Two deaths and 769 covid 19 cases recorded last night – As of 8am on Sunday, 360 Covid-19 patients are in hospital, of which 82 are in ICU.  Chief clinical Officer with the HSE, Dr Colm Henry joined us on the show this morning to discuss the increase in Covid numbers. Listen and subscribe to Newstalk Breakfast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.     Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.    You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

Highlights from Newstalk Breakfast

With 769 Cases Recorded Last Night, Is The Situation Worsening?

Ireland’s education system is based on a 20th century model of learning and needs to modernise to avoid producing “second-class robots” in a world of rapid technological change. That’s according to Andreas Schleicher Director for Education and Skills for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and Andreas spoke to us this morning. Listen and subscribe to Newstalk Breakfast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.     Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.    You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

Ireland’s Education System Stuck In The 20th Century

Do you know what companies have your data, how they got it and how to take it back? Our Technology Correspondent, Jess Kelly joined us this morning with some tips for a data Spring clean. Listen and subscribe to Newstalk Breakfast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.     Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.    You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

How We Can Do A Data Spring Clean

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has said AstraZeneca could face export bans to countries outside the European Union if the company does not speed up its delivery of vaccines to the bloc. To discuss further we heard from Billy Kelleher, Fianna Fail MEP. Listen and subscribe to Newstalk Breakfast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.     Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.    You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

EU Leaders To Consider Vaccine Export Bans As Rollout Anger Grows

A Cavan priest has been fined €500 for celebrating mass in his local church while several people were present.  Fr PJ Hughes, the parish priest for Mullahoran and Loughduff, has been reported a number of times to Gardaí over parishioners gathering for a service in his church. To discuss this is Independent TD for Clare and chair of the Oireachtas Covid committee, Michael McNamara  Listen and subscribe to Newstalk Breakfast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.     Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.    You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

Cavan Priest Fined €500 For Breaking Covid Restrictions

A cartoon depiction of Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has been labelled as sexist. The national women's council say this type of behaviour is exactly why women won’t enter into politics.  For more on this we heard from NWCI Women and Leadership Coordinater, Emma DeSouza. Listen and subscribe to Newstalk Breakfast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.     Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.    You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.  

Cartoon Depiction Of Mary Lou McDonald Has Been Labelled As Sexist

If you have a family member or a friend who is currently a resident of a nursing home, you will be pleased to hear that new measures are being introduced today that will allow for a resident to receive two visits a week from external visitors.  To tell us more about nursing home visitation, is the CEO of Nursing Homes Ireland, Tadhg Daly.  Listen and subscribe to Newstalk Breakfast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.     Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.    You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

Nursing Home Residents Can Receive Visits From Today

Minister for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Robert Troy TD has today launched a public consultation seeking views on how to enhance and reform the Personal Injuries Assessment Board and he spoke to us this morning on the show. Listen and subscribe to Newstalk Breakfast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.     Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.    You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

A Chance To Enhance And Reform The Personal Injuries Assessment Board

There have been 769 cases of Covid-19 reported by the Department of Health, along with two Covid-related deaths  It is the highest daily increase in cases reported since Friday 26 February.  For more on this we were joined by Prof. Clíona Ní Cheallaigh,  an Infectious Diseases Specialist in St James's Hospital, Dublin.   Listen and subscribe to Newstalk Breakfast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.     Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.    You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

769 Covid Cases Could This Be The Start Of Another Surge?

The Government has announced a new 'Safe Routes to School' funding programme, which will support children cycling, walking and scooting to primary and post-primary schools.  For more on this new incentive we were joined on the show by Niall Moyna, Professor of Health and Human Performance at DCU. Listen and subscribe to Newstalk Breakfast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.     Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.    You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

Why More Children Should Be Cycling And Walking To School

Several countries have said they will resume AstraZeneca vaccinations after Europe's medical regulator said the jab is "safe and effective" and not associated with a higher blood clot risk after days of commotion around the shot. For more on this we’re joined now by Kingston Mills, Professor of Experimental Immunology at Trinity College Dublin and also David Salisbury, Former Director of Immunisation at the UK’s Department of Health and Associate Fellow of Chatham House’s Global Health Programme. Listen and subscribe to Newstalk Breakfast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.     Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.    You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

Did Ireland Make The Right Decision Suspending AstraZeneca?

This week the Vatican declared that the Catholic Church cannot bless same-sex unions because God “cannot bless sin”. For more reaction on this we’re joined by Mary McAleese, Former President of Ireland. Listen and subscribe to Newstalk Breakfast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.     Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.    You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

Former President Mary McAleese Reacts To Vatican Ban On Same Sex Blessings

Since the tragic murder of Sarah Everard in the UK, there have been many conversations about violence against women and the dangers they face simply walking down the street at night. While we all agree that this issue needs to be addressed – some believe the conversation has shifted to an anti-men conversation and that we should not be targeting all men as potential threats to women. Larissa Nolan Freelance journalist and columnist spoke to us this morning. Listen and subscribe to Newstalk Breakfast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.     Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.    You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

Why it's Unfair To Brand All Men As Potential Threats To Women

It’s day 78 of 100daysofwalking supported by the Applegreen Rewards App, you can find the community by following @ntbreakfast on Twitter and using the ‘100 days of walking’ hashtag..   Today’s walker of the week is Jane O’Sullivan from Wexford, Jane told us how 100 days has been going for her.   Listen and subscribe to Newstalk Breakfast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.     Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.    You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

Today's Walker Of The Week

New Research from Trinity College Dublin has found that switching meatballs made from Irish beef for veggie alternatives could cut carbon emissions by 90pc – so is it time we all went meat free to save the planet?  Joining Shane to discuss this was John Carmody, Founder of Animal Rights Action Network. Listen and subscribe to Newstalk Breakfast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.     Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.    You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

Should We All Go Meat Free To Save The Planet?

Newstalk Breakfast - every weekday morning from 7-9am, giving you the first bite at news, sport, business, tech and entertainment