The Afternoon Show today featured the Friday Panel. Today’s panellists included Patricia Moriarty, UL Arts Officer and based in Mountshannon, Kilkee Businessman and member of Kilkee Search and Rescue Manuel Di Lucia and Bernadette Kenny of Tara Healing Arts, Ennis and CEO of Blue Box in Limerick. Among the topics they discussed was how this has been a historic week for lesbian and gay people in Ireland. The Government decided to hold a referendum on marriage in 2015 and the Taoiseach confirmed his support for marriage and stated that the Coalition Government would campaign for a yes vote in the Referendum. A new Red C poll conducted this week for Paddy Power shows a huge majority – over three quarters of Irish people – (76%) supporting marriage for lesbian and gay couples in a Constitutional referendum. 18% say they are opposed and 6.5% are undecided. Also up for discussion was how the heads of four of Irelands largest hospitals have written to the HSE warning that cuts to hospitals are impacting on patient safety. A report on Primetime stated that the chief executives of Tallaght Hospital, St James’ Hospital, the Mater and Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children say that cuts mean some cancer patients are facing delays in treatment due to overwhelming pressures on services. The hospitals have warned the HSE of the dangers of continuing to operate in such a manner. Finally the panel spoke about Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane and how they have been confirmed as the Republic of Ireland’s new managerial team. The 61-year-old Ulsterman and the 42-year-old former Manchester United and Ireland skipper have signed initial two-year contracts after concluding talks with the Football Association of Ireland. They also tackled the issue of legalising cannabis in light of Roscommon TD Luke "Ming" Flanagan’s proposal to decriminalise cannabis, which was rejected earlier this week.
Aodhán O Deá from Conradh na Gaeilge also joined the show as intensive lobbying by Conradh na Gaeilge could result in road signs being changed to give equal prominence to our two official languages. Road signs display English place names more prominently than those as Gaeilge – but Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has now given his approval to replace these signs over time with a new version designed by the lobby group. The minister and officials met with Conradh na Gaeilge earlier this week, and it unveiled new sign designs, which make place names the same size in Irish and English.
Lisa Lawlor from Clare FM Sport also joined us for a look ahead to tonight’s Sideline View Special ahead of the county club hurling final and the football semi final!
To contact the show please email afternoon@clare.fm
