On today’s edition of The Afternoon Show Máire Moynahan was joined by Dr. Raymond Byrne, Director of Research at the Law Reform Commission. The LRC has recommended an overhaul of mandatory sentencing so that punishment matches the crime committed. A report published today is calling for a Judicial Council to be set up which would be responsible for developing and publishing guidelines on mandatory sentencing. The document outlines that life sentences should be kept in murder cases but that judges be given the power to recommend the minimum term an offender must serve – while minimum sentencing for some drugs and firearms offences, they argue, should be removed.
Pat Griffin is a Senior Inspector with the Health and Safety Authority and joined the show. The Health and Safety Authority is urging employers to be extra vigilant when it comes to taking on young workers for the summer. European figures indicate that young people are at least 50% more likely to be hurt at work than older more experienced workers so it’s vital that employers understand the added risk involved with employing teenagers and young inexperienced workers. For more details please visit www.hsa.ie
Louise Holden is the Education Correspondent with The Irish Times and explained to listeners, yesterday’s discrepancy in both the Leaving Cert Maths and Junior Cert CSPE examination papers. The Examinations Commission says it regrets the confusion caused by mistakes on the two state examination papers. It says question 8 on the Leaving Certificate Maths Higher Level second paper contained an error. Meanwhile, on the junior certificate CSPE exam, the Commission says the information provided in the opening statement of section three, question three regarding the Referendum Commission contained outdated information. The impact of today’s error on candidates’ answering will be taken into account by the Chief Examiner when finalising the marking scheme for both exams.
Molly Muldoon, Deputy Editor of Irish Central in New York also joined the show for a look at some of the major news stories stateside that are having an impact on the Irish Community in the US. Today she discussed the proposed appointment of Samantha Power, a Dublin born Irish immigrant to the office of US Ambassador to the UN and how the Gaelic Players Association are helping raise vital funds for Breezy Point families still reeling from Hurricane Sandy.
Dr. Eoin Devereux is a Senior Sociology Lecturer at University of Limerick and is one of the organisers behind a special symposium taking place tomorrow at the college. Over a century on from Oscar Wilde’s first appearance before a Limerick audience, a UL symposium will commemorate the visit, focusing primarily on Wilde as a public intellectual and cultural critic. The Limerick event has attracted Wilde experts from all over the world. It will feature a wide range of papers on Wilde’s contribution to literature, politics and culture. “The Importance of Being Wilde” takes place at UL on June 12th – tomorrow in the Plassey Building on campus. Registration is from 9 to 10am with lectures continuing until late evening. For more details email wilde@ul.ie
Noel Neenan was also a guest of the show to talk about how he has organised a special raffle to help raise funds for Kilmurry national school’s new extension. He’ll raffle a pedigree calf – which is to be born in August. The raffle takes place in the Pump House bar in Kilmurry on Saturday 15th at 10.30pm. All are encouraged to come along. Tickets to win the calf are available from the bar or else from Kilmurry NS.
To contact the show please email afternoon@clare.fm
