Morning Ireland

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Recapitalisation plans well received: Cowen

Taoiseach Brian Cowen discusses the latest reaction to the Govt's recapitalisation plans

Alex Potter, banking analyst with investment group Collins Stewart, says banks have to be adequately capitalised in the eyes of the international market

Pressure on Bishop of Cloyne to resign

David Quinn, columnist with the Irish Independent, outlines what a recent report found about allegations against two priests

Barry Andrews, Minister for Children, defends his handling of a report that criticised how complaints of child sexual abuse in the Diocese of Cloyne were dealt with

Contrasting fortunes for retailers in run-up to Christmas

Seán Murphy of Chambers Ireland, says many customers are buying from their shopping lists and not opportunistically

Du Plantier family mark anniversary of murder

Paschal Sheehy, Southern Editor, reports that the parents and friends of Sophie Toscan du Plantier have marked the 12th anniversary of her murder

Report into death of fisherman off Castletownbere

Tom MacSweeney, Marine Correspondent, reports that the Marine Casualty Investigation Board has called for mandatory regulations to require small open fishing boats to carry distress flares

Fears for Dell jobs in Limerick

Willie O'Dea, Minister for Defence and TD for Limerick, says that he and the Tánaiste spoke to Dell executives in Texas last week

John Collins of The Irish Times explains why job losses in Limerick now look inevitable

Humanitarian workers abducted in Zimbabwe

Eithne Brennan, Trócaire's Humanitarian Officer, says that she has been told that the abducted workers are still alive

Christmas chaos avoided on Rathlin Island

Eimear Lowe reports that life on Rathlin Island is different in many ways to that on the mainland

Review of hygiene standards in hospitals

Patricia Sullivan, General Manager of Waterford General Hospital, outlines how her hospital has seen its rating improve from fair to good

Dr Paul Kavanagh of the HSE says there is a lot of good news in the report

Air, road & rail routes getting busy for Christmas

Siobhán Moore of the Dublin Airport Authority says that passengers should be familiar with security measures ahead of the busy Christmas period

Barry Kenny of Iarnród Éireann says that passengers should book online where possible