Newstalk Breakfast

Yesterday, Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore told the Hard Shoulder why she thinks the State should set up its own RIP.ie alternative after several competitors have entered the market.Eoin O’Malley, Professor of Politics at DCU gave his view on this to Newstalk Breakfast.

A fresh status orange weather warning for low temperature and ice was issued late yesterday morning. With the island continuing to experience severe frost ice and laying snow this morning. We get the latest on the weather with Alan O’ Reilley of Carlow Weather Stephen Burke, Regional Operations Manager Uisce Éireann and Jamie O’ Hara, Newstalk’s Southern reporter in Cashel.

2024 is confirmed by the Copernicus Climate Change Service to be the warmest year on record globally, and the first calendar year that the average global temperature exceeded 1.5°C above its pre-industrial level.  We discuss these findings with Cara Augustenborg, Professor of Environmental Policy at University College Dublin. 

RIP.ie should be replaced by a state-funded condolence website.   The call came from Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore, who yesterday told the Hard Shoulder why she thinks the State should set up its own RIP.ie alternative after several competitors have entered the market. We ask have we become too reliant on the State?

Religious retailer Veritas closes today in Dublin city centre after almost 100 years in business, leaving only its Newry store open. The Dublin shop opened in 1928 and will close for the last time today at midday. Regular Veritas shoppers came to say goodbye and get something in the closing-down sale. Henry McKean sent us this special report.

Widespread Frost, Ice and laying snow is still present across the country this morning as a status orange warning was present for 15 counties last night. We get latest on the weather with Brandon Creagh, Meteorologist with Met Éireann. 

Ryanair has confirmed that it will now file legal proceedings against disruptive passengers. The airline is claiming 15,000 euro in damages against a passenger on a flight between Dublin and Lanzarote last year, who they claim disrupted the flight.   We speak to Dara Brady, Director of Marketing, Digital and Communications at Ryanair.

Newly-elected Labour TD Eoghan Kenny has spoken out about the “frightening experience” of being diagnosed with epilepsy three years ago at the age of 21.  Eoghan chatted to Shane this morning on the show about his diagnosis.

After another night of sub-zero temperatures, the ongoing cold snap continues to cause disruption in many parts of the country.   We get updates from our reporters around the country and Met Eireann. We also hear about the good nature of people with many helping elderly and neighbours. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast this morning was Gerry Murphy, Forecaster from Met Eireann and Aoibhinn Twomey, Public Relations Lead with The Road Safety Authority. Our reporters around the country were Jamie O’Hara, Newstalk’s Southern Reporter in Mallow, Barry Whyte, Newstalk’s Chief Reporter in Tipperary Town. Also Josh Crosbie, Newstalk Reporter in Athlone and Stephanie Rohan, Newstalk Reporter in the Kildare area. 

Earlier on Breakfast Briefing, Shane Beatty was joined by Karen O’Flaherty from Royal London Ireland, who explained how the work of a stay-at-home parent could be equal to an annual salary of 57 thousand euro. To discuss this further Ciara spoke to Pauline O’Reilly Green Party Senator and advocate for stay at home parents.