Breakfast Briefing Newspaper Review 9th October 2026

And we've a picture on the front of the Irish Daily Mail of Meghan Markle with Malala, uh, and they had, uh, a Claridge's tea yesterday.

Lots about this in the papers.

Uh, we haven't seen much of Meghan Markle, uh, since she moved back to England, but she is with Malala, the campaigner, Malala Yousafzai, and Claridge's, uh, taking tea in Mayfair.

So I'm sure that the tabloids will get lots of coverage out of that over the next few days.

The main story for the Mail is about RTE, uh, and the funding.

And apparently the Taoiseach was blindsided by the move to cut €20 million from RTE.

Micheál Martin apparently didn't know about it when it emerged RTE was going to be shortchanged by €20 million in funding.

The Mail understands Patrick O'Donovan warned the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste last week of concerns over RTE and sports funding, and then lobbied for and got an extra €21 million for his department.

But RTE's allocation was still down €20 million, uh, short of what had been promised, but the Taoiseach didn't know about it apparently.

The Irish Independent, "RTE's ability to downsize will come under threat after the government slashed its budget by €20 million." So the state broadcaster has committed to a program of reform, which includes cutting 400 staff by 2029.

However, now they're saying that the ability to pay redundancies is in doubt after the funding was cut.

The Irish Times on the front page, uh, says, however, that RTE is going to get the €20 million it lost in the budget if it satisfies the government that its reform and redundancy program is on track.

So it sounds like someone is leaking to the Irish Times that we need to calm this row down, and don't worry, they will get their money, uh, if it looks like they're on track.

So lots about RTE on the front pages.

And we've a picture on the front of the Irish Daily Mail of Meghan Markle with Malala, uh, and they had, uh, a Claridge's tea yesterday.

Lots about this in the papers.

Uh, we haven't seen much of Meghan Markle, uh, since she moved back to England, but she is with Malala, the campaigner, Malala Yousafzai, and Claridge's, uh, taking tea in Mayfair.

So I'm sure that the tabloids will get lots of coverage out of that over the next few days.

The main story for the Mail is about RTE, uh, and the funding.

And apparently the Taoiseach was blindsided by the move to cut €20 million from RTE.

Micheál Martin apparently didn't know about it when it emerged RTE was going to be shortchanged by €20 million in funding.

The Mail understands Patrick O'Donovan warned the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste last week of concerns over RTE and sports funding, and then lobbied for and got an extra €21 million for his department.

But RTE's allocation was still down €20 million, uh, short of what had been promised, but the Taoiseach didn't know about it apparently.

The Irish Independent, "RTE's ability to downsize will come under threat after the government slashed its budget by €20 million." So the state broadcaster has committed to a program of reform, which includes cutting 400 staff by 2029.

However, now they're saying that the ability to pay redundancies is in doubt after the funding was cut.

The Irish Times on the front page, uh, says, however, that RTE is going to get the €20 million it lost in the budget if it satisfies the government that its reform and redundancy program is on track.

So it sounds like someone is leaking to the Irish Times that we need to calm this row down, and don't worry, they will get their money, uh, if it looks like they're on track.

So lots about RTE on the front pages.