Newstalk Breakfast

Officials from the HSE, Department of Health and the Rotunda Hospital are to appear before the Joint Oireachtas Health Committee later this morning. The the issue of the public only consultant Contract is up for discussion.

Speaking to Anton ahead of the meeting was the Committee Chair and Social Democrats TD for Cork South Central Pádraig Rice.

The number of boil water notices and water restriction notices both increased during 2025, impacting almost 200,000 people. That’s according to the new drinking water report from the Environmental Protection Agency.  

Anton looks into the report findings with Noel Byrne is Programme Manager of the EPA’s Drinking Water and Wastewater Enforcement Programme.  

Today marks the start of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union. What will that mean in practice and what should the Government expect in the role?

Anton askes Irish Times reporter Jack Power.

Flight passengers are being warned not to pack power banks or vapes in their hold luggage ahead of the busy summer holiday travel period beginning for parts of the UK. 

The fire risk posed by lithium batteries is now the number one safety risk to aircraft, according to the aviation regulator, as the number of devices found in hold bags has nearly doubled in a year. 

Pete Hutchison also known as Pete the Irish Pilot joined Anton to discuss.

Fianna Fáil Councillor Daryl Barron has been elected the 359th Lord Mayor of Dublin, launching his "Our Dublin" agenda focused on restoring civic trust through practical local action.  

Daryl joined Anton this morning to discuss his new position.

Changes in the rules around importing products from non-EU countries are set to kick in tomorrow, and could lead to a €3 tax on each item worth less than €150.  

In 2025 alone, almost 5.9 billion of such low-value items were directly shipped from third countries to consumers in the EU, without paying customs duties. 

Joining Anton to discuss how these rules will impact you was John O’Loughlin, a partner at PwC.

The Coalition leaders have decided to extend the current excise reductions on petrol and diesel until 1 September 2026. 

After this date the previous rates will be gradually restored over the following four months.  

The Cabinet will today consider the measures which will cost €270 million. 

Anton was joined by Fionnán Sheehan, Ireland Editor with the Irish Independent, Kevin McPartlan Fuels For Ireland CEO and Francie Gorman President of the Irish Farmers Association.

In the upcoming budget, there are discussions circulating around the reform of inheritance tax which some wealth managers say is leading to inequitable and avoidable outcomes.  

Joining Anton this morning to discuss if tax thresholds kept with the times was Barra Roantree, Assistant Professor in Economics at Trinity College Dublin.

We take a closer look at some of the stories you may have missed in the news this morning. Joining Anton this morning was Mark Hennessy Ireland and Britain Editor with the Irish Times.

Luigi Mangione's federal trial in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson will now begin in January instead of autumn. 

U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett said she was postponing the federal trial so Mangione's lawyers can focus on his state murder trial, which is scheduled to begin on the 8th of September. 

Harriet Alexander New York Based Reporter joined Anton for the latest updates.