Newstalk Breakfast

“Wouldn’t it be great if we could build rail lines as fast as roads?”  Planning permission for the long-awaited Metrolink was given the go-ahead, but it may be another decade before we reap any benefits.

Brian Caulfield, Professor in the School of Engineering at Trinity College Dublin, joins Newstalk Breakfast to discuss.

Dublin City Council has announced the installation of new waste compactors, an initiative which will see the removal of one thousand plastic bags per day.  

Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast was the Executive Manager in Environment and Transport Derek Kelly.

Controversy continues to surround this year’s Presidential election, but where does the race stand following the first one on one debate between the remaining two candidates? All to discuss with Seán Defoe Newstalk’s Political Correspondent. 

The Israeli Government has officially approved a ceasefire for Gaza, after it reached an agreement with Hamas for the Palestinian militant group to release all the hostages it holds.  

We discuss all this with Daniel Levy President of the U.S./Middle East Project and Former Israeli peace negotiator. 

When should parents let children go out alone?  It's a question that Freelance Journalist Niamh O’Reilly knows all too well. She recently allowed her boys, who are six and eight-year-old, walk to the supermarket alone.  

The Nobel Peace Prize winner is set to be named later today, with Donald Trump and his administration having made clear more than once that they think the US president deserves the award.  

But is he really worthy of the honour? We asked  Brendan O’Neill Chief Political Writer at Spiked and writer for the Spectator and also Paul Murphy, People Before Profit TD. 

The Israeli Government has officially approved a ceasefire for Gaza, after it reached an agreement with Hamas for the Palestinian militant group to release all the hostages it holds. We get the latest on this with Mark Weiss, Israel Correspondent Irish Times. 

Wastewater discharged from 59 per cent of Ireland’s existing treatment plants failed to regularly meet EPA standards. That's according to a new report from the Environment protection agency. Shane discusses the findings with Noel Byrne, Programme Manager in the EPA’s Drinking Water and Wastewater Enforcement team,

Fianna Fáil leader and Taoiseach Micheál Martin has apologised to his party and said he is “devastated” at the chaos caused by Jim Gavin withdrawing from the presidential election. He also said there would be a review into how Gavin was chosen to run and what due diligence had been done before his candidacy. 

All to discuss with Seamus McGrath, Fianna Fáil TD Cork South Central. 

"There are calls for ‘Chatty’ benches to be installed in North County Dublin as a way to create more social interaction. The initiative has already been rolled out in a few towns as a way to combat loneliness. 

Our reporter, Josh Crosbie has visited the seaside town/village of Malahide, where this is being proposed: