Ennis Labour Councillor Paul O’Shea tendered his resignation to party officials in protest at what he describes as the savage health care cuts set to be imposed by government
On Monday’s Morning Focus Marian Egan spoke with Councillor O’Shea, who is also Chairperson of the Ennis Health Action Committee, he said he had been left with little choice but to quit the coalition party and will only reconsider his position if the 130 million euro in cost saving measures are reversed by government
The cuts have already created a divide among the government parties with two Labour TDs yesterday voicing their anger over the proposals
Councillor O’Shea- who’s planning to hold a public meeting on the cuts next week- said its forced him to look at his own political future with the junior coalition party
Labour party Deputy Michael McNamara expressed regret at the decision of Ennis Town Councillor Paul O’Shea to resign from the party.
He says he shares concern at these proposed cuts and like many in the Labour Party he considers to them to be ‘unacceptable’
Ennis has slipped way down the ranks in terms of its cleanliness.
Clare’s County Town has still maintained its Clean to European Norm status in the last Anti Litter League Survey but as plummeted from 16th position down to 31 – just above the moderately littered category
The IBAl survey found that of all the train stations surveyed across the country just Ennis was deemed to be ‘littered’, it also received this classification around Ennis Community Schools -just one of 2 schools out of the 60 looked at to receive this ranking
Overall Cavan was named as Ireland’s cleanest town while Dublin’s North inner city fell to the bottom of the table
Marian got more details from Dr Tom Cavanagh, Chairperson IBAL – Irish Businesses Against Litter
Listener Tony O’Donoghue had a word with Marian about the litter that visitors leave on the coast road between Fanore and Ballyvaughan.
A 21 year old man remains in a critical condition in hospital following a gun attack in the car park of a county Clare hotel
Robert Sheehan from Moyross in Limerick who was attending a family wedding at the Bunratty Castle Hotel was targeted in the early hours of yesterday morning as he smoked a cigarette in the car park
The gunmen then fled the scene in a black coloured saloon type car and Clare Gardaí are appealing for any late night workers, or taxi men who noticed anything in the area at the time to contact them
Two men arrested in Cork in connection with the shooting remain in Garda custody
We heard visitors to Bunratty speaking with Clare FM’s Trudy Waters yesterday and told her they were shocked by the violent gun attack
21 year old Robert Sheenan was one of three teenagers jailed for the arson attack on Gavin (4) and Millie Murray (6) in Limerick in September 2006, while its reported today that he had been targeted in recent months over separate criminal incidents
Speaking to Clare FM’s Trudy Waters yesterday Investigating officer – Inspector John Galvin said their investigating all possible motives for the shooting….
David Hurley of The Limerick Leader spoke to Marian about the impact the shooting is having in Limerick.
Sergeant Joe Downey, Crime Prevention Officer with the Clare Garda Division appealed for more information on Garda Focus
Contact the incident room in Shannon Garda Station on 061 365902.
The Money Doctor John Lowe joined Marian for his weekly look at personal finance issues
This morning he discussed news that Bank of Ireland will now see its standard-variable rate jump to 4.3pc for existing mortgage holders from October 5
Minister Michael Noonan is facing a series of major headaches in his urgent drive to get the new property tax introduced on time
A sharp fall in the interest rates that banks charge each other for lending and weak economic data in Germany have combined to boost the case for a new cut in European Central Bank rates on Thursday
www.themoneydoctor.ie
Cultúrlann Sweeney in Kilkee are delighted to host ‘Songs From My Heart ‘ the exhibition will open this evening at 7pm
The rare and beautiful prints include poems written by dancer Jacqueline Robinson with illustrations by Basil Rákóczi
Dr Deirdre Mulrooney will be covering Erina Brady’s ground breaking work and the connection with Kilkee and she encouraged people to come along.
John Murphy of the Clare branch of Birdwatch Ireland was in studio to talk wildlife and answer your bird and wildlife queries
If you have a story, comment or query for the Morning Focus team email Focus@clare.fm
