Topic: The first bishops conference since their meeting with the Pope.

Panellists: The first part of the programme was filmed from the bishops conference in Maynooth, and features exchanges with Bishops Denis Brennan (Ferns), John McAreavey (Dromore)and Christopher Jones (Elphin). Mary Raftery and Patsy McGarry joined Vincent in studio.

That Press conference was a disgrace. They are in total denial, with all their studies they don’t care about the victims.

Mary O Brien, Kilkenny.

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Government statement on behalf of Taoiseach Brian Cowen  

Fianna Fail’s new pension framework, unveiled yesterday, has been met with criticism from opposition parties and social activists.

The overhaul of the state system will increase the pension qualification age over the next 18 years, from the current age of 65 to 68 years of age in 2028. Under the new framework, the government is also introducing a supplementary, publicly run pension scheme for workers not already covered by a private work pension.

"I am delighted to be here today, together with the Ministers for Finance and Social and Family Affairs, to launch the Government’s National Pensions Framework.  My colleagues will each say something about the importance of this development from their particular perspectives. However, I would like to say a few words from an overall government point of view.

Topic: Failure of HSE care and the Green Party rotation 

Panel: Sean Ardagh, Liz McManus and Alan Shatter.

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Vincent, What was significant about the Dan Boyle door stepping was not Dan Boyle's antics but rather the red sleeping bag  in the doorway of a Georgian house; obviously a homeless person finding shelter on a very cold night. Where are our priorities? 

Jim Lawless.

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As the recent budget cuts are felt by local communities, Irish artists have lent their support to what they see as unjust closures of important amenities. 

On Saturday, famous faces joined the local community to protest the closure of Sallynoggin library, which is being implemented by Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council as a result of government budget cuts.

Martin Cullen, the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism, announced this week that over 3m people visited Irish cultural institutions in 2009. 

This calls into question the rationality of recent brutal cuts to the arts budget and indicates that greater investment in the arts and cultural tourism could make a significant contribution to economic recovery.

Topic: Trevor Sargent’s Resignation.

Panellists: James Reilly (FG), Timmy Dooley (FF), Pat Rabbitte and Niamh Connolly (SBP).

***

It was a green leak and it smells of compost, somebody got into trevors drawers and took copies of the file copies...tut tut.

***

“Resigning his position in Cabinet must have been very difficult for Willie O’Dea and a very trying event for his family. However, Willie O'Dea's resignation was an inevitable consequence of his swearing of a false affidavit before the High Court." 

“The refusal of the Taoiseach and his colleagues in government to demand any accountability for this behaviour was the reason that I tabled a motion of no confidence in Deputy O'Dea on Tuesday night."

"Yesterday afternoon I met Willie O’Dea and he assured me that an article in today’s Limerick Leader would vindicate him. The article published today does not do that. In fact it does the opposite.

 "At the very conclusion of yesterday’s Dail debate Mr O’Dea said his original actions in the matter were based on information given to him by An Garda Siochana. We were very concerned by this behaviour by a member of Government.