On Wednesday’s Morning Focus John Cooke spoke with former Irish Farmers’ Association President John Dillon, who was jailed yesterday for the non-payment of a €200 fine, was released from Limerick prison tow and a half hours later
Mr Dillon was jailed for failing to pay a court fine for his use of electronic display signs during last year’s General Election.
The courts service has confirmed that the €200 fine and costs of €2,000 have been paid
Mr Dillon had been taken away by Gardai from his farm at Pallasgreen, Co Limerick, just before 11am
After the election, two fines of €100 were imposed on him at Newcastle west District Court for the erection of signs contrary to the planning acts.
There was also an order to pay €2,000 in expenses, for his use of electronic signs during the campaign, which Limerick County Council insisted needed permission.
However, Mr Dillon said he would rather go to jail than pay the money and he described what happened.
A support group for patients says that the scale of sexual abuse in the medical system is as widespread as in the Catholic Church
Dignity 4 Patients is calling for an Urgent inquiry into the abuse of patients
The group says it’s in urgent need of funding – to continue to support the 250 people who are alleged victims of sexual violence in a medical context.
According to Dignity 4 Patients, which was set up to defend and uphold the rights of patients abused by medical professionals, there are currently no effective measures in place to protect patients from sexual abuse by the medical profession
The group says it is in urgent need of funding to continue to support the 250 people who are alleged victims of sexual violence in a medical context
Bernadette Sullivan – Executive Director of Dignity 4 Patients joined John on the line to speak about the group and their appeal.
Green Party Councillor Brian Meaney had made copies of Fiscal Compact available at the reception of Clare County Council and he is urging the electorate to pick one up and read it
The Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union is a readable 11 page document and is also available on the web
Brian Meaney joined John in studio to discuss the advantages and the shortcomings of the document.
Brendain MecFhionnghaile of an Clar as Gaeilge joined John with an update of results from Feile na hInse 2012
The Taoiseach and double the amount of Ministers than last year will travel for St Patrick’s Day celebrations this year
Political reporter with the Irish Examiner Juno McEnroe had the details.
Dr Ollie Moore is an Ennis based sociologist and Associate Researcher Centre for Co-Operative Studies, UCC. He also has a weekly column in the Irish Examiner and does feature writing for the Examiner and the Irish Times. He joined John in studio to mark
Fairtrade Fortnight which has been running since 27 February and will continue until 11 March .
Ollie spent two weeks in India in January, visiting two Fair Trade certified locations: an ex-colonial tea estate (in Tamil Nadu) and mixed organic farms of the Gondi Tribals, specialising in cotton (in Andra Pradesh)
He also attended a 2 day meeting of the Asia-Pacific Fair Trade network, where he met producers, managers, worker representatives and more from various parts of India, Nepal, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Fiji and other countries in the region
He recorded interviews with a range of people, from tea leaf pickers to Co-op managers and Company presidents
He spoke about his experience there and had details of what’s going on in Clare for Fairtrade Fortnight.
We also heard some audio of Ollie’s trip.
See www.fairtrade.ie
Teacher and pupils of St Joseph’s Secondary School, Tulla will take place in a fundraising fashion show taking place in the West County Hotel on Thursday from 7pm
The show is in association with the Celia Holman Lee Agency
All of the funds raised on the night are going towards the building of a new Secondary School in Tulla
Tickets are €20, including a wine reception
There are some great boutiques involved, spot prizes, exhibition stands and special offers on the night
Michele O’Sullivan, Business and RE Teacher at St Joseph’s Secondary School, Tulla urged people to come along and support.
Anne Marie O’Reilly of the Clare Citizens’ Information Service was in studio to answer all your social welfare entitlement, employment and consumer law.
If you have a story for the Morning Focus team email Focus@clare.fm
