On Wednesday’s Morning Focus John Cooke was joined in studio by Clare Labour TD Michael McNamara who has called for a moratorium to be introduced nationally
The Minister for Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte, has come under pressure from his fellow Labour Party TD to halt the controversial practice of fracking until further reports on the safety of the system are conducted.
Brian Meaney, Green Party Councillor in Ennis, also joined the discussion after Clare County Council members voted unanimously to amend the County Development Plan to call a halt to all intrusive shale gas extraction related activity in Clare on Monday night
The move has been welcomed by Anti Fracking Campaigner who say it’s the first step in preventing the process from being implemented in Ireland
Concerns have been expressed that the town of Ennis could get a bad name regarding racism, as a result of publicity surrounding the violent assault of a Nigerian taxi Driver
It follows the comments of Batholmew Omoifo last week after a 26 year old Ennis man was jailed for violently assaulting him when asked to pay a 15 euro fare
The Ennis based Taxi driver said he’s subjected to racist abuse from customers on a daily basis in Clare, particularly since the recession, though he told Clare FM that most of his customers were friendly and polite to deal with
The issue was raised at Ennis Town Council last evening, where the town Mayor accused the media of blowing the assault out of proportion, but Councillor Brian Meaney called on the council to condemn the attack to ensure the town doesn’t get a bad reputation
The leading mental health campaigner John McCarthy (61) passed away at his home in Cork city yesterday morning
Mr McCarthy set up Mad Pride in 2008 to campaign against the stigmatisation of mental illness as well as fight for the rights of those diagnosed with such illnesses
He was also a Motor neuron disease suffer
Speaking on Clare FM’s Morning Focus last June – during a debate on whether cannabis should be legalised – particularly for medicinal purposes – on that show John was speaking to Niamh O’Brien of the legalise Cannabis Group in Clare and Emergency medicine consultant Dr Chris Luke – when John McCarthy joined the debate giving listeners a remarkable insight into his experience of motor neurone disease
The Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association is the primary support organisation in Ireland providing care for people with Motor Neurone Disease, their families, friends and carers
Tel No: 01 873 0422 – Freefone: 1800 403 403 – www.imnda.ie
The IT sector is showing an increased demand for workers but it is bucking a trend of declining job advertisements
Irishjobs.ie says there has been a drop in the number of positions being advertised on their website in the last quarter
Construction, architecture and property were among the worst performers
Positions in the technology sector accounted for around 20 percent of all the jobs advertised on the site with most other sectors demonstrating decline
Dr Stephen Kinsella, an Economist at the University of Limerick and author of the Irish Jobs.ie report explained the findings.
A Farm Safety Seminar is being organized by IOSH Ireland in the Greenhills Hotel, Limerick next Wednesday
Registration is necessary but it is a free event
It was in September last that the IOSH committee saw the need to hold such an event but coincidently the Health and Safety Authority for 2012 have launched a media campaign highlighting the fact that deaths on farms accounted for the most industrial deaths in 2011 and that Safety on Farms needs to be upgraded and highlighted
By tradition farms are also family homes so the idea of a Farm being an industrial mechanized industrial area needs to be recognized
Geraldine Gregan of the Institution of Occupational Safety & Health spoke with John.
For more information on this seminar contact Geraldine 087 207 4328 or Christine Madden on 087 745 5092 or email gergergan@gmail.com
Sr Margaret of Kilrush Community School spoke with John from Dublin for the annual BT young scientist exhibition that kicks off in Dublin today
Dearbhla Edwards Murphy, a third year student and entrant in the Young Scientist Exhibition in the Social and Behavioural Sciences spoke about her project: The Silent Killer – Carbon Monoxide – How aware are we?
Paul Wolfe of the Clare Citizens’ Information Service answered your household charge queries.
See www.householdcharge.ie
Contact the Morning Focus team by emailing Focus@clare.fm
