20/20 Smoke Screen (Sunday, 6.55 p.m., TV3) examines the forces gathering to change the operating environment of the Irish tobacco industry and hears the Minister for Health, Mr Micheβl Martin, defend his forthcoming tobacco legislation.
Mr Phil Mason, managing director of Irish tobacco company PJ Carroll, is also a guest on the programme.
Mr Steve Berman, the US lawyer who played a pivotal role in bringing about the $206 billion (€227 billion) 1998 Tobacco Master Settlement for the US Attorneys General, tells the programme how the tobacco companies finally gave way.
Ms Trina Vargo of the US-Ireland Alliance and Irish-American businessman Mr Emmett O'Connell talk to Agenda (Sunday, noon, TV3) about the Republic's economic relationship with the US in the light of the September 11th attacks.
Irish economist and author Mr Eamon Fingleton explains why he believes the US economy will suffer for abandoning manufacturing in favour of services.
Mr Fingleton explains why he expects Japan, which has quietly concentrated on manufacturing, to become a world leader again. He also explains his theory on why Dublin property prices are set for a major readjustment.
The no-entry signs are still up on farms around the country, but this time it's not because of foot-and-mouth. It's due to a long campaign by farmers for higher compensation for land purchased for road development. Ear To The Ground (Monday, 8.30 p.m., RT╔1) reports that, after three months, there is little sign of a resolution to the conflict.
sokelly@irish-times.ie
