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Plans to give the Northern Ireland assembly a say in a future Brexit backstop have been rubbished by both the DUP and Sinn Fein. Yesterday, the government committed to giving local politicians a say on any new EU rules being applied to Northern Ireland in the event that the backstop comes into force. But the DUP and Sinn Fein immediately shot the proposals down. The DUP said they added nothing new. Sinn Fein said "there must be no veto afforded to any party by anybody". And then the Irish government weighed in with the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar saying ""I don't think we can have a situation whereby the Northern Ireland executive or assembly has a veto power because that would essentially give one of the two communities veto power over the other." Vinny spoke to ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ NI political editor Mark Devenport, and got the views of commentator Patricia MacBride and former UKIP leader in Northern Ireland David McNarry.

Also on the programme, Nolan listener Paul has been told he could face a 3 year wait for a hernia operation. But this is not a regular hernia. Just before you listen to this interview - a warning - it does contain some graphic description. Paul told Vinny why he got in touch with the Nolan Show on Christmas Eve.

And, it's the meat eaters fight back! The Ulster Farmers' Union says going vegetarian or vegan as a New Year resolution is well past being rare or medium but verging on the side of over done! The organisation says its becoming increasingly concerned about misinformation driving misconceptions about red meat, diets and health. Vinny got the views of UFU Beef and lamb chairman Sam Chesney and vegan advocate Cliff Grant.

All that and more on the biggest show in the country…