On todays Morning Focus with Gavin Grace
GPs are calling for greater access to diagnostic facilities, which should further alleviate pressure on Emergency Departments. They say this would prevent them having to refer patients to hospitals for certain tests. The National Association of General Practitioners wants improved financial incentives to encourage GPs to provide more acute services. It would like to see the roll out of chronic disease management programmes and incentives for family doctors to deliver them. The NAGP also wants regular dialogue between EDs and local GPs. Conor McGee, President of the National Assoc of GPs joined Gavin.
Michael McNamara, the Clare Labour TD has re-joined the Labour Parliamentary party. The Scarriff-based TD lost the party whip in May after voting against the sale of the state's stake in Aer Lingus. Labour Party Chief Whip, Emmett Stagg has today confirmed that Deputy McNamara has been re-admitted to the parliamentary party and that TDs and Senators will be informed of the development at the party's next meeting.
Have you ever heard of ‘Pink Tax’? Irish Independent feature writer Gabrielle Monaghan spoke to Gavin about her article ‘The Hidden Cost of Being A Woman’ that she wrote for the paper. She spoke about the fairer sex pay and the fact that women pay more for everything from razors, to pens to contraception. Gabrielle Monaghan reports on the so-called 'pink tax' that so often goes under the radar.
John Kennedy is a former Clare football Manager and Kerry man. We look ahead with him to the All Ireland Football Final on Sunday in Croke Park. The great body of opinion that's out there is anticipating a cracking All-Ireland football final between Dublin and Kerry. More difficult is predicting the winner in this two-horse race where both sides have shown good form-lines in advance of the decider.
Dr. Malie Coyne is a Clinical Child Psychologist, with 15 years experience of working with children and families. She is Galway based and discussed National Parents week on this mornings show with Gavin. ‘The Importance Of Parents Minding Themselves’ is a book written by Dr. Coyne about the welfare of parents. She states that parents should recognize their own stress reactions, they should take breaks, they should be in the company of warm adults which actually induces feelings of wellbeing and calm, they should be happy in their relationships and have job satisfaction.
A plan comes into force today aimed at preventing further decline in the bee population. There are 98 species currently in Ireland, but a third are threatened with extinction. 68 governmental and non-government organisations are banding together to protect bees, as part of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan. Dr Una Fitzpatrick of the National Biodiversity Data Centre in Waterford IT, joined Gavin and said that bees play a vital role in crop growth and the wider economy.
Imelda Cahalan is the Co Ordinator of Culture Night in County Clare. She told us all about the events that are taking place tonight across the county.
1. The Vanbrugh Quartet at glór / CLASSICAL
2. 'Tunes And Tomes' at Scéal Eile Bookshop
3. A Fun Evening Of Ethereal, Vibrant Contemporary Music Featuring Margaret Kilcoyne Accompanied By Cajon And Guitar.
4. 'Poetry & The Delta Blues' at The Record Break Café A.U Mccoy's Cd Launch Of 'A Long Time Coming' – Foot Stomping 'SHANNON' Delta Blues And Lonesome Mountain Country Songs To Bring A Stomp To Your Foot And A Tear To Your Eye.
5. Super Soul Sounds at Bunratty Folk Park / ENNIS GOSPEL CHOIR
6. AnTara – Matthew Noone & Tommy Hayes at The Protestant Church, Mountshannon
7. Antara Are A Unique Duo Comprised Of Tommy Hayes And Matthew Noone That Explore The Spaces In-Between The Traditions Of Irish And Indian Classical Music.
8. A Night Of Traditional Song with Tim Dennehy, Róisin White, John Lyons & Paula Carroll at The Music Makers of West Clare, Miltown Malbay.
Gavin spoke to a number of people about this weeks weekend events –
Laura Foley spoke about the Seafood in September Festival in Carrigaholt. Loopheads Seafood In September Festival is starting on Friday the 18th until Sunday the 20th with Special Guest TV Chef Paul Callaghan. Weekend activities include fishing trips, food trails, Dolphinwatch trips, craft beer and shellfish night, Seafood Gala Buffet and finishing on Sunday with a Food and Craft fair. Plenty of fun for all ages with a junior bake off and ready steady cook competition. For more details check out Seafood in September on facebook.
Veronica Moroney, the Co Ordinator of the East Clare Kilkishen 10k Run tomorrow Saturday the19th of September from the GAA Club house, kicking off at 10 am in aid of Irish Cancer Society and Kilkishen National School.
Chris O Brien the Deputy Director with the Samaritans 'Festival Group' spoke next. The festival Samaritans will be attending the Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival from Friday 18th to Sunday 20th. As Samaritans, they will be there to engage with people to both raise awareness of the service and to provide emotional support, should they need it. Samaritan volunteers who give up their time to attend events and festivals to offer face to face support to anyone facing problems, however big or small, and who need to open up and talk) will be on the street over the weekend beginning at 9pm Friday 18th and finishing up at 3am Sunday 20th.
This week’s panelists are from around the county and they joined us in studio to take a look back at this week biggest news stories. They discussed the upcoming budget, the title ‘Mayor of Clare’, the state of the roads in Co Clare, modular housing and the housing crisis and Irish water pay increments. Speaking this week was Diarmuid McMahon with MD Sherry McMahon Fitzgerald Property Ennis, Noel Crowley who is a history Enthusiast and Former County Librarians and Patricia McCarthy who is a former Councilor from Shannon.
Conor McNamara who is a rugby commentator spoke Live from Twickingham to Gavin as Joe Schmidt has named his side for Saturday's opening World Cup Pool D game with Canada. Luke Fitzgerald has beaten Robbie Henshaw to the position of inside centre, after the Connacht man missed training with an as-yet unspecified injury. There's no room for Tommy Bowe or Simon Zebo in the back line, with the wings manned by Keith Earls and Dave Kearney. Cian Healy doesn't start, but is named among the replacements. The team in full sees Rob Kearney at full back, Dave Kearney and Earls on the wings with Jared Payne and Fitzgerald in the centre. Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton form the three-quarters. There's a front row of Jack McGrath, Rory Best and Mike Ross. Captain Paul O'Connell is partnered in the second row by Iain Henderson. Peter O'Mahony is blindside flanker, Sean O'Brien on the openside, and Jamie Heaslip is number 8.
