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The mid-morning current affairs magazine with the stories of the day, sharp analysis, in-depth features and consumer interest
Just a few weeks into the new year and the Government has signalled that its getting down to serious business in the months ahead. Taoiseach Enda Kenny told Sean O’Rourke yesterday that the Government may legislate to cut the public sector pay bill, and that he hoped a deal on the promissory note could be struck by the end of March.
There are decisions to be made too on abortion – many thousands of people turned out at an ant-abortion vigil in Dublin over the weekend - while the Labour party is facing dissent with rebel TD Colm Keavney , who remains party chairman though he voted against the Government over the budget.
Joining Pat was Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton.
It now seems that at least 48 hostages have died after a four-day siege at a gas plant in Algeria.
Latest reports say that up to 25 bodies found at the complex yesterday were all those of hostages.
Those lucky enough to have escaped have started returning home to tell their stories.
Pat was joined on the line from Algeria by journalist Haitham Rabani and security analyst Tom Clonan who has been following the story since it began.
Last week we heard from listeners about an increasing number of motorists who are driving at night with just one headlight working. So the AA has carried out a survey of its members to find out just how common the problem with non-working headlights is.
Conor Faulkan Director of Consumer Affairs of the AA joined Pa this morning.
When it comes to natural history programmes, the achievements of David Attenborough and the BBC’s Natural History Unit are in a class of their own and their latest wildlife series gets closer to the animals than ever before. The series has been four years in production, involving 79 filming expeditions in 27 different countries with a total of 1,600 days spent on location and 6,500 malaria tablets for crew members.
Using cutting-edge camera technology, new filming techniques and travelling to previously unexplored parts of Africa they managed to film a unique and new view of Africa which promises to thrill even those who claim to have seen it all when it comes to African wildlife. Michael Bright is author of over 100 books on natural history, natural sciences, conservation and the environment, and a former executive producer for various departments at the BBC, including for the BBC Natural History Unit in Bristol. He joined Pat to discuss the official book which accompanies the series – Africa: Eye to Eye with the Unknown.
The Irish Cancer Society celebrates its 50th year this year and will mark the anniversary with a new strategy “Towards a Future Without Cancer”. The Society’s new Chairman, Professor John Kennedy, said that cancer-related deaths in some socially disadvantaged areas in Ireland are double those of more affluent areas, and that the Society wants to see this gap closed.
There are some startling facts for the new strategy to address:
Men in areas with the poorest education levels had a 32% greater risk of lung cancer than men in areas with the highest level of education..... and women resident in areas of highest unemployment had a 49% greater risk of head and neck cancer than those in the areas of least unemployment.
Later today at the strategy’s launch event in Dublin, Dr John Seffrin, CEO of the American Cancer Society will deliver the key note address.
He has been CEO of the American Cancer Society since 1992 and under his leadership, the American Cancer Society has become the world’s largest voluntary health organization fighting cancer, with a billion dollars in resources and he joined Pat this morning.
Dublin's O'Connell Street came to a standstill yesterday afternoon as some of the biggest Hollywood stars walked the red carpet from the Gresham Hotel to the Savoy for the premiere of Lincoln. Valerie Cox was there.
