Highlights From Newstalk Breakfast

There is growing concern among young people about abusive behaviours in relationships.  That’s according to Women’s Aid, who are today launching a campaign aimed at teaching young people what red flags they should be on the look out for.  To hear all about the campaign Mary Hayes is the Coordinator of the “Too Into You” campaign joined Anton on the show.

Dublin City Council has opened a public consultation for its 80-million-euro design for a pedestrianised College Green plaza – eight years since the last plaza plans were rejected by An Bord Pleanála.  Olivia Kelly, Dublin Editor for the Irish Times explained what’s on offer. To discuss this more we heard from Dr Carole Pollard, former president of the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland & Co-Editor of the book Irish Cities in Crisis.

The Oireachtas Education Committee has been examining changes to the new primary school curriculum, with TD Ruth Coppinger arguing that it will still allow too much religion to be taught. Anton discusses this further with Alan Whelan, President of Catholic Secondary School’s Parent’s Association and Michael Nugent, Chair of Atheist Ireland.

Has the kind words of a stranger ever put a smile on your face? Well, if it has, that could be down to English man Jay the Author who he travels around the world leaving letters on random lampposts, walls and electricity boxes in cities across North America, Asia and more recently in Ireland.   

Now it’s time for "Did You See”. Where 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. 

The HSE is set to review the cases of 62 children who had spinal care at Children’s Health Ireland following concerns that some surgeries did not lead to the expected outcome.  Speaking to Anton this morning was David Cullinane, Sinn Fein spokesperson for Health and TD for Waterford. 

Canadian police have identified the person who carried out a school massacre as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, who they said had mental health issues, but they did not give a motive for one of the worst mass shootings in Canada's history. We get the latest on this with Kim Bolan, Journalist with the Vancouver Sun. 

Several Irish citizens have sought official help after being arrested and detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in the US, according to the Irish Government.  It comes following news that 42 year old Seamus Culleton, originally from Kilkenny but living in Boston for over 20 years, has been held by ICE for more than five months in what he’s described as appalling conditions.  Speaking to Anton to discuss further was John Foley an immigration attorney.

“Social media has opened up mass narcissism and everyone has main character syndrome. It’s every person for himself. While government and industry are cracking down on an uncivil public, what can we, the public, do?”  So writes Author and Guardian Columnist Brigid Delaney and she joined Anton on the show.

Figures in the UK Government are preparing to hand over reams of material to parliament's security watchdog. They face pressure to reveal the extent of what was known about Peter Mandelson’s friendship with Jeffrey Epstein when he was picked for the role of Ambassador last year.  To discuss further with Anton was James Lyons who was the Former Director of Strategic Communications for Keir Starmer and was in role until September of last year.

The Government’s approved legislation to change the current rental system is to be debated in the Dail later today. Sinn Fein is accusing Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Independents of “pushing through the Rip-Off Rent Hike Bill”  To debate further Anton was joined by Eoin O‘Broin Sinn Fein’ Spokesperson on Housing and James Geoghegan Fine Gael TD for Dublin Bay South.

Do you want to live forever? From getting your vaccines to heading to gigs, Professor John Tregoning author of “Live Forever”, has been experimenting all the ways to slow down ageing.

Last week the heavy rain and flooding highlighted Ireland’s lack of flood defence and the issues surrounding flood relief, leaving many people across the country in despair.   In light of that, today Aontú Leader and TD for Meath West Peadar Toibín will introduce a Private Members' Bill aimed at reforming Ireland's flood forecasting system and speeding up the delivery of flood defences.

Now it’s time for "Did You See”. Where we take a closer look at some of the stories you may have missed in the news this morning. Joining Anton this morning was Tabitha Monahan, Irish Independent Political Correspondent. 

A new documentary called Amplified: The Exportation of the Culture Wars. The documentary looks at how culture wars have engulfed American politics and become one of its biggest export and Anton was joined now by Director Mike Sheridan.

Nearly 45 years to the day, survivors of the 1981 Stardust fire will receive payments of 20,000 euros.  According to the Government, over 800 survivors will be eligible for compensation. But some of these survivors are unhappy with the scheme.   Antoinette Keegan was injured in the Stardust fire, and lost her sisters Mary and Martina, and she spoke to Anton this morning.

Ireland has Europe’s largest gender gap when it comes to the use of advanced digital skills at work.  That’s according to new research from the Economic and Social Research Institute. To discuss the findings we heard from Dr Adele Whelan Senior Research Officer, ESRI.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of toddler Daniel Aruebose. For more on this Anton spoke to Robin Schiller, Senior Journalist, Irish Independent.    

Irish households that have a “dodgy box” are vulnerable to increasingly nefarious and sophisticated cyber-attacks. That’s the warning from Grant Thornton, and with us to discuss more was Howard Shortt, Cybersecurity Partner at Grant Thornton. 

More than half of children have no parental restrictions around online contact such as chatting and gaming with people they don't know. That’s according to new research from CyberSafe Kids.  Anton discuss the findings with Alex Cooney CEO of Cyber Safe Kids.