As things hot up in the race to lead Fine Gael and become Ireland’s new Taoiseach, Gavin counted among his guests on this packed edition of Morning Focus rivals Minister Simon Coveney and Minister Leo Varadkar.
Gavin’s interview with Minister Simon Coveney can be accessed below:
You can listen back to Minister Leo Varadkar’s interview below:
The show opened with revelations on expenses paid to members of Clare County Council.
In total, Clare’s elected representatives were paid over 830 thousand euro last year in salaries and expenses. The total sum included a figure of €12,500 to send 20 local representatives to a conference in Co. Donegal last year. Gavin was joined on the line by councillors James Breen (Ind.), Gerry Flynn (Ind.) and Pat Daly (FF).
The show then turned to the issue of workers being supported as we make the transition to a low carbon economy. It’s particularly relevant to Clare given the presence of the power plant at Moneypoint. Gavin was joined on the line by Joe O’Connor the trade union, IMPACT.
The serious issue of tackling suicide was discussed when Gavin was joined in studio by Clare Garda Chief Superintendent John Kerin and Mary Kennedy, Resource Officer for Suicide Prevention in Clare and North Tipperary. They discussed the recently-launched ‘Connecting for Life’ strategy for the Midwest.
Help and support for anyone affected is available from Pieta House on 061 484 444 and the Samaritans on 116 123. Listen back to the Morning Focus discussion below:
Dr Brendan Dunford then joined Gavin on the line to discuss a major new European award that the Burren Life Project has received.
Joining Gavin in studio next was Nora Kelly who suffers from a condition called Haemochromatosis. This is an overload of iron in the blood and is prevalent in Ireland. Nora told Gavin about an awareness raising event in Clare. Listen back below:
A number of farmers who’ve set themselves the challenge of making 100 bale in every one Irish county are en-route to Labasheeda today. Gavin was joined on the line by Alan Kiernan of the Active Agri Association who are undertaking the 32 County Bale Challenge raising funds for children’s charities.
The show then looked at the forthcoming Novena to St Anthony at the Franciscan Friary in Ennis, from June 5 to 14. Clare FM’s Ben Sweeney spoke to some people in Ennis about their devotion to the hugely popular saint, while Fr Tom Ryan (PP of Shannon) told Gavin about his own relationship with St Anthony and shared some prayers with listeners. Listen back below:
