Morning Focus opened with the Rent Cap Row. A deal's been reached over the government's plans for rent caps – which will see the 4% limit for rent increases remain in place. However the scheme will also be extended to Galway, Limerick and Waterford under a compromise deal reached with Fianna Fáil. The Dáil debate on the measures was postponed for almost five hours yesterday while the agreement was reached. Gavin was joined on the line by Jackie Bonfield, from Midwest Simon.
Morning Focus opened with the Rent Cap Row. A deal's been reached over the government's plans for rent caps – which will see the 4% limit for rent increases remain in place. However the scheme will also be extended to Galway, Limerick and Waterford under a compromise deal reached with Fianna Fáil. The Dáil debate on the measures was postponed for almost five hours yesterday while the agreement was reached. Gavin was joined on the line by Jackie Bonfield, from Midwest Simon.
Talk then turned to the HSE 2017 Plan. The Executive's announced its service plan which will see just 81 million euro extra for expanding or developing new services in 2017. That's despite the biggest health budget in the history of the state of just under 14 billion euro. Dr Michael Kelleher from the IMO joined Gavin on the line.
Under its plan for 2017, the Health Service Executive is planning for nearly 24,500 fewer medical cards and more than 50,000 more GP cards next year. Age Action, Ireland’s leading advocacy organisation for older people, described the situation as very disappointing, saying it ignores the crisis in home care supports. Gavin was also joined on the line by Justin Moran of Age Action Ireland.
Gavin’s next guest works with one of Ireland's leading multinationals in promoting science in primary schools. Sarah Sexton is the coordinator of Intel Mini Scientist Programme an initiative which will see six schools from this region to forward to the national competition at the Helix in Dublin next February. The first phase of the program involves students participating at exhibitions in their own schools which are visited by Intel employees who judge the first round of exhibitions and select from each school a winning project to go forward to a regional final. The Shannon regional final was held on Tuesday December 6 with more than 80 students representing 22 schools from Clare, Limerick, Cork, Galway, Offaly and Kerry in attendance. The 6 winning projects from the Shannon Regional Final event will now go forward and participate in the National Mini Scientist Final taking place in the Helix at Dublin City University on February 3, 2017:
- St Johns National School Cratloe, Co. Clare – Badger Victim or Villain
- Knockaneen National School, Co. Clare – Bats
- Scoil Chriost ri, Cloughleigh, Co. Clare – Does Viscosity of Liquid matter for a liquid xylophone
- Oxmantown school, Birr, Co. Offaly – Water Evaporation
- Bridgetown National School, Co. Clare – The secret life of Crows
- Finnachtas National School, Co. Clare – Is a dog able to predict an Epileptic Seizure
Sarah Sexton, Coordinator of Intel Mini Science Programme, joined Gavin on the line.
The Dáil has debated a new Bill which aims to get more Irish music on the radio. Labour's Willie Penrose is seeking a quota of 40% airtime for Irish music, saying it's a support the industry needs. Singer-songwriter Phil Coulter has spoken in favour of the measure, and he joined Gavin on the line.
The family of Anthony Foley will dedicate the final weekend of #8masses4no8 campaign to deceased loved ones remembered by the tens of thousands who supported the social media campaign. The campaign started by Anthony’s son Tony will reach its eighth and final weekend on Sunday next, December 18th when the Foley family will travel, at the invitation of P.P., Rector, Knock Shrine Fr Richard Gibbons, for a special Mass of remembrance at 12 noon in the Basilica. And the family said today that they will be dedicating the Mass to all the deceased who were remembered over the past eight weeks with Anthony. All are welcome. Gavin spoke with Fr Richard Gibbons, PP & Rector of Knock Shrine.
Following this we had our weekly Arts Round-up with Siobhán Mulcahy, Clare County Arts Officer.
After that was our round-up of weekend events:
- Corofin Christmas Market Make your way down to the Mega Christmas Market at Corofin Hall tonight from 5pm to 10pm. There’s something for everybody with over 50 stalls of great variety. All are welcome to help raise funds for the Corofin Hall. Gerard Kennedy joined Gavin on the line.
- Ennistymon Courthouse Gallery first ever Christmas Craft Market **The Courthouse Gallery & is delighted to announce the launch of a new annual Christmas Night (and Day) Craft Market, the area’s first Christmas art gallery night-time market. The Courthouse Gallery will be welcoming visitors to its beautiful Georgian building on the night of Friday 16th December (5-10pm) and on Saturday 17th December (12-4pm). Local crafts people from knitters, to ceramicists, beauty product makers, wood turners and jewellers will be setting up shop against the beautiful background of the Gallery’s annual Trasna open submission exhibition, featuring over 200 original art works by artists from near and far. Anne Mullee, Curator Ennistymon Courthouse Gallery, joined Gavin on the line.
Next on Morning Focus was our Friday Panel. Guests this week were Gearóid Howard, from Crimmins Howard Solicitors Shannon, Bernadette Kenny, CEO of Blue Box Charity, and Martin Waldron, Burren Escapes & Burren Ecotourism Network. Topics discussed this week were Row over Rent Controls, Gender Quotas for Sports Boards, ‘Have you felt the Recovery?’ and Your Favourite Christmas Songs.
To finish the show we had Helen Houlihan, a local soprano singer. Now we have a very special concert coming up this Wednesday December 21 here in Ennis in St Columba’s Church. The Magic of Christmas is set to be a wonderful night filled with music and also very importantly, with seasonal refreshments included.
