Newstalk Breakfast

The Dail's been told there's been a 55 per cent increase in the cost of some staple supermarket items in the last three years.  The Social Democrats are bringing forward a bill that will give the food regulator powers to investigate what is going on.  

Are the shops ripping us off or is something else behind the increase? All to discuss with Social Democrats TD, Jennifer Whitmore and Adjunct Professor in Economics at Trinity College Dublin, John Fitzgerald.

Dublin City Council will not remove Tricolours erected by anti-immigration groups. Do you agree? Ciara and Shane discussed this. 

Dublin City Council has decided it will not remove the hundreds of Tricolours erected by anti-immigration groups around the capital and will instead launch initiatives to “promote a deeper understanding of the Irish flag”. 

For more on this we heard from Daithi Doolan Sinn Fein Councillor in Ballyfermot.

Newstalk's Sarah Madden has been investigating Ireland's sperm donor Facebook groups and the pitfalls some people can find themselves in during the pursuit of wanting a child. She sent us this report:

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission are today warning of a surge in online scams as Irish consumers enter the busiest shopping season 

For more on this, Ciara was joined on the show by Grainne Griffin, Director of Communications with the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ended his silence on the US supported peace proposal to resolve the war in Ukraine, stating that Moscow is prepared for “serious” talks on the draft plan. 

For more on this, Shane was joined by Donnacha O’Beachain, Professor of Politics at DCU and author of the book Unfinished Empire: Russian Imperialism in Ukraine and the Near Abroad

Nick Clairmont, Life and Arts of the Washington Examiner Magazine has been writing in The Spectator about the prospect of another James Bond film. Nick explained to Jonathan this morning.

  Lack of information, recognition and pay equality are among the issues facing apprenticeships today, according to the Teachers Union of Ireland. They will discuss these problems at a meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Higher Education. For more on this Jonathan spoke to TUI General Secretary, Michael Gillespie, and began by asking him why we are struggling to fill apprenticeships? 

Lack of information, recognition and pay equality are among the issues facing apprenticeships today, according to the Teachers Union of Ireland, who will be discussing these problems at a meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Higher Education. Ciara and Jonathan asked this morning do we need to do more to boost apprenticeships? 

Bank of Ireland will pilot a new loan product allowing people to trade down to a smaller home. The product is similar to bridging finance and is likely to appeal to people whose children have left home and who want to downsize. 

We discuss further with Carol Tallan, CEO of the Property District and Author of Irish Property Buyers Handbook Series.