Morning Focus – Tuesday 18th June 2019

Photo © Pat Flynn

On Tuesdays Morning Focus, the elimination of non-recyclable plastic, a focus on electric cars, and home retrofits are just some of the key elements on the government’s plan for dealing with climate change which was published today.

Carbon taxes will go up, meaning more expensive coal, briquettes and fuel. And there’s going to be new taxes on single use plastics. By 2030, the government aims to have 70 per cent of electricity coming from renewable sources, almost a million electric cars on the road, and Ireland’s climate targets back on track. Fianna Fail Clare TD Timmy Dooley spoke to Gavin about how these changes will make a difference to our environment. He also gave his thoughts on Thursday’s strike by 10-thousand health workers.

It’s now only two weeks until practice will be well-underway for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open in Lahinch.
Full details have been published of the traffic plan for the event, including a free park and ride. Lahinch and Ennistymon are open as usual throughout the Irish Open. Inspector Paul Slattery from the Clare Garda Division and Simon Alliss, Championship Director of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open joined us on the program.

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A listener Carmel called in to tell us that she has received a sophisticated scam call in which ‘Revenue’ purported to offer her a tax refund of €850.

Money Doctor, John Lowe joined us to give some advice and insight into the impact of the climate change action and how it will financially effect people in the long term. He also spoke about how saving limits are being imposed at credit unions across the country. Negative interest rates on deposits at two of Ireland’s leading banks are being blamed.
At least 36 credit unions around the country have informed members that limits are to be imposed on their savings.
According to The Irish Times, in some cases restrictions are being set on accounts containing as little as €15,000. He also so touched on the subject of roaming charges when travelling the world using your mobile phone.

A motion to formally declare a climate emergency in Clare has been postponed.
Climate change discussions dominated proceedings in Monday’s first full meeting of the new term of Clare County Council, but motions to declare a climate crisis were deferred to allow the Council prepare a new Climate Change Strategy.
The matter will return to the agenda in September, when it’s expected the emergency will be declared. Katie Duson and Kate Harty (both of Colaiste Mhuire in Ennis) addressed the Council on foot of a series of climate action strikes held by students in Ennis, and elsewhere in Clare. They joined Gavin in the studio and shared what they have done to make their schools and lives more economical.


On Easter Sunday, April 21st last, 258 people were killed in suicide bomb attacks on churches in Sri Lanka.
In recent weeks, Tom Byrne from Kilkee visited the site. Based in Bahrain for work, architect Tom and a few friends decided to go to Sri Lanka – unsurprisingly, the value was good in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday terror attack. Tom told us it’s a fantastic island, and they had a great time, but on the final day he felt compelled to go to one of the churches where over 120 people were killed.

Frankie Coote who is the Clare County Dog Warden spoke to use about a number of dogs that have gone missing in recent days and weeks.