Morning Focus – Tuesday 04/09/18

Today’s Morning Focus began with yet another look at the closure of post offices in rural Ireland.

First we heard from Tom O’Callaghan, an Independent Postmaster with the PBFI (Public Banking Forum of Ireland). With an Oireachtas Committee set to discuss the closures today (September 4th) PBFI is pushing for community banking to be introduced to post offices.

Later we heard from Pat Breen on the post office issue but also on trump’s visit to Ireland November.

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Before that though we asked the question could tele-psychiatry be the answer to our country’s mental health crisis? Plans by Minister Jim Daly could see psychiatric consultations delivered by video call to help combat waiting lists. Gavin spoke to John Hillery, President of the College of Psychiatrists Ireland and Fianna Fáil General Election candidate, who believes that tele-psychiatry could be used for doctors to consult psychiatrist but should not be used as a replacement for face-to-face consultations.

Moving into the second hour it was time for the first Financial Advice segment with Tommy Corbett in a while. This time around Tommy’s focus was the new auto-enrollment scheme for pensions. If introduced the scheme would see employers introduce a workplace pension scheme and automatically enroll their employees into the scheme. Employers would then be obligated to contribute a percentage of the employee’s wage to help fund their retirement. The scheme is aimed at middle income earners who have no private pension and the government hopes to see this implemented by 2022.

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Then we spoke to Brid O’Meara the Director of Services for AWARE, a charity working to support those with depression and bipolar disorder. The organisation recently announced the Relatives & Friends Programme will be available to the people of Clare this September. The free programme aims to help friends and family support loved ones with bipolar disorder and depression.

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Then Rev Bob Hanna has officially retired as Church of Ireland rector after spending 24 years in Ennis and previously served in Donegal and North Antrim. Hanna himself stopped by studio for a look back over the years.

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The hour ended with our weekly animal welfare update with Clare County Dog Warden Frankie Coote. Today however one case in particular stood out as local Gardaí and the Clare ISPCA, were joined by ISPCA workers from Cork, Dublin and Tipperary as well as the Department of Agriculture in removing over 100 cats and dogs from a property in West Clare. Frankie described it as the worst case he has seen in 30 years working with animals.

Opening the final hour was the only Clare Rose ever to win the Rose of Tralee. That was when Eileen Slattery was 18 however and now 50 years she has moved from Clarecastle to South Carolina. She recently returned to Tralee as a guest last month to mark the golden anniversary of her achievement.

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Then we heard from Eugene Garrihy, the Director of Cliffs Of Moher Cruises and Doolin2Aran Ferries, and Joe Queally who represented the RNLI fundraiser which the two came to talk about. On September 21st, two cruises are set to leave Doolin in an effort to fundraise for the RNLI.

Finally the show ended with a look into Ennis’ opinions on President Trumps visit to Doonbeg come November.