Taoiseach Enda Kenny rejected calls in the Dáil this week to defer the scrapping of the mobility allowance and motorised transport grants until an alternative scheme is in place
On Friday’s Morning Focus John Cooke spoke with Anne Marie Flanagan, Midwest Regional Development Officer SHINE and Corofin based disabled persons’ advocate
She said the majority of people who will be affected by this are severely disabled and not educated and therefore not able to stand up for their rights
In her job as a mental health advocate Anne Marie see the devastating affect that this entire austerity process is having on vulnerable people
Pat Breen TD of Fine Gael explained why the mobility allowance and motorised transport grant were cut.
Brian Lucey, Professor of Finance in Trinity College Dublin and author and commentator on financial and banking issues is contributing to the Sunday Symposium at the Ennis Book Club Festival this weekend
He has worked at Trinity since 1992. prior to that he was an economist at the Central Bank of Ireland (1987–1992), and before that an administrative officer in the Department of Health (1985–1992)
Brian is also one of the editors of What If Ireland Defaults? That Ireland might default on her financial debts to Europe and the IMF is an ongoing theme in the media. What If Ireland Defaults?
John spoke with Brian ahead of his visit to Ennis
He also asked Prof Lucey to comment on Minister for Finance Michael Noonan announcement on Tuesday that the bank gaurantee scheme is to end.
As part of a worldwide pilgrimage, a major relic of St John Bosco is visiting Ireland until 7 March
St John Bosco founded a worldwide movement for young people and two religious congregations
In Ireland, the Salesians and the Salesian Sisters (Daughters of Mary Help of Christians) have 27 centres for educating and working with youth
Fr Michael Casey, SDB, Salesian provincial and Labasheeda native joined John to discuss the impact St. John Bosco made and how the visit is part of the preparations for the 200th anniversary in 2015 of Don Bosco’s birth.
In our Morning Focus health slot we speak with Dr Maire Finn from the Ennis Family Medical Centre
Today Dr Finn discussed the chicken pox and shingles
Doctor Maire Finn is from the Ennis Family Medical Centre, and will be joining us again next Friday for more medical advice. You can always send us your thoughts and queries by email focus@clare.fm, but if you have concerns or queries about your own health right now please contact your local GP
Feile na hInse 2013 will run all next week – the youth festival of Irish song, music and culture in Ennis has been promoting singing and creative writing in the Irish language for the past 30 years
Brendain MacFhionnghaile of Feile na hInse explained. Tune in to Morning Focus next week for results daily.
The seventh Ennis Book Club Festival begins today and many accomplished authors, poets, columnists and commentators are appearing at the festival
Ciana Campbell of the organising committee joined John in studio
Dr Patricia Canning of The Reader Organisation, a UK charity dedicated to bringing about a Reading Revolution also joined John for a chat ahead of her workshop Reading for Life is on in Temple Gate this afternoon. See www.thereaderorg.co.uk
To book call Glor Box office on 065 6843103.
If you have a story, comment or query for the Morning Focus team email Focus@clare.fm
