On todays Morning Focus with John Cooke – Today is the deadline Irish Water registration – Approximately 100 anti water charges protestors took to the streets of Ennis on Saturday, while a march against Irish Water also took place in Shannon. We heard from those people who told Clare FM's Derrick Lynch why they won't be registering to pay the water charges. John was then joined on the line by Councillor Mike Mc Kee who spoke bout the weekend protests and future action taking place in the coming weeks/months around the water charges.
On Thursday last, January 29th, the Government published the Action Plan for Jobs 2015, the next step in the multi-annual process aimed at delivering full employment by 2018. Regional Enterprise Strategies are to be rolled out shortly across the country – including competitive funding initiatives of up to €25million, aimed at encouraging stakeholders in each region to cooperate to develop projects to support enterprise and job-creation in their area. The Minister for Skills, Research and Innovation Damien English told us about the launch and gave his take on the on-going water charges dispute.
Martin Davoren (from Carron in North Clare) is a UCC Researcher and PhD Candidate who is the author of the UCC cross-sectional class-room based study exploring hazardous alcohol consumption with particular interest in gender differences. The study has revealed how the gender gap is closing revealing that women are drinking as much as men – Martin chatted to John about his findings.
Gavin Grace, Deputy News Editor with Clare FM, joined us in studio to speak about Minister Leo Varadkar's recent first visit to Limerick since he became the Minister for Health. The Minister for Health has moved to rule out two measures which local campaigners had called for in a bid to improve emergency care in the MidWest. We heard from Leo Varadkar as he spoke during the opening of a new Critical Care Block at University Hospital Limerick on Friday last.
On our Garda Focus slot this week, we were joined in studio by Crime Prevention Officer, Sergeant Joe Downey from Ennis Garda Station. Appealing for your help in solving recent local crime.
Clare Tourism held a networking event in Treacy’s West County Hotel last Thursday announcing significant changes to CT Forum and future plans. In addition, a new festival and events guide has been introduced
Clare Tourism are looking for representatives from 5 locations throughout the county: North Clare, South Clare, East Clare, West Clare and Ennis. They will be holding meetings in each of the of these locations in the coming weeks: Thursday Feb 5th Temple Gate Hotel Ennis, Tuesday Feb 10th Stella Maris, Kilkee, Thursday Feb 12th Shannon Golf Club, Tuesday Feb 17th The Piper's Inn, Ogonnelloe and Thursday Feb 19th The Falls Hotel Ennistymon. For more information contact Maureen at mcleary@clarecoco.ie or visit their website clare.ie. Donnagh Gregson Chair of Clare Tourism and Maureen Cleary Marketing Executive for CT joined us in studio to tell us more.
Spina Bifida is a common condition affecting one in every thousand children in Ireland. Ireland has one of the highest incidences of Spina Bifida births in the world and causes incomplete development of the spinal cord. Michelle Daly Hayes with Mid Western Spina Bifida and Hydropcephalus Association told John all about her new role as Development Officer and the support the association has to offer to those affected by Spina Bifida.
Finally in studio, our resident Wildlife Expert, John Murphy from the Clare branch Birdwatch Ireland, focused on red squirrel and hen harriers while answering all your birdwatching and wildlife queries.
focus@clare.fm to contact Morning Focus.
