Morning Focus – Thursday 11/05/17

Morning Focus opened by hearing of concerns that staffless library services – being considered for Ennis Library – could lead to child protection issues.

Gavin was joined on the line by Seamus Ryan, an IMPACT representative with Clare County Library.

The show then heard from Padraic Fogarty, campaigns officer with the Irish Wildlife Trust (IWT) and author of ‘Whittled Away – Ireland’s Vanishing Nature’, about the impact of forest and gorse fires.

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A new Bill that would restrict children’s access to the internet was then the topic of discussion when Gavin spoke with Dep Jim Daly an FG TD for Cork South West. Dep Daly, a father-of-six and former school principal believes there should be far more stringent requirements of parents and phone shops in terms of controlling online access.

New figures show that the economic recovery is still not reaching all areas of the country. Gavin discussed the latest Employment Monitor with Eamon Murphy, Economic and Social Analyst, Social Justice Ireland.

Gavin’s next guest discussed plans to revamp the teaching of History at Junior Cert Level. Janet Woods from Ennis is a teacher with Villiers School in Limerick and passionate about the teaching of the subject. Listen back below:

Bishop of Killaloe, Fintan Monahan, was the show’s next guest in studio. He joined Gavin for a chat about a number of topical issues, including recent calls for the separation of Church and State. Listen back below:

Sticking with the natural world, Gavin’s next guests discussed a new biodiversity plan for Ennis. Gavin was joined in studio by Cormac McCarthy, Biodiversity Plan Coordinator and Michael Guerin, who coordinates the Gordon Drive community garden scheme in Cloughleigh, Ennis. Listen back below:

Gavin’s next guest was Grattan Healy, a man who drove his Tesla electric car from Galway to Morocco and all for a cost of €41. Listen back below:

There was a history-making win for Clare minor footballers last night (Weds.) who overcame Limerick to make it through to their first Munster Minor Football Final since 1994. Gavin was joined in studio to talk about the significance of the win by Derrick Lynch. Listen back below: