Morning Ireland

Morning Ireland Tuesday 26 January 2021

Live news, sports, weather and traffic, presented by Audrey Carville and Mary Wilson.

Full Programme Podcast: Tuesday, 26th January 2021

Live news, sports, weather and traffic, presented by Audrey Carville and Mary Wilson.

Schools back on a phased basis from February - Varadkar

Pat Leahy, Irish Times political editor, discusses the Govt's plans to continue the lockdown until at least 5 March and for significantly increased quarantine rules for people coming into the country.

145 fewer patients with Covid-19 in hospitals

Fergal Bowers, Health Correspondent, reports on the latest Covid-19 figures and trends as seven more deaths and 1,372 new cases of the virus were reported by the Department of Health yesterday.

Ireland's ethical approach to the vaccine roll-out

Dr Siobhán O'Sullivan, Chief Bioethics Officer with the Department of Health and NPHET member, on the ethical decision-making involved in rolling out Ireland's Covid-19 vaccination programme.

Cabinet to consider extending restrictions to 5 March

Paul Cunningham, Political Correspondent, and Tony Connelly, Europe Editor, report on plans to extend the lockdown until at least March 5, and significantly increased quarantine travel rules, plus the EU vaccine row with AstraZeneca.

Number of Covid patients in ICU reduced by two

Anne O'Connor, HSE Chief Operations Officer, says that, despite a slight reduction in ICU numbers, overall admissions are still double those in the first wave

42 Covid cases confirmed at Wexford meat plant

Fran McNulty, Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Correspondent, reports on outbreaks of Covid-19 at meat plants in Wexford and Cork

Fourteen days in hotel quarantine costs about Aus$5,000 per family

Gary Grey, Australian Ambassador to Ireland, says mandatory quarantine was one of the tools that allowed Australia to escape the worst of the pandemic

Flaming Lips perform coronavirus-safe gigs

Wayne Coyne, lead singer of 'The Flaming Lips', on two unique gigs staged by the band in Oklahoma over the weekend where individual inflatable balls were used to protect the band and concert-goers