The Environment Minister is defending the value of the deal to dispose the controversial electronic voting machines
The 7-thousand-500 devices are being sold to a County Offaly company – for scrapping and recycling – for just over 70-thousand euro
The purchase and storage of the e-voting system – which was never used – has cost taxpayers almost 55 million euro
On Friday’s Morning Focus with John Cooke we heard what Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan told reporters yesterday.
Roche Ireland Managing Director Sven Hauptman joined John Cooke in studio to discuss this week’s good news for the Clarecastle plant
Mr Hauptman met staff at the Clarecastle plant yesterday about the company future plans at the facility
There was huge relief for workers, local residents and surrounding business this week when the pharmaceutical giant announced it was retaining the Clare manufacturing site and its near 400 strong workforce
It follows a global review of operations, which will result in the closure of a plant in the US as well as the loss of around 1000 jobs
Jim Higgins MEP welcomed the publication by Minister for Justice Alan Shatter of the report on the "Cash for Gold" trade
There are 124 ‘cash for gold’ business operating in Ireland – on top of a flourishing online and postal ‘cash for gold’ industry- and this is too large of an area not to regulate
The Inclusive Research Group from Brothers of Charity Services are part of an trans-European Best Practise exchange called the Journey Towards Belonging with representatives of learning disability services from Germany, France, Austria, Slovenia, Finland and Ireland
Rob Hopkins, Research communications officer with the Brothers of Charity, Clare and
Ger Minogue of the Clare Inclusive Research group joined John in studio to discuss their recent trip to Helsinki where Ger addressed the recent conference in Helsinki about his move to his recent move to his own shared apartment from a community house in Ennis
An interesting contrast of services and a chance to see other values in our European community beyond the financial crisis
Also they wish to publicise the Full Moon Cabaret this Monday – it’s a fund raising event at the Sweeney Culturann Theatre Kilkee in aid of West Clare Mental Health Association and the Brothers Community and Research work. It takes place at 8pm and more details are available from the library.
This Sunday the Auburn Lodge, Ennis will host an Open Fair
The Open Fair is a national movement of free, community-based talent expos taking place all over the country – over 60 signed up to participate
They are hoping for a really good crowd – it is a free event – as organiser Jim Connolly explained
For more information or to book a space please visit: www.openfair.ie
This is the first of Morning Focus Walking Features taking a look at different routes around the county
Maire Moynihan met Ruairi Deane of the Shannon Development Shannon Region Trails Programme and Chairperson Clare Trails Steering Group for a description of 4km Lissycasey Cascades looped walk; Failte Ireland and Shannon Development funding and involvement in trail development and promotion in Clare, 2012 plans for new trails and trail related events
Next week we’ll hear from Carol Gleeson, Burren Connect Project with a description of 9km Carran looped walk and she will give an update on development of Burren Geopark Trails in 13 locations in North Clare due to be completed by the end of next year
Kilfenora Village re-lives some magical days this weekend with a festival celebrating the iconic TV series Fr Ted, which was filmed in the village and the surrounding areas of North Clare in the 1990s
John Morgan- organiser of the Fr Ted Festival had a word from Kilfenora – Contact Vaughan’s Pub on 065 7088004 for more information
A series of sports and recreational events will take place at 19 separate locations throughout County Clare this coming Sunday as part of Clare Get Active Day 2012
The Day is an initiative of the Clare Sports Partnership, Clare County Council and the County Development Board, and is aimed at getting communities to become more active and use their natural environment
Catherine O’Hara of the Community & Tourism Section in Clare County Council explained
This week Morning Focus had a prize of two nights B & B for two people at the Annebrook House Hotel, Mullingar courtesy of the Mallow Home and Garden Festival which takes place at Cork Racecourse, Mallow this Friday, Saturday and Sunday to give away – Kathleen Cullinan in Ennistymon was the lucky winner!
If you have a story, comment or query for the Morning Focus team email [email protected]
