Monday - Friday, 10am - 12 noon
The mid-morning current affairs magazine with the stories of the day, sharp analysis, in-depth features and consumer interest
Venezuela has declared a week of mourning after the death of Hugo Chavez, with preparations under way for his body to lie in state.
The 58-year-old president died last night after a two-year battle with cancer. He had suffered multiple complications following his latest operation on 11 December and had not been seen in public since then.
Pat was joined by Barry Cannon author of Hugo Chavez and the Bolivarian Revolution.
Banks are “running rings” around the Government because they are fundamentally frightened of them according to Wicklow independent TD Stephen Donnelly. Fellow Independent , Shane Ross has expressed similar sentiments. He claimed this week bankers were beginning to “surface from their bunkers, with evictions for borrowers in debt, less money passing from bankers to taxpayers and the looming threat of crucifixion for customers”. He was writing in the Sunday Independent.
So is the Government doing enough to protect us? Last week Michael Noonan announced that it was removing the bank guarantee scheme to persuade the markets that the country has achieved fiscal stability. But it could be argued that the situation is far from normal as far as bank customers are concerned.
Joining me now is Independent TD Stephen Donnelly and Government back bencher Pascal Donohue TD, who is a member of the Public Accounts Committee and Vice-Chair of the European Affairs Committee.
On last night’s Prime Time tension between some members of the Travelling Community and local authorities was highlighted, particularly in relation to the issue of housing. In Ennis in County Clare some €200,000 worth of damage was done to the Ashline halting site near the town last week. That development is now vacant and closed, as is another nearby site called Beechpark. Brian O’Connell spent yesterday in Ennis hearing the concerns of former residents at Ashline and also speaking with local Council representatives.
The trial of an American man accused of murdering Wexford woman Nicola Furlong in Japan last year has heard she died of strangulation. Richard Hinds from Memphis, Tennessee, denies murder.
Joining us from Tokyo was Paul Murphy, who is reporting on the case for the Irish Independent.
After increases in prices last October and again in January, health insurance members can look forward to another round of hikes which have just been announced. VHI are increasing their rates by up to 8.5%, Laya by as much as 16.4% and Aviva up to 6.4%.
But, according to my next guest, there are still options out there for consumers looking to reduce costs. I’m joined by Dermot Goode of healthinsurancesavings.ie
On Friday 15 March, the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra will perform two major works by the award-winning Irish composer Shaun Davey at the National Concert Hall. Thirty years after its Irish premiere, a chance to hear The Brendan Voyage, a ground-breaking musical narrative for uilleann pipes and symphony orchestra based on Tim Severin’s Atlantic crossing in a medieval leather-skinned boat, retracing St Brendan’s sixth century journey from Ireland to the New World.Master uilleann piper Liam O’Flynn, for whom the piece was written will feature as soloist. Well Both Shaun Davey and Liam O'Flynn were over in Studio 8 to perform part of the Brendan Voyage.
