Newstalk Breakfast

Details of the US-TikTok deal continue to emerge, with Chinese company ByteDance retaining a 19.9% stake in the business. What does this mean for users, and should we be concerned about US propaganda on the platform? 

All to discuss with Jess Kelly, Newstalk Technology Correspondent.

All with thanks to Renault.

School absence has grown since the pandemic and shows little sign of improvement. That’s the warning this morning in a new report from the Economic and Social Research Institute. 

To discuss further was Simon Lewis Primary School Principal and Podcaster. 

Pressure mounted on Donald Trump’s administration on Sunday to fully investigate the previous day’s killing by federal immigration officers of 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. Locals in Minneapolis express heartbreak and anger at the death of Alex Pretti, who shot by an ICE agent this weekend. We get the latest on this with Washington Bureau chief of The Guardian, David Smith.

There is no date for the introduction of drug testing of Gardaí, almost five years after the policy was announced. 

The Department of Justice said the delay was because regulations to underpin a drugs-testing scheme are “complex and have required thorough consideration”. For reaction to this we heard from Former Garda Sergeant, Christy Galligan.

Only 20 per cent of Irish consumers are very confident in their ability to choose the most cost-effective and energy-efficient solutions for their home. 

That’s according to new research from Bord Gáis Energy. All to discuss with Valerie Hand, Retrofit manager with Bord Gáis Energy.

Minister for Further and Higher Education James Lawless and Minister of State Marian Harkin are encouraging students to explore all their options before the upcoming CAO application deadline of February 1st.  

For for great guidance for students and parents we heard from  Brian Mooney, Guidance Counsellor and Irish Times Columnist. 

A meeting is due to be held this morning by the Department of Agriculture to discuss the first detected case of the bluetongue virus in the Republic as the virus was found in a cattle herd in Wexford  

Speaking to Jonathan on this was Dennis Drennan, President of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association.

The second last episode of The Traitors UK ended on a tense cliffhanger ahead of this evening’s finale.  BBC TV Critic, Scott Bryan gave us a sense of what viewers can expect. 

Earlier this week, Irish Independent Technology Editor Adrian Weckler was telling us how European countries are cracking down on dodgy boxes and Ireland could follow suit with new penalties of its own.  

 But according to Michael McNamara, Independent MEP for Ireland South, paywalls and unfair consumer practices will continue driving customers to the dodgy box. Michael explained more to Newstalk Breakfast this morning.

In the new year, a lot of people would have jumped on new “detoxes” from juice cleanses to an “activated charcoal” diet. But are these detoxes the real deal, or a simple fad?  

All to discuss with Sarah Keogh, Dietician and Founder of Eatwell.