Drivetime

Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip overnight killed at least 20 people, Palestinian medics have said. One of the airstrikes hit a tent camp in Al-Mawasi with eight people being killed including two children. Margaret Harris from the WHO joined us to discuss the latest.

Emigration was one of the big issues throughout the general election this year and as we await a final decision over government formation, we’ve been speaking to Irish people who have chosen a different life abroad and what it's been like from them. Today we spoke to Nollaig O'Connor, Irish Journalist living in NYC.

Ger Hyland, Irish Road Haulage Association President and Aidan Flynn, Freight Transport Association Ireland joined us today to discuss the latest on the port closure in Holyhead.

Burglars can view the holiday season a little differently to the rest of us. For them, it is a time of opportunity to enter your home while people are out visiting families. We spoke to Peter, Murray Security Consultant and Fellow of the Security Institute of Ireland for the best tips to stay safe this Christmas.

Eimer McCauley, RTÉ Reporter, gives an update on a very special gift this Christmas.

Whether they're because it's cold and flu season or too much Christmas Cheer... Should we reach for Over The Counter medication? When do we know we have taken enough? And when should we go to the doctor for a headache? For the answers Dr Martin Ruttledge, consultant neurologist and clinical lead at the Headache Clinic at Beaumont Hospital.

The Department of Housing has just released new figures showing that 1,866 new social homes were delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies in the third quarter of this year. Sinn Fein Housing spokesperson Eoin O'Broin spoke with John Cooke.

The Minister for Health has confirmed that a number of sick children from Gaza have been successfully medically for healthcare treatment in Ireland. For more on this the minister for overseas development Sean Flemming and Niall O’Keeffe, Head of International and Migration with Irish Red Cross.

Footfall is down in Dublin city this year, and businesses are hoping for a big boost this weekend, reporter Eimer Mcauley has been out and about speaking to shoppers and retailers this morning.

We all know the importance of the gift of a book at Christmas but what about the kids who'll be waiting for Santa in homeless accommodation or direct provision? Children's Books Ireland is asking for your support as they donate thousands of books to children across the country. Drivetime's John Cooke tells us more.

Tom Lewendon, a British photographer who works with MedGlobal was one of the only photographers in the world embedded twice in Ukraine & twice in Gaza in 2024. In Gaza, during a period of restricted media access, Tom worked with local and international medical teams, including eight nights at Al-Aqsa Hospital.

More than 25 per cent of all primary school pupils and 20 per cent of all second-level students missed 20 or more school days in the 2022 to 2023 school year, with high levels of extended absences in areas of social disadvantage. For more on this Mick Wafer, Principal at Wexford VEC.

To discuss this now, is Fianna Fáil TD Malcolm Byrne and People Before Profit Richard Boyd Barrett.

A county Galway farmer has been given a community service order in lieu of a prison sentence for assaulting former Minister of State Anne Rabbitte by throwing a package containing cow dung at her. Reporter John Cooke is at the District Court in Ennis

Independent TD Verona Murphy has been elected as Ceann Comhairle of the 34th Dáil. The Wexford TD becomes the first woman to hold the role. To discuss todays developments Minister for Sport and Physical Education Thomas Byrne and Sinn Fein TD Claire Kerrane.

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service is making an extra urgent appeal for donors in the run up to Christmas. Due to the way the holiday falls this year, scheduled clinics will be more disrupted than usual. Paul McKinney is Blood Appeal Director of Donor Services and Logistics.

The latest CSO figures out today show house prices are rising nationally at an annual rate of almost 10 per cent. The average price of a Dublin home is now over €600.000. Eoin Burke Kennedy Economics Correspondent with The Irish Times has been writing about it and he joined Cormac.

Working in conjuction with the National Counselling Service this project focuses on the long-term impact of Mother and Baby institutions. As part of the study, both mothers & adult adoptees will be surveyed about their experiences. To tell us more Professor Orla Muldoon of the University of Limerick, who is leading this project.

Today the European Parliament elected the Portuguese human rights expert Teresa Anjinho as the next European Ombudsman, who will take up office in February. The incumbent Emily O’Reilly presented her final annual report yesterday. She's been the European Ombudsman since 2013.

Funeral Directors are expressing concern about plans to introduce a 100 euro charge per death notice on the RIP.ie website. Drivetime’s John Cooke has been talking to undertakers across the country.