Newstalk Breakfast

Queen's University Belfast is to remove the name of former US Senator George Mitchell - one of the architects of the Good Friday Agreement - from a peace centre following the emergence of new information contained in the Jeffrey Epstein files.

Anton discusses this and more with Vinny McAvinney, Broadcaster and Journalist and Gina London, Former CNN White House Correspondent and Sunday Independent Columnist.

The National Emergency Co-ordination Group is warning that peak flooding is expected to hit towns across the east and southeast of the country.   Enniscorthy local Maureen Peare, who met with the Taoiseach after her home was destroyed during the flood spoke to Anton ahead of another flood warning. We also heard from  Independent Councillor for Enniscorthy, Jackser Owens.

Hairdressers across the country are preparing to increase their prices between three and five per cent as mounting cost pressures, according to the Irish Independent. To discuss further with Anton was Lisa Eccles, Owner of Zinc hair and beauty and spokesperson of the Irish Hairdressers Federation. 

“Ireland needs to abolish mandatory retirement and encourage longer working lives”. That’s the call from Adjunct Professor in Economics in Trinty College Dublin John Fitzgerald who spoke to Anton this morning.

Now it’s time for “Between the Lines”, where we take a closer look at some of the stories you may have missed in the news this morning. With Anton this morning was Author and Journalist Valerie Cox.

2025 saw 190 road deaths, the highest number in over a decade. 2025 also saw a drop in number of checkpoints Gardaí are carrying out across the country, according to new figures from Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, Ireland South MEP for Fianna Fáil who spoke to Anton this morning on the show.

A status yellow weather warning is in place this morning in the south east until later this afternoon, following a week of heavy rain across the country. Anton spoke to  Holly O’Neill, a meteorologist with Met Eireann. As the rain continues, concerns grow over flooding and to discuss this further is Keith Leonard, Chairperson of the National Emergency Coordination Group. 

From Tuesday February 3rd, this podcast will feature all the very best content from Newstalk Breakfast (7-9am) on Ireland’s only independent talk radio station. 

Presented by Anton Savage, a seasoned broadcaster and communications expert, this show has everything you need – and want – to know first thing each morning, brought to you with insight, intelligence and wit. 

It’s the perfect mix of news, current affairs, craic, entertainment, sport, politics, and everyday life issues to delve into over your coffee and commute, whether that’s out to the yard, into the city, or a short jaunt to the office in the back garden.  

If you’re talking about it, we’re talking about it!  

Drivers of vans and small trucks are nearly twice as likely to use mobile phones while driving when compared to other road users, a new RSA survey has shown. 

To chat about the findings of the report was Shane O’Donoghue, Editor with completecar.ie.

A €2.5bn redress scheme for up to 100,000 owners of defective Celtic Tiger apartments will be brought to the Dáil in the coming months. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was Micheál Carrigy Fine Gael TD for Longford–Westmeath and Chair of Oireachtas Housing Committee.