Morning Ireland

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Budgetary gap narrows to €14bn

Brian Hayes, Minister of State at the Department of Finance, discusses 2012 tax revenues which are ahead of target after strong December returns

Ulster Bank closing up to 20 branches

Dr Ray Kinsella, professor of banking at UCD, discusses the changes to the bank branch system and its implications for customers

Victims of Sandy still awaiting aid

Siobhan Dennehy, Emerald Isle Immigration Centre in New York, talks about the importance of today's vote on the aid package for the victims of Superstorm Sandy

Are newspapers trying to destroy the web?

Simon McGarr, solicitor and blogger, voices his objections to the move by National Newspapers of Ireland to charge for the use of links to their websites

Dogs savage sheep in Roscommon

James Murphy, IFA National Sheep chairman, says sadly the incident in Roscommon is all too common for sheep farmers

Searches for oil and gas are damaging Arctic

Simon Boxall, National Oceanography Centre at Southampton University, says the running aground of an oil rig off Alaska illustrates the dangers of increased mineral exploration in the Arctic Circle

Racism chants trigger walk-off by AC Milan

Paddy Agnew, Irish Times Rome Correspondent, reports on an incident in which AC Milan star striker, Ghanaian Kevin-Prince Boateng, walked off the field -and was followed by his team-mates - after being subjected to a hail of racist abuse

McIlroy may not participate in Olympics

Greg Allen, RTÉ golf commentator, says Rory McIlroy still faces a very difficult decision ahead of the next Olympic Games

Christmas celebrations continue with Nollaig na mBan

Kate Lawlor, owner and chef at Fenns Quay Restaurant, explains how Nollaig na mBan, or Little Christmas, will be celebrated in Cork

Weather forecast

Presented by Harm Luijks

8am News Bulletin

Presented by Michael Murphy