Newstalk Breakfast

Episodes

• Sean McGovern jailed for 24 years for directing crime gang 09.06.2026 5m

  A senior figure in the Kinahan organised crime gang has been sentenced to 24 years in prison by the Special Criminal Court. Forty-year-old Sean McGovern pleaded guilty to two counts of directing the activities of a criminal organisation during the Hutch-Kinahan feud, in which he was also shot. We get reaction from Former Garda Commissioner, Michael O’Sullivan. 
• €20,000 weekly spend storing ev buses due to lack charging infrastructure of 09.06.2026 3m

  The National Transport Authority has revealed it is spending nearly €20,000 a week on the storage of 98 electric buses that have still not been deployed to the national fleet due to a lack of charging infrastructure in Galway and Dublin depots. We get the details from Aisling Moloney Political Reporter, Irish Independent.  
• Cardiac surgeries cancelled due to strikes 09.06.2026 3m

  14 cardiac surgeries, including two pediatric ones, have been cancelled due to a strike by 25 perfusionists.Fórsa have said this is due to ongoing disputes over pay links between them and medical scientists. Speaking to Anton was Linda Kelly, Fórsa National Secretary. 
• The Irish road trips you can’t miss this summer 09.06.2026 4m

  Anton was joined by Author and Travel Writer, Nicola Brady to talk about her brand-new book ‘Great Irish Road Trips’ and give us some inspiration for our summer travel. 
• Dáil set to vote on Ireland’s participation in match against Israel 09.06.2026 11m

  Sinn Féin is introducing a motion today calling on the Government to stop the Republic of Ireland’s Nations League games against Israel scheduled for later this year. To debate this further Anton was joined by Mark Ward, Sinn Fein TD for Dublin Mid-West and Alan Shatter, Former Minister of Justice and board member of the Israel Council on Foreign Relations. 
• Did You See? 09.06.2026 6m

  We take a closer look at some of the stories you may have missed in the news this morning. Joining Anton this morning was Valerie Cox, Author and Journalist.
• New research links obesity to the environment we live in 09.06.2026 4m

  New ESRI research has revealed a sharp divide between public opinion and experts on what’s driving the obesity epidemic. While many blame personal choices, experts are pointing to the environment we live in. To discuss this more Anton was joined by Lead GP for obesity at the Irish College of General Practitioners, Dr Mick Crotty.
• The cabinet discusses ending the triple lock 09.06.2026 7m

  The cabinet set to discuss the future of the triple lock today, Mark Price, Co-Chair of the Irish Anti War Movement and founding member of the Irish Neutrality League joined Anton to discuss the importance of the triple lock.
• The latest on the Jeffrey Donaldson Trial 09.06.2026 5m

  Jurors in the trial of Jeffrey Donaldson have heard him deny claims by a woman that he raped her as a child, with the former DUP leader insisting the alleged incident “absolutely categorically did not happen”.  Our Reporter Emily Keegan brought us the latest from Newry Crown Court.
•  EU foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas visits Dublin 08.06.2026 4m

   EU foreign policy chief visits Dublin to discuss upcoming Irish Presidency and potential sanctions on Aughinish Alumina. To look ahead to the visit was Seán Defoe, Newstalk's Political Correspondent.
• 'Baby sleep pillows' posing risk of death warns consumer watchdog 08.06.2026 6m

  The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has warned parents that pillows marketed as sleeping aids for babies can cause death through suffocation or overheating. Grainne Griffin, Director of Communications, Consumer Information and Financial Education at the CCPC explained the warning with Anton.
• Smartglasses and earpieces may worsen exam cheating in schools 08.06.2026 3m

  The head of the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation in the UK has expressed concerns around smart glasses and earpieces for GCSEs and A level exams. Newstalk's Technology Correspondent Jess Kelly brought us the details.
• Canadian Prime Minister to visit Dublin and Mayo this week 08.06.2026 3m

  Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will make an official visit to Ireland this week in what will be the first bilateral visit to Ireland by a Canadian Prime Minister in nearly a decade. We get the details of the visit with Sean Defoe, Newstalk Political Correspondent.  
• How to get involved in the hedgehog census! 08.06.2026 3m

  Censuses are not just for us humans because today marks the beginning of the Great Big All-Ireland Hedgehog Count with people being asked to look around this week to try find and document hedgehogs.  Elaine O’Riordan is a researcher at the School of Natural Sciences in the University of Galway and the Lead Research on the Irish Hedgehog Survery.
• Rotunda to provide HSE with audit of private work 08.06.2026 5m

  Today is the deadline for the Rotunda Hospital to provide the HSE with an audit of all private work being carried out by consultants on public only contracts in the hospital. It follows revelations at an Oireachtas committee last week that this practice is continuing despite a direction it was to stop.  Anton discusses further with Joe Neville, Fine Gael TD for Kildare North.
• Gen Z delaying major life decisions due to their financial situation 08.06.2026 5m

  More than half of Gen Z have delayed major life decisions due to their financial situation. That’s according to a new survey by Deloitte out this morning that shows how the housing and cost of living crises are shaping the lives of Irish young people. Newstalk’s Sarah Madden has been looking into this research.
• Zelensky received the backing of the leaders of the UK, France and Germany 08.06.2026 7m

  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky received the backing of the leaders of the UK, France and Germany in calling for direct ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine It comes after Russian forces deliberately struck a storage facility for spent nuclear fuel near Ukraine's Chornobyl power plant, according to Zelensky. Speaking to Anton was Sean Bell, Former Fighter pilot and now Military Analyst and Co-Host of the Red Matrix podcast. 
• Do supermarket loyalty schemes come with a price? 08.06.2026 5m

  Loyalty cards are they becoming more of a necessity rather than a choice when we see the price difference having one makes. And does that bring up issues when it comes to GDPR and supermarkets processing our data off loyalty cards?  Anton discussed further with Olga Cronin, Senior Policy Officer with the Irish Council of Civil Liberties.
• How girls are falling down a skincare rabbit hole 08.06.2026 4m

  Children as young as ten years old are developing unhealthy obsessions with having what they perceive to be ‘perfect skin’, leading to complex daily cosmetic routines using numerous products. That has led researchers to coin a new term cosmeticorexia to define this obsession. Professor Giovanni Damiana is an Associate Professor of Dermatology at the University of Milan explains more.
• Gangland criminal found dead in garda custody 08.06.2026 2m

  A gangland criminal found dead in garda custody was the chief suspect in the knife attack on Thomas Griffin last weekend who died while trying to escape across the River Liffey.  For more on this Anton was joined by Robin Schiller, Senior Journalist, Irish Independent .