Episode Details

The US President says 'everything's been knocked out' in Iran. As the conflict enters a fifth day there have been more explosions overnight in both Iran and southern Lebanon. While Tehran is continuing to retaliate with strikes across the Gulf region. Donal Trump says the US military operation has been a success so far. Meanwhile, Irish citizens in the United Arab Emirates, could be evacuated in the coming days as plans are finalised for a government charter flight to leave Oman - provided they get the all-clear. The Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee says this first flight will be targeted at Irish citizens currently in UAE, particularly those who are non-resident and require assistance most urgently. Pregnant women, the elderly and those with health conditions are to be given priority in the first Irish airlift out of the Middle East. They will be the first to travel home as the government begins chartering flights out of the Gulf from Oman. 280 people will be on the first plane out of the region. The Taoiseach is facing increasing pressure from some quarters to cancel his St. Patrick’s Day visit to the White House, in light of America’s attack on Iran. Labour’s Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Duncan Smith says the meeting with the US president should not go ahead in its traditional form. And consumers are being warned they should expect the cost of fuel and home heating oil to increase over the coming weeks. It's due to growing instability in the Middle East, with a barrel of oil up 20 dollars since the weekend. Alan Morrissey spoke with Dr. Scott Fitzsimmons, Associate Professor of international Relations at UL and Micheál Collins, Ennis-based economist and Assistant Professor of Social Policy at University College Dublin, to find out more. Image © Getty Images Signature via Canva