Tuesday, 31st January 2012

New Intergovernmental Treaty

Last night 25 EU states agreed a new intergovernmental treaty which aims to toughen budget rules and bring stability to the Eurozone.

It’s expected that Attorney General Maire Whelan will give her verdict in a couple of weeks as to whether or not a referendum is needed here to ratify the new treaty.

Meanwhile with Greece still trying to reach a deal with its creditors and Portuguese bond yields soaring there’s concern that the austerity being imposed on Eurozone countries simply won’t work.

Joining Pat were Stephen Kinsella, lecturer in economics at the University of Limerick; John Palmer former political director at the European Policy Centre and Quentin Peel, international affairs editor of the Financial Times.

Travel: Six Nations Cities

Ireland kicks off its Six Nations campaign this Saturday, playing Wales in Dublin. What is there for travelling fans to see in the five rugby capitals and if you’re not a fan, what have these cities got to offer in springtime?

Pól Ó Conghaile joined Pat to guide us through London, Paris, Edinburgh, Cardiff & Rome.

Florida Primary

What was going Newt Gingrich’s way in South Carolina is now going Mitt Romney’s in Florida, as the Republican Primaries look like turning into a two horse race. Romney’s new, somewhat nastier tactic seems to be paying dividends as Gingrich’s star appears to be waning.

Pat was joined by Lara Marlowe from Washington and by Stacy Hilliard of Republicans Abroad in London.

Religion for Atheists

by Alain de Botton (Penguin)

It increasingly seems that many in the West have less time for organised religion than they did half a century ago. However, my next guest argues that there is still nostalgia even among non believers for its “consoling, subtle or just charming rituals”.

Raised as an atheist, he says that a false choice is often presented between faith and scepticism - either you have to accept lots of beliefs that are unbelievable or you end up in a spiritual and aesthetic wasteland. As a way of bridging that divide, he has come up with ambitious scheme that he calls Temples for Atheists. These will be secular spaces for contemplation, starting with one in London but then spreading across the country. He joined us in studio today to discuss this and more in his latest book Religion for Atheists.

Síomha Brock

Ennis-based Síomha Brock released her self-titled debut EP in December 2011 and will be touring it next month.

Siomha’s a singer, composer and guitarist whose love for jazz and soul music resonates through her music and she came in to us this morning.