As we know under the Government’s plan to get the county back up and running schools won’t reopen until the start of the next academic year in September. 

That means when primary children return it will have been almost six months since they were last in their classrooms, but that might not be the only reason why they don’t recognise their surroundings.

To discuss what school in 2021 with social and physical distancing may look like, Susan was joined by INTO General Secretary, John Boyle.

Image: flickr.com

Newstalk Breakfast with Susan Keogh

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Following three rounds of talks between the EU and UK regarding their relationship in a post-Brexit landscape there remain “significant outstanding issues” preventing any kind of agreement or consensus on both fronts.

Susan was joined by MEP Mairead McGuinness to discuss the primary issues and just how likely a no-deal outcome is.

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All this week we’re recognising Community Heroes with Bank of Ireland – who have donated €1 million in emergency funding donated via the Community Foundation for Ireland.

Today we spoke to Sharon O’Halloran CEO of Safe Ireland…….

The way we work has changed since Covid-19 came into our lives.

Most of us have more health worries, more financial stress, and in general our work-life balance has been turned on it head.

But a new survey has found that in spite of all that many of us are happier working from home and given the choice would opt to do so in the future. 

The survey was carried out by the National Recruitment Federation and to discuss further, Susan was joined by its president, Donal O'Donoghue.

Image: flickr.com

It is almost 80 days since General Election 2020 was held and we are still no closer to forming a government, but hopes are now high that we are entering the end game with some progress being made on a Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Green Party coalition.

Green Party MEP, Ciaran Cuffe joined Susan to discuss the red lines of the Green party and what needs to be done in order for a coalition to be formed.

Image: commons.wikimedia.org

The ‘One World: Together At Home’ event will be broadcast on major television networks and streamed online today, Saturday April 18th from 7pm.

This virtual concert, organized by WHO and international advocacy organization Global Citizen, will bring together people who are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to take meaningful actions to protect health and to support the global COVID-19 response.

This star studded event will see dozens of stars taking part with Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift, Stevie Wonder, and Elton John to name just a few.

Trish Laverty was joined by Michael Sheldrick, Chief Policy and Government Relations Officer at Global Citizen to find out more.

Image: globalcitizen.org

As we know lots of people have been 'Answering Ireland's Call' and returning in the effort to tackle the Covid-19 crisis.

'Answering Ireland’s Call' is an online campaign focused on repatriating Irish nurses and doctors who wish to return to help which was set up by a group of businesses and individuals supporting the HSE's 'Be On Call' campaign

Amy Keane - a nurse originally from Dublin - has flown home 12 weeks after setting off for a year in Australia made the journey home with the help of the initiative and she joined Susan to discuss her experience and why she felt the need to come home.

It was announced yesterday that this year’s Leaving Cert is to be postponed until late July or August.  

It has also been decided that this year’s Junior Cert will not take place but will be replaced by a school based assessment and exams in September with all schools to remain closed until further notice. 

For more on the issue Susan was joined by Fianna Fail’s Education Spokesperson, Thomas Byrne.

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As we know the fight against Covid-19 has stretched the health systems of some of most well resourced countries in the world to their limit.

But how will the spread of the virus affect countries that don’t even have the most basic resources or public healthcare systems?

Susan was joined by Paul Healy, Trocaire Country Director for Somalia to discuss the problems millions of people are facing on a daily basis.

Tom Gunn, Chairman of the Mullingar branch of O.N.E Ireland - the organisation for national ex-service personnel - is a retired Irish Army Corporal who served with the Irish Army for 25 years from 1953-1978.

He served on a number of peacekeeping missions with the army in the Sinai desert in Egypt after the Yom Kippur war in 1973, and also served in the Congo and was part of the 35th Battalion of the Irish Army that was attacked in the Siege of Jadotville.

To add to his list of things he’s battled he has now recovered from Covid-19.

Susan was joined by Tom to talk about his experience fighting the virus, how he drew on his experience with the army to stay positive, and gave advice to those who might be fearful of contracting Covid-19 as well as those who are currently fighting the disease.

    

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