Newstalk Breakfast Weekends

Over the last few weeks there has been a huge effort from different elements of the community to help those most at risk in our communities.

The role of the local pharmacy has also changed as efforts are made to get medicine out to those who need them.

But in addition to this medical students at UCD have also set up a volunteer service to deliver to vulnerable and older people who are self isolating.

Science graduate Larrisa Manojlovich is one of a number of students involved in the COVID 19 Medicine Delivery group and she joined Susan to discuss the initiative.

As well as this, Susan spoke to her local postman, John Doyle from Newbridge, co Kildare, to get his take on how the Covid-19 crisis has affected him and the people he serves.

Susan is joined by Prof John Crown, consultant medical oncologist at St. Vincent’s Private Hospital to get his take on the measures which have been implemented by the government to stem the spread of Covid-19 throughout the country.

Susan is joined by Minster for Health, Simon Harris, to discuss the new sweeping measures being implemented by the government to restrict the movement of people across the country.

Together they discuss what these new restrictions mean for businesses and employees, how they might affect people who are already feeling isolated and alone, and what we might expect from the government in the coming weeks in our effort to suppress the spread of Covid-19.

Susan Keogh is joined by Newstalk reporter, Stephen Murphy to go through the Sunday morning front pages and is later joined by Dr. Gabriel Fitzpatrick, Medical Epidemiologist and Medical Director of Trinity Clinics who has worked in outbreak settings across the world including Dengue in Peru, Cholera in Chad and Ebola in Sierra Leone to talk about our response to the Corvid-19 crisis thus far.

To mark International Women's Day we hear about women who still don't have some the basic rights that other's take for granted. Refugee girls and women in South Sudan are fighting for the right to an education - to learn to read and right - in the hope of making their lives better. Newstalk Presenter and Producer Sue Cahill volunteered with the Jesuit Refugee Service on Doro Refugee Camp in Maban in where she met some truly incredible women.

Susan Keogh is joined by Political Correspondent with the Irish Independent Hugh O'Connell and Consultant with The Communications Clinic Sarah Geraghy to discuss this Sunday's front page newspaper stories.

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Family Carers Ireland is this weekend hosting its annual National Respite Weekend in Cork.

Carers are calling on the next Government – whatever form that might take – to acknowledge the vital contribution they make to society. 

One of those carers  - Sinead Tighe – joined Susan in studio

Last night actor Liam Cunnigham was honoured with a Lifetime Contribution Award from the Irish Council of Civil Liberties for Human Rights.

He is the first ever recipient of the award which honours a person who uses their platform to advocate for a better world for everyone. 

Liam joined Susan in studio

On today's front page panel, Susan was joined by Communications Consultant with Carr Communications Sinead O’Donnell and Political Correspondent at TheJournal.Ie Christina Finn to discuss top stories like the first Corona virus case in Ireland, Bamp;A poll for the Sunday Times showing Sinn Fein ahead of all other parties, Boris Johnson amp; Carrie Symonds and more. 

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We had the confirmation of the first case of COVID-19 in the republic - a man from the eastern part of the country - who travelled on a flight from an affected area of northern Italy - is receiving medical care.

Susan was joined by Professor Sam McConkey, Head of the Department of International Health and Tropical Medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons to discuss how to contain the virus.