On today’s Morning Focus, John Cooke spoke with Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform
Brendan Howlin. They discussed The Labour party’s 3 years in power since last weekend. Labour says they have “faced some tough decisions, but we can now, perhaps for the first time, look forward with some sense of optimism.” Eamon Gilmore said “As a coalition government, we have sought to reflect the determination, and decency, of the Irish people in the decisions that we have taken. Decisions that have taken us from a crisis that destroyed a quarter of a million jobs, to a recovery that is seeing, on average, 5,000 new jobs being created every month,” Also yesterday (Wednesday) it was announced the unemployment rate's fallen below 12%. The CSO says the jobless rate at the end of February was 11.9% as a further 2 and a half thousand people signed off the live register. The number of people signing on at the end of last month was below 400 thousand for the first time since May 2009.
Sean O’Neill is the Head of Communications at the National Roads Authority and joined the show to let listeners know that the motorway between Barefield and Crusheen is to close for repairs next week following concerns over public safety. The National Roads Authority has announced drainage assessment and improvement will be carried out – starting from Monday morning with the route to remain closed until Friday. The decision follows calls for urgent safety assessment works to be carried out from members of Clare County Council, and concerns expressed by Clare Gardai that you heard about on this programme in recent weeks and in particular – last Tuesday
Mary McMahon is a Smoking Cessation expert with the Clare HSE. Wednesday 5th March, was National No Smoking Day, and the HSE is urging the thousands of smokers who will try to quit smoking this week to use the range of free support services that can double their chances of succeeding. The HSE's QUITline Service is moving to a new Freephone number 1800 201 203 from today and there are a range of other supports available on www.quit.ie. Locally you can access information and advice from Clare Health Promotion on 065 6856841.
Dr. Allan Mee, the Project Manager at the Irish White-tailed Sea Eagle Reintroduction Programme with the Golden Eagle Trust was also a guest of the show as a white-tailed eagle, which had been hatched on an island on Lough Derg last summer, has been found shot dead in Co. Tipperary. The bird was one of the first of its kind to be bred in Ireland in over 110 years. The Department of Arts and Heritage said the eagle was shot down with up to 50 shotgun pellets, but survived for a number of weeks before starving to death. Minister Jimmy Deenihan said the incident was a 'shocking crime' and is appealing to anyone with information to come forward. John was also joined by Eoin O’Hagan of clarevirtually.ie in Mountshannon to hear the reaction of locals to the sad news.
Paul Moroney, Senior Engineer at Clare County Council also discussed how the local authority has commissioned an external independent investigation into the dumping of asbestos in West Clare. Hazardous material has been discovered at nine separate sites, six near Kilkee and three in the vicinity of Kilrush. The Council believes the material originated from Council water mains works carried out over a number of years up to June. A specialist consultant has been hired to advise on the removal of the toxic waste, and the Health and Safety Authority has been notified.
Elaine Dalton from the Clare Women’s Network talked about International Women’s day, which takes place on Saturday March 8th. On Friday 7th March women will gather at a social event to mark International Women’s Day from 12 to 2.30pm at Ennis CDP building, Clonroad Business Park organized by Clare Women’s Network and Clare Immigrant Support Centre. There is a public discussion “Human Price Tag” on prostitution and trafficking with input from campaigner Mia De Faoite and transition year students from Colaiste Mhuire in Templegate Hotel at 19.30 – organised by Clare Women’s Network and the students. Check out https://www.facebook.com/groups/clarewomensnetwork/ for more details.
Paddy Waldron, Chairman of Clare Roots Society and Keir McNamara from the Clare Peace Park Initiative were also in studio as this year marks the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War. More than 4000 Clare people served during the First World War. The Clare Roots Society has prepared a booklet to remember those who lost their lives during the war. The official launch is in conjunction with Ennis Book Festival on Saturday.
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