when your teen wants to throw a house party? Ciara and Sean gave their view this morning.

Greta Thunberg has accused Israel of ‘an illegal act’ after being deported to France. The climate activist was aboard the Gaza aid boat Madleen, seized in international waters while trying to breach Israel’s blockade.  But do actions like this really make a difference?" We debated with Brendan O’Neill, Chief Political Writer at Spiked and writer for the Spectator and Emma Desouza, Writer and Political Commentator.

Representatives from the Road Safety Authority will appear before the Oireachtas Transport Committee later today to discuss the ongoing issue around Driving test and NCT delays. Joining Ciara to discuss this is Sean Canney, Junior Minister for Transport. 

The proposed Mental Health Bill could deny patients with serious mental illnesses access to life-saving medical treatment, according to the Irish Medical Organisation.  The IMO will bring these concerns to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health. Ciara spoke to Brendan Kelly, Consultant Psychiatrist for the IMO and Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin. 

In a brutally honest piece for The Independent, writer Bill Linnane shares what happened when he said yes to hosting a house party for his teenage son.  From puke everywhere to a mysteriously “shifting wall”, it raises the big parenting question, is allowing teens to drink at home safer, or just a messy illusion of control?  Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Lisa Shaw is a blogger at ModernIrishMom on Instagram.

Armoured vehicles were deployed and water cannons used as violence has erupted for a second night in Ballymena, County Antrim with around 300 protestors gathering following a vigil over an alleged sexual assault.  We get the latest on the situation there with Amanda Fergusson, Freelance Journalist based in Belfast.

Fine Gael Councillor for Donegal, Jimmy Kavanagh is calling for Ireland’s third patron Saint, Saint Colmcille to get his own bank holiday at the beginning of July. Ciara discusses this further with John Barry, Director of MSS the HR people and is on the National Council for ISME.

What is the secret to happy marriage? Could it be living separately? Author and journalist Joanna Moorhead says herself and her husband have been happily married for 37 years. But they don’t live together” Joanna explained how this works for them.

Film maker Jim Sheridan's latest project, Re-Creation, takes on one of the country’s most talked-about murder cases, the 1996 killing of Sophie Toscan du Plantier.  The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival this week and has already sparked major reaction. Particularly from Sophie’s family, who say it’s based on ‘questionable evidence’ and could interfere with ongoing investigations.Ciara spoke to Jim about this film and also too Alain Spilliaert is a lawyer representing the family of Sophie Toscan du Plantier.

The entire country is set to be designated as a Rent Pressure Zone following a major change agreed by Government leaders. Ciara discussed this further with Mary Conway, Chairperson of the Irish Property Owners Association.