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George Lee departure

Well, after the surprise events of yesterday when Fine Gael’s prized possession George Lee took flight from the party and politics, today its time to assess what this means for Fine Gael and its leader Enda Kenny. The Fine Gael front bench meet in Leinster House today where the leader will be able to gauge his support.

To do our own assessment of the fall out Pat was joined in studio by Stephen Collins Political Editor of the Irish Times and from Brussels by Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness, Phil Hogan Fine Gael Spokes person on Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

Increase in VAT

It might not have attracted a huge amount of press attention, but last week’s Finance Bill contained measures which will significantly increase the cost of a whole range of services for consumers.

Householders will now face increased costs for bin collections, car parking, and using a local pool, while commuters face increased tolls on the Westlink, Eastlink and Port Tunnel.

Ironically, the charges, which are due to go ahead later this year, will see some costs which had come down before Christmas now go back up.

Pat was joined by Charlie Weston, personal finance editor, with the Irish Independent and Cathy Quinn, Head of Finance, Dublin City Council.

But first Paddy O’Gorman went out to Springfield in Tallaght to find out what people made of the new measures.

Special Needs School

We are in the middle of a systematic cull of special needs staff from our schools. That’s according to the principal of St Joseph’s Special School in Balrothery, Tallaght, Co Dublin.

Valerie Cox was out in Tallaght this morning to meet some of the people who are worried about this development.

Speed limit

The controversial 30 kph speed limit in Dublin City Centre may be amended because of an outcry from motorists and criticism by the AA.



Drivers have been forced to drive at a snails pace on roads in the city under the plan initiated by Labour Councillor and Chairman of the Transport Committee, Andrew Montague. He joined Pat this morning.

Diana Jones

Singer/songwriter Diana Jones' country music is far from the mainstream brand. She performs the kind of literary, progressive, yet historically rich music that puts her in a league with predecessors such as Gillian Welch and Iris DeMent.



Great praise indeed and anyone who can get to Whelan’s tomorrow night are in for a rare treat – but for those who can’t we had a treat for you because Diana was with Pat in studio this morning.

Diana plays Whelan’s tomorrow night and the Errigle Inn, Belfast on Thursday and here's her website: http://www.dianajonesmusic.com/

An Irish Woman in Czarist Russia

Author: Jean Lombard
Published by: Ashfield Press

Jean Lombard began researching a woman called Kathleen ffrench at the request of her mother-in-law. Kathleen was born in 1864 to an Irish father, Robert Percy ffrench and a Russian mother, Sophie Kindiakov.



Her remarkable life story shows her growing up torn between Ireland and Russia and becoming a determined young woman who ran acres of land in Russia and was the first woman to drive into Eastern Siberia.

Through extensive correspondence, her story has been painstakingly pieced together and the result is An Irish Woman in Czarist Russia which is the fascinating life story of Kathleen ffrench.

Jean Lombard joined Pat this morning