The threat to the survival of rural shops was discussed on Wednesday’s Morning Focus
John Cooke began by speaking with John Crowe, Sixmilebridge Councillor and Shop-owner who expressed his concern at the amount of small shops that are closing
In a rural community the local shop can supply a great deal of employment
He has thirty staff members from his local community- generations of the same family have worked there
The Crowe’s have been in business for 126 years – the 4th generation has just started as John’s daughters have just joined him in the business
He said that small business needs more support from social protection department in the event of going out of business
He also believes that if big chain stores express an interest in opening in a small town or village there should be levies imposed on them for same
Paul Williams, Secretary of Kilkee Chamber of Commerce and a local shop-owner agreed with John Crowe- he said he knows of four shops in West Clare alone that have closed this year and it’s time to protect the local shop – it’s sustainable to have a locally owned shop as there are roots in the community.
Independent Deputy Roisin Shortall is coming to Ennis this weekend for the Ennis Book Club Festival where she will be a panellist on the Sunday Symposium- ‘Power and Corruption’
Deputy Shortall resigned from the Parliamentary Labour Party in September 2012
She stepped down as the Minister of State for Primary Care accusing Health Minister James Reilly of stroke politics with regard to locations for primary health care centres- Deputy Shortall spoke with John ahead of her appearance in Ennis.
There’s been angry reaction to the government’s decision to cut mobility payments to people with disabilities
The Department of Health last night confirmed that it was axing the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant with immediate effect
It follows a report from the Ombudsman which found the government was in breach of equality legislation because eligibility for the schemes discriminated against the over 65s
Tom King, Vice Chairperson of the Centre for Independent Living and a board member of the Disabled People of Clare gave his reaction.
Fergus Finlay – Chief Executive of Barnardos- has called on the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to appeal the suspended four year jail term given to a mother who neglected her seven children over a nine year period
On Monday at Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Carroll Moran imposed the suspended sentence for seven years on the 38-year old woman whose eldest daughter described her in court as “cruel and evil
Barnardos says they ask the DPP to consider appealing the sentence on grounds of undue leniency and that cases of neglect must be seen as having a profound negative impact on children throughout their lives, similar to other types of abuse
Fergus Finlay spoke with John.
One in nine people are subject to epilepsy in Ireland
One is 200 will have a tendency to have recurring seizures
In recent times there are a number of concerns among those of experience these conditions
People who experience this condition and or family members of people who do are encouraged to attend an information meeting on Thursday at 7pm in building of Emotions in Clonroad Business Park, Ennis
Also they can give their opinion on the issues that concern them as organisers Brian Geraghty of The Epilepsy Care Foundation and Anna Kelly of Epilepsy Ireland (Midwest) explained
Contact Anna Kelly at 061 313 773 or email akelly@epilepsy.ie
Anne Marie O’Reilly of the Clare Citizens’ Information Service was in studio to answer listeners’ queries.
If you have a story, comment or query for the Morning Focus team email Focus@clare.fm
