Fears of a second lockdown saw queues of over 30 people outside Smyths toy stores earlier in the week. While we are staying in Level 3 for now, that hasn’t stopped parents from preparing early for the festive period.  Parenting expert with Baby Doc Club Laura Erskine joined Ciara on the show.

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Business owners in Co Leitrim have spoken of their anger as Level 3 restrictions were announced for the entire country earlier this week.

Leitrim is the county with the lowest amount of cases in Ireland and no new cases have been recorded there in the last 48 hours.

People in the county have been telling our reporter Barry Whyte that Leitrim should have remained at Level 2....

There’s been an increase in the number of cyclists hospitalised (as inpatients) as a result of cycling accidents on Irish roads  In 2019 - 1437 cyclists were hospitalised as a result of an accident, that’s an increase of 29 accidents from the figure in 2018 . To discuss Shane was joined by the Vice Chairperson of Dublin Cycling Campaign  Louise Williams.

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450 new college places are set to be offered today to students affected by the Leaving Certificate calculated grades error.  

The places come as part of the CAO round four offers which will be released at 10am this morning.  

 

Katherine Donnelly is the Education Editor at the Irish Independent

 

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The Chief Medical Officer has said that he is "deeply concerned" at the spread of Covid-19 since NPHET last met last Sunday. It comes as the Department of Health was notified of five further coronavirus-related deaths and an additional 611 cases.  For more on this we heard from Prof Sam McConkey Infectious Disease Specialist at the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland. 

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Tánaiste Leo Varadkar had some scathing remarks for NPHET this week after the team led by Dr Tony Holohan recommended a nationwide move to level 5 restrictions.

Well, Dr. Martin Feeley was an early critic of NPHET and the government’s Covid-19 response.

He called the measures “draconian” just days before resigning from his post as Clinical Director of the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group.

Dr Feeley joined us in studio earlier this week and we began by asking him why he decided to go public with his dissenting views.

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Off-licences should have their opening hours reduced as a way of clamping down on social gatherings and house parties This proposal was discussed at cabinet meeting on Monday . For reaction we heard from Dr Joe Barry Professor of Public Health at Trinity College Dublin.

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Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has said the gardai not need additional powers to police the new Covid-19 restrictions but will review that position if consistent breaches become apparent. But is there a case for increased powers? For more we heard from Dr Pat Leahy, Former Assistant Garda Commissioner.

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The monthly date for payments to employers under the Wage Subsidy Scheme has been brought forward to this Friday 9th, October. For more we’re joined by Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Finance joined us on the show this morning.

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NUI Galway are one of the first universities in the country to confirm that the vast majority of learning will be delivered online until after Christmas. For more we heard from by Lorna Fitzpatrick, President of the Union of Students Ireland.

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