Newstalk Breakfast

SpaceX's Starship rocket exploded during a test flight, months after a previous failed launch attempt - with multiple flights having to be grounded in Florida due to debris  Here to tell us more is Dr Niamh Shaw, Scientist, Engineer and Communicator specialising in space exploration. 

Leaving cert grade inflation what is the solution? Will one year just have to be disadvantaged? All to discuss with Ciara and Shane.

Ireland needs to address its persistently low breastfeeding rates.   That’s the call from La Leche League a voluntary organisation that promotes the benefits of breastfeeding, whose annual conference takes place today.  Joining Shane this morning on the show was Lynn Carroll, La Leche League Leader.  

Leaving cert results will be lower this year, as inflated grades are set to drop for the first time in five years. Ciara discussed this further with Education Editor of the Irish Times Carl O'Brien.   

It’s an area of Australia that thousands of Irish flock to for its laidback atmosphere and beachy lifestyle, but now a cyclone threatens to hit the Gold Coast with blasts of winds expected to be about 130 kilometres per hour. We get the latest on the situation there with Brianna Parkins,  ABC reporter and Columnist with The Irish Times.

European Union leaders have rallied around Ukraine and agreed to boost the bloc's defences.  So after a watershed moment in European security last night, Irish military spending may start to increase.  Here to tell us where and when to start is Declan Power, former Irish Army soldier, Defence Analyst and Writer.   

Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has said she has met with the Irish Pharmacy Union in an attempt to resolve the delay in rolling out a national plan to make Hormone Replacement Therapy free to all women. We discuss this issue with Sheena Mitchell, Owner of Milltown Total Health Pharmacy and Host of the WonderCare Podcast.

US President Donald Trump has threatened further destruction of Gaza if all remaining hostages are not released and issued an ultimatum to Hamas leaders to flee. In a lengthy post on his Truth Social platform Trump said: "I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don't do as I say" We discuss this further with  Fawaz Gerges, Professor of International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Suspects for over 40,000 crimes carried out in 2024 are currently out on bail, according to figures obtained by Sinn Féin yesterday.  So does the system need reform? We discuss with Regina Doherty, Fine Gael MEP.  

“The generation I grew up in had much thicker skin. You could be much more direct.”  So said former Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag when discussing the difficulty he had managing Gen Z players.  But does he have a point? Joining us to discuss was Saoirse Hanley, Columnist with the Sunday Independent.