On Wednesday's Edition of Morning Focus with John Cooke
Children's Minister James Reilly brought the legislation to introduce plain packaging for cigarettes before the Dail yesterday afternoon. It was voted upon almost immediately and the Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Bill 2014 was then passed to the President to sign into law. Ireland is the first country in Europe to pass plain packaging laws.
Head of advocacy with the Irish Cancer Society Kathleen O'Meara says research shows it will have a significant impact on reducing smoking while John Mallon Forest Eireann Spokesperson (the voice of the smoker) believes this legislation will have no impact and could end up costing the government a lot of money due to the tobacco companies taking legal action against this new law; both spoke to John on the issue.
Are you a victim of Junk Mail? Clare Householders are urged to say no to Junk Mail!
‘No Junk Mail' stickers are being made available to householders across Clare in a bid to reduce the amount of waste generated locally by unsolicited mail dropped through letterboxes.
The Southern Waste Regional Office, supported by the Environment Section of Clare County Council, has developed the initiative as part of its 'Do One More Thing Campaign' to encourage resource efficiency and waste prevention. Pauline McDonagh Regional Waste Prevention Co-ordinator of Southern Region Waste Management Office outlined the initiative.
The Minister for Justice outlined the proposed roadmap for the Domestic Violence Bill – Clare Senator Tony Mulcahy contributed to the report last October of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality on Domestic and Sexual Violence. The Government is committed to introduce consolidated and reformed to address all aspects of domestic violence, threatened violence and intimidation, in a way that provides protection to victims. Minister Fitzgerald intends to bring proposals to Government for approval to sign the Convention this year. Senator Tony Mulcahy gave Morning Focus an update on the Bill.
The renaming of a stretch of road in Ennis is to go ahead despite opposition from five former politicians. Members of the Ennis Municipal District have backed plans to change Friars Walk between Station Road and Glor to Bothar Na Trocaire in honour of the contribution made by the Sisters of Mercy , while the short stretch from Clon Road to the Temple Gate Car Park will be named in honour of the Friars. A letter written by former members of Ennis Town Council objected to the move, suggesting the decisions of the previous local authority should be upheld by the present committee. But current Ennis Councillors rejected this and backed the plan put forward by Clarecastle's Paul Murphy. Michael Gilfoyle Former Member Ennis Town Council told John that he does not believe issues to do with the town should be addressed by Councillors from outside of the town and Johnny Flynn Mayor of Ennis also offered his opinion on the name change.
Following the above debate on the renaming of part of Friars walk to Bother na Trocaire in honour of the Sister of Mercy, Sr. Magaline Walsh of the Sisters of Mercy in Ennis called the show to outline that the part of the road was renamed because the Sisters own that land and therefore requested that it is named to correspond with the ownership.
Author and Former lecturer of Irish and Immigrant Literature Denis Sampson spoke to John ahead of his return to his home County this weekend to take part in Ennis Bookclub Festival. Denis's Memoir “A Migrant Heart” document his lifes' journey from Whitegate, East Clare to Montreal, Canada.
Denis will appear at Ennis Book Club Festival on Saturday Morning in the Temple Gate Hotel 10-11AM admission €10
John Underhill of Burren Vets joined us in studio to outline some serious conditions that often affect calfs and young cattle. John also answered some of your pet queries.
If you have a comment or query for Morning Focus, email: focus@clare.fm
