Morning Focus – Wednesday 09/10/19

Today’s Morning Focus was jam-packed as we discussed the reactions to the 2020 Budget.

Dep Pat Breen, FG Minister of State for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection and Dep Timmy Dooley, FF TD for Clare joined Gavin on air following yesterday’s Budget for a discussion of some of the issues the Budget has raised.

Many topics were up for discussion including that clarity is certainly needed over the inclusion of communities in Clare in the ‘Just Transition’ fund to support those whose jobs are at risk because of climate change measures. The Budget includes a €31 million fund, but this appears to be exclusively targetted at Bord na Móna workers in the Midlands.

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Also, Yesterday (Tue, Oct 8) as part of Budget 2020, Pascal Donohoe announced a 1.2 billion euro budget package to prepare for a no-deal Brexit. The other major talking points were carbon tax increases and a large jump in the health budget. However, there won’t be large tax cuts or welfare increases.

If you missed the discussion you can listen back below:

Next, Willie Hanrahan, Clare IFA Chair joined Gavin on air to discuss the new agri-environmental schemes set to pilot in 2020 with an aim of reducing emissions. Also Eugene Drennan of Spa Transport, Lisdoonvarna joined the discussion as the Budget brought an increase of 2 cent to a litre of petrol or diesel. That represents an increase of about €36 per year in fuel costs for the average motorist and has been met with anger from those in the haulage sector.

You can listen back below:

Next on the show reacting to the climate action measures in Budget 2020, Cllr Roisín Garvey, Green Party member of Ennistymon LEA, Clare Co Co joined us on air as she believes the Budget gives very little in terms of environmental protection measures.

You can listen back below:

Next Morning Focus, we took a slight break from the Budget discussion and heard from Clare FM’s Emerald Kenny as she had been out and about at Lidl in Ennis with, Cornelia Wahli, who is an advocate of plastic-free shopping. Their aim was to spend €10 and leave as much plastic as possible behind before leaving the supermarket.

To hear how they got on, listen back below:

Colin Stafford Johnson, who you’ll know from his RTÉ series ‘Living the Wildlife’ – is an Emmy award-winning cinematographer who has been walking, exploring and filming wildlife along Ireland’s wild Atlantic coast over the last 15 years. He joined Gavin on air to talk about how he’s now bringing his series ‘My Wild Atlantic Journey’ to glór Ennis (Monday night next, Oct 14).

You can listen back on the interview below:

Next, John Underhill of Burren Vets joined Gavin in studio for this weeks Ask the Vet Segment.

You can listen back below:

Lastly, to wrap up today’s show and our Budget 2020 discussions, Fergal Cahill, Managing Director and founder of Cahill Taxation Services, Ennis joined Gavin in studio to provide a breakdown of the 2020 Budget for tax-payers.

If you missed it, you can listen back below: