The President of the Irish Farmers Association, John Bryan was live in studio this morning to discuss the role of agriculture and talked about its future.  Mr. Bryan was in Ennis to attend the IFA AGM which took place last night. Mr. Bryan spoke about CAP reform; which he says could have "a devastating effect on Irish agriculture" because proposed changes to the Single Farm Payment could result in farmers losing up to 50% of EU income.

On today’s Morning Focus Clare Fine Gael TD Pat Breen discussed how Clare has escaped the major public nursing homes cull announced under the HSE's service plan. Fears had been expressed that bed numbers and services at Raheen in Tuamgraney, Regina House in Kilrush, Ennistymon Community Hospital and Saint Joseph's in  Ennis would all be hit as part of budgetary cutbacks. However Pat Breen has told Clare FM that the Health Minister has confirmed there will be no long-term bed or facility closures here.

On Wednesday's Morning Focus John Cooke spoke with Mary Noonan, Principal of Dromindoora National School in Caher 
Rural schools are calling on the government to Save Our Small Schools (S0SS) this means all 2, 3 and  4 teacher schools nationwide

An emergency meeting of the Western Inter-County Rail committee was held last Friday in Claremorris in response to recent reporting on the Western Rail Corridor
There have been complaints that the coverage failed to report what they describe as the underselling of the service (for example not being possible to purchase ticket online) and that fares are higher on WRC than for comparable journeys elsewhere

Clare County Council has wished Derry success with hosting of the fleadh next year after Ennis missed out on hosting the world famous event
Derry was a late confirmation on the shortlist after the Ulster Council withdrew its support following two bomb explosions in the city last week but on Saturday was granted the honour of hosting the festival next year.
It'll be the first time in 60 years that the Fleadh will go north of the border.

The Minister for Transport ia in the Limerick and Shannon areas today, he's been addressing a business breakfast gathering of members of Limerick Chamber of Commerce at the Radisson Hotel on the Ennis Road
'Securing the Future of Shannon Airport' is the topic for discussion, and earlier I spoke to Minister Leo Varadkar on this pressing subject for the mid-west.

Yesterday Morning Focus received an unprecedented reaction to local consultant Obstetrician at the Midwestern Regional Maternity Hospital in Limerick Doctor Gerry Burke's concerns that the HSE has no plans to deal with 47 midwives leaving the hospital in February - He said that lives of women and babies could be lost
The maternity hospital provides care to over 6-thousand women and about 5-thousand-200 newborn infants in the mid-west - including Clare - every year

On Wednesday's Morning Focus Consultant Obstetrician at the Midwestern Regional Maternity Hospital in Limerick Doctor Gerry Burke spoke with John Cooke about the frightening staffing situation at the hospital with the upcoming retirement of midwives next month
The senior doctor at the Mid-Western Maternity Hospital in Limerick has said the HSE has no plans to deal with 47 midwives leaving the hospital in February - and that mothers and babies may die because of this

On Tuesday's Morning Focus John Cooke was joined on the line by Bunratty based Eoin Gavin is President of the Irish Road Hauliers' Association
The IRHA say that €300 million a year is being lost to the exchequer from laundered fuel – Deloitte undertook research for them to indicate this and is calling for the department of finance to take action
Road tax went up €250 a truck in December’s budget -and Eoin says hauliers are finding it increasing difficult to do business in Ireland

The issue of emigration was up for discussion on Monday's Morning Focus and John Cooke was joined by Gerry Johnson and Tom Downes from Kilmihil