Gavin Grace spoke with Irish Times Parliamentary Correspondent Michael O’Regan on the Today Show about how Clare’s Labour Party TD’s been thrown out of the Dáil for being out of order. Michael McNamara had tried to raise what he said was the misleading of the Dáil by the Health Minister because he said the "HSE were running rings around him". After being told by the Ceann Comhairle to resume his seat, he didn’t, and he was then formally suspended in a vote by 83 to 36 – with those in the Labour Party voting against him. He’ll now have three days wages deducted as a result.
Rose Kervick of website eumom.ie discussed survey findings that reveal how the recession is having a major impact on the size of Irish families. The results show that more than one third of mothers or expecting mothers (39%) say they will have no more children due to the worsening economic situation. The research also shows that 36% of Irish mothers have borrowed from families or friends in the last six months, while 25% are depending more heavily on credit cards. 7% admit to having borrowed from a money lender.
Former Australian Rugby Player Omar Hassanein talked to The Today Show about depression in sport. Omar is also the Chief Executive of the Rugby Union Players’ Association. According to research conducted by the Lean on Me campaign, recent media coverage of high profile sports stars coming forward and sharing their experiences of depression has had a significant impact on attitudes towards the illness in Ireland. 63% of participants in the survey said that media coverage of high profile sports stars experiencing depression made them more sympathetic towards issues of mental health and depression. Three quarters (76%) said the coverage has heightened their awareness of the issues of mental health and depression.
Clare FM’s resident Film Reviewer Stephen McDermott was in studio for our weekly cinema feature. This week Stephen had an opportunity to talk to Oscar winning Film Historian Kevin Brownlow. The Bafta, Emmy and Oscar winner comes to Limerick on Saturday to give a public talk. The Friends of the Hunt Museum have organised the event, to be held in the Strand Hotel, Limerick on the afternoon of February 18th which aims to highlight the world of silent movies.
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