MORNING FOCUS WEDNESDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER
Around ten percent of the country's GPs are taking to the streets this afternoon.Up to 350 doctors will protest outside the Dail, highlighting their concerns at continuing cutbacks.Many report that their practices are becoming unviable. President of the NAGP, Scariff GP Dr Conor McGee spoke to John ahead of today’s protests
Brid got in touch with the show in relation to the recent death of her husband John. John wanted to be buried in Ballyea as he was born and reared there. Brid was told that John wouldn’t be permitted to be buried there because he had moved six miles up the road thirty years previously and was now officially in Ennis parish. This has upset Brid and her family as they have huge connections with Ballyea, having being married there and all their children were baptised there. .Brid shared her story for John.
With more than 125 people in County Clare dying from lung diseases in 20121, members of the public are being urged to protect their lung health by adopting a healthy lifestyle and by being aware that symptom of persistent cough or shortness of breath are not normal and should be checked out by a doctor. The appeal was made by the Irish Lung Health Alliance, a coalition of 16 leading Irish charities which has come together to focus public attention on the issue with the holding of Ireland's first-ever National Lung Health Awareness Week, supported through a grant from GSK, from September 22 to 29.Dr Aidan O’Brien, Consultant Respiratory Physician with University Hospital Limerick
Pope Francis has ordered a review designed to simplify the Church’s procedures for annulments, the Vatican said, a move that could make it easier for Catholics to end marriages. A statement said Francis had appointed an 11-member commission of canon lawyers and theologians to propose reform of the process, “seeking to simplify and streamline it while safeguarding the principle of the indissolubility of marriage”.Cathal Barry Journalist with The Irish Catholic spoke to us about the issue.
Gardai and council officials in Galway are being urged to take decisive action to remove encampments from the Gort to Ennis Road. Fianna Fail Cllr Gerry Finnerty raised the matter at this month’s meeting of Loughrea District.He said farmers and residents local access roads are being used without consent and raised fears that someone will take the law into their own hands if the matter is not addressed. He added that the problem has been reported in areas from Beagh into Gort for up to three years now since the new road was built.Cllr Finnerty says people’s lives are being turned upside down. Cllr Finnerty joined us to discuss the controversial topic.
Are you ready for winter? How do we eliminate fuel poverty? Significant progress has been made in recent years but the number of people in fuel poverty remains stubbornly high and could increase significantly as Europe’s population ages and austerity policies continue to bite across Europe.Charles Roarty, CEO of Energy Action, the warm charity, speaking about the recent figures which showed the households in receipt of fuel allowance had increased, said "As winter approaches, this time of year cause worry for many individuals and families. The number of households receiving fuel allowances continues to increase. There were 412,000 households in 2013/14 up from 400,000 in the previous year"Consultant with energy action Ireland Brian McSherry spoke to John about ongoing problems of fuel poverty
Finally as always on a Wednesday John Underhill of Burren Vets was in studio to answer listeners' livestock and pet queries.
