Sir, – Noting that Morning Ireland is starting at 8 am this week while BBC 4 radio begins news coverage two hours earlier, Mike Moran suggests Montrose is unusual in being in seasonal wind-down mode (Letters, December 22nd). Newsnight has vanished entirely from its BBC2 slot though, and won't be back until January 4th. Let us hope both sides are correct – and that there simply isn't much news to analyse. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN O’BRIEN,
Kinsale, Co Cork.
Sir, Mike Moran observes that Morning Ireland has a later starting time and wonders if this is due to early anticipation of Christmas. In my view it would be a considerable relief if the 8am start continued through the year. Two hours of hectoring the various interviewees constitutes a negative start to the day. Late Debate could also take a few early nights. – Yours, etc,
MARGARET LEE,
Newport,
Co Tipperary.
Sir, – Happily, I’m retired now and I wake up just in time for the RTÉ’s 9am news, followed by Tubs. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL C O’CONNOR,
Waterford.
Sir, – We need to be informed, but not obsessed; careful but not paranoid. To that end, let me propose that just one day a week be a Novid day, when the C-word is not mentioned and those who need to be informed are directed to appropriate websites. That way a semblance of normality might be restored, while we wait and wait. Broadcast media, in particular, please reflect. – Yours, etc,
JOHN O’RIORDAN,
Dalkey,
Co Dublin.