Tonight with Vincent Browne

Topic: The resignation of George Lee

Panellists: George Lee, Fine Gael's Health Spokesperson James Reilly, Shane Coleman of the Sunday Tribune, Niamh Lyons of the Irish Daily Mail, and Ian Kehoe of the Sunday Business Post.

I'm deeply saddened by George Lee's resignation today from Irish politics. An honest man, whom i had hoped would play a significant role in turning around our stifled economy. I commend his bravery to refuse to wait around, when we need urgent radical reform.

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Tonight the panel will discuss the departure of George Lee from the Dail and Fine Gael. He claimed that he had no opportunity to influence policy. The issue of how much influence back bench TDs have over policy was covered during last weeks public meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution.

Topic: Cancer care in Ireland

Panellists: Kathleen O'Meara (former Labour senator, now head of advocacy for Irish Cancer Society), Ken O'Beirne (oncologist, St. James' Hospital), Austin O'Carroll MD and Roddy Carter (cancer patient)

Re cancer care: What kind of system allows a GP 2 state in a referral letter 2 an arthricare centre that patient "now cancer free" when oncologist gave 6 months 2 live on discharge from hospital. "arthritiis" was secondaries. Records not shared between medical centres. 

Marion

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Topic: Discussion of the union's work to rule strategy

Topic: Electoral Reform

Topic: The Media and the Eamon Lillis trial

Topic: Issues of the week

Topic: The Public Sector Work to Rule.

Panellists: Blair Horan of the CPSU, Louise O'Reilly
from SIPTU and Fine Gael TD Leo Varadkar.

Topic: Electoral reform

Panellists: Minister of Transport Noel Dempsey, Elaine Byrne (Irish Times), Naoise Nunn (founder of Leviathan political cabaret), Sara Burke (journalists), Pat Rabbitte (Labour Party)

Layers and layers of corruption have Ireland in a bigger mess than most. We were caught with our pants down when banks started going bust in America. What system can be put in place 2 pull them back up again and give our people some dignity again!

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Tonight with Vincent Browne guests: Monday 1st Febuary 2010