Breakfast Briefing

30,000 bed days and €24 million can be saved across Irish public hospitals per year, while the length of patient stays will be shortened – and the recovery of hospitalised Covid-19 patients can be improved.

That's all if every hospital in the country implements a new national standard for inpatient nutrition.

Shane Beatty was joined on Breakfast Briefing by Carmel O Hanlon, clinical specialist dietician, at Beaumont hospital, who is with the Irish Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism:

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Taoiseach Micheál Martin said last night his "gut instinct" is that it is 50-50 as to whether a trade deal between the European Union and the United Kingdom will be reached.

British and EU negotiators are returning to the negotiating table for a "final throw of the dice".

Time is running out before the Brexit transition period ends at the end of the month.

The UK government says the trade talks are in "a very difficult position" but they’re ready to keep negotiating "until there is no point doing so any further".

Sky News journalist Enda Brady joined Shane Beatty on Breakfast Briefing:

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Restaurants, cafes and pubs that serve food can re-open their doors today as Covid-19 restrictions continue to be eased.

Indoor dining will be allowed - however with extra measures and only pubs with a kitchen on-site can welcome back customers.

People are being advised to pre-book a table for a meal.

Restaurants Association of Ireland Chief Executive Adrian Cummins joined Shane Beatty on Breakfast Briefing:

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Met Eireann has issued a Status Yellow snow and ice warning for Co Donegal.

 

The alert is in place until midnight with heavy wintry showers of hail, sleet and snow expected and accumulations likely in places.

 

The UK Met Office has issued a Yellow warning for ice in Antrim, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Derry.

 

Meanwhile, a weather advisory is in place for the entire country until  Saturday as "sharp to severe frosts and icy stretches" are expected and snow could fall on lower ground.

 

Alan o reilly, forecaster with Carlow Weather joined Shane Beatty with the latest:

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Ireland is in its second week as an ‘orange’ region on the EU’s ‘traffic light’ travel system.

 

Research conducted for Tourism Ireland shows there are reasons to be hopeful about the future of tourism due to Joe Biden’s Irish links possibly boosting US travel figures, and Ireland’s reputation as a green, safe travel hotspot.

 

But the sector isn’t without its challenges. Later today Tourism Ireland and Failte Ireland will be before the Oireachtas tourism committee to outline the impact covid 19 is having on the industry.

 

Chair of the committee, TD Niamh Smyth joined Shane Beatty on Breakfast Briefing to preview their appearance:

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