On Friday’s Morning Focus – we were joined by our Friday panel compiled of..
Gabriella Hanrahan
Community Liaison Officer, University of LImerick
John Considine
Former member of Hull City Council, Yorkshire
Diarmuid McMahon
MD Sherry Fitzgerald McMahon
The questions we out to our panel were..
· Has the economic recovery reached County Clare?
· How concerned are you about fake news?
· How does the sound of ‘Prime Minister Boris Johnson’ make you feel?
· Are you watching the Women’s World Cup?
Clare’s Chief Superintendent is leaving the position after less than three months in the role. Chief Superintendent Michael Gubbins is leaving the role he took up in March, but a replacement has already been appointed. That situation is a source of concern for Cllr Alan O’Callaghan who joined Gavin on the show who feels continuity should be key in a range of public services.
Social Justice Ireland is calling for a better future that is economically sound and socially fair. It’s released it’s Budget Choices Policy this week – four months before the Minister for Finance will make any announcements. Colette Bennett from Social Justice Ireland believes the damage done through the economic and budgetary crisis of the last decade is still being felt by the most vulnerable in society.
Under new rules unveiled this week, children of small farmers or business owners will have to take over the family firm for at least 6 years in order to benefit from the fair deal scheme. At the moment, farm families and small firm owners have to pay 7.5 percent of the value of their land annually to help fund a place in a nursing home. An overhaul of the system will see this payment capped at 3 years once a family successor continues to operate the business for a duration of 6 years.
Aisling Meehan who is an Agricultural Solicitor from Newmarket-on-Fergus spoke to Gavin about what this means for small farmers and business’s.
Pat from Lisdoonvarna called to raise concerns about a water mains blockage which was leading to raw sewage flowing into his house and garden.
Weekend events round-up:
1) Galway Irish Country Lifestyle Festival 2019 – Albert Titterington from Great Game fairs of Ireland – The Irish Game & Country Fair has joined up with the Galway Home & Garden Festival to create an exciting new event celebrating the Irish countryside and Irish country living.
Enjoy an action-packed and exciting Game Fair programme of international country sports competitions and displays. **Galway Racecourse, Ballybrit, Co Galway June 15 & 16
2) The Estuary Cycle 2019 – John O’Connell joined Gavin to say that The 2019 Estuary Challenge will now take place tomorrow (Sat, June 15) starting at 10am from the Shannon Gaels GAA Pitch in Labasheeda.
There are a choice of scenic routes – 50km, 100km and 130km. The cycle had been planned for last weekend, but was deferred due to the visit of President Trump. John O’Connell
