It's been another slightly shaky week for government with one junior minister contemplating resignation and threatening the administration's slim majority.
All eyes in Leinster House have been on Independent Alliance TD John Halligan who stopped short of quitting Government in a row over cardiology services at Waterford General Hospital.
There are reports today that Fine Gael has given into requests for another review – after Minister Halligan accused other hospitals of directly interfering with its work.
It's understood that this leaves the door open for a second cath lab at UHW.
Gavin was joined on the line by Niall O'Connor, Political Correspondent Irish Independent.
There've been renewed calls this week for the closing of the Sellafield nuclear plant, after a damning investigation by the BBC.
Panorama uncovered a catalogue of safety concerns – including dangerously low staffing levels. The programme also discovered radioactive materials stored in degrading plastic bottles.
The investigation was prompted by a whistle-blower – a former senior manager who was worried by conditions. Sellafield says the site in Cumbria is safe and has been improved with significant investment in recent years.
The programme's prompted fresh concerns on this side of the Irish sea and to discuss the issue, Gavin was joined by former Green Party member of Clare County Council, Brian Meaney.
55 years ago this month, in what was Ireland's worst aviation disaster, a plane, en route from German to the US, plunged into the waters of the Shannon Estuary. While local people were heroic in their rescue efforts none of the 83 people on board survived.
Among those who lost their lives was a 33-year old Austrian father-of-three, Ferdinand Berger, On Saturday next (Sept. 10) the anniversary of the crash, his children will travel to Shannon for the first time to pay their respects and pray for their father.
*A short memorial service will take place in the Adoration Chapel, Skycourt, on Saturday morning
Gavin spoke with Fr Tom Ryan, Shannon PP.
It's an issue that we've discussed many time on Morning Focus and still things show no signs of improving. Motor insurance premiums are spiralling, and while the government has begun to examine the issue, we're told we must be patient. One group who're getting particularly fed up are Age Action Irleand who made their case to the Oireachtas Finance Committee yesterday (Thurs. Sept. 8). They pointed out that drivers over the age of 60 make up 22 per cent of licence holders, but receive less than 10 per cent of the penalty points issued in a typical year. Some of the people who've contacted Age Action have reported 65 percent hikes in their premiums, despite having years of completely claims-free driving.
Justin Moran, Head of Advocacy and Communications with Age Action joined Gavin on the line.
As part of the Clare 1916 Centenary Group lecture series one of Clare's leading historians, Dr. Pádraig Óg Ó Ruairc will give a lecture tonight (Friday, Sept 9) in Fawls, The Railway Bar, Ennis at 7.30pm. The lecture is entitled "Proclaiming a Republic – the origins of the 1916 Proclamation". Dr. Ó Ruairc will look at how Patrick Pearse, James Connolly and the other leaders of the 1916 Rising who wrote the 1916 Proclamation were inspired by previous Proclamations written by the United Irishmen in 1798 and the Fenians in 1867. The lecture will also examine the place that the 1916 Proclamation has in modern Irish politics and culture and will ask how relevant the document is to the lives of Irish people today.
Gavin was joined by historian Dr Pádraig Óg Ó Ruairc
For our weekly round-up of arts events, Gavin was joined by Siobhan Mulcahy, Clare County Arts.
The ordination of female deacons in the Diocese of Killaloe hasn't been ruled out, according to the Bishop elect, Fr Fintan Monahan. Just over two years ago, plans for a male-only diaconate were put on hold after significant opposition at the exclusion of women. Ahead of his ordination on September 25, Fr Monahan said he'll wait for the recommendations of a commission on female deacons which was set up last month by Pope Francis.
This was just one of the topics Fr Monahan discussed with Morning Focus producer Fiona McGarry who went along yesterday (Thurs. Sept. 8) to a media briefing at the Bishop's Palace in Ennis.
The Friday Panel discussed the following topics: the dilemma for the Independent TD – constituency issues v. national priorities; Will 'Jake's Law' be implemented in Clare?; How clean are Clare towns?; The IBAL survey; Swearing in Irish life – how tolerant are we?
Gavin's guests were Sharon Cahir, Cahir & Co. Solicitors; Paul Madden, The Temple Gate Hotel and Pat Kelly, The Skycourt Shopping Centre, Shannon.
Tomorrow (Sat. Sept. 10), Ennis All Stars will defend the title in the Tesco Mobile Sport Against Racism Ireland (SARI) Cup in the Phoenix Park in this the 20th year of the National Tournament.
Ennis All Stars won the SARI annual national tournament for the first time in September 2011 and again in 2015 after beating a team from Mosney in a dramatic penalty shoot out at the end of a tough match.
Ennis All Stars are the only team in the 19 years of the tournament to win the cup twice.
Gavin was joined in studio by Orla Ní Eilií of the Clare Immigrant Support Centre and by Kanane from Morocco will play the Moroccan oriental lute – he'll be among the musicians at glór on Culture Night, September 16, for an intercultural celebration which will include traditional music from around the world as well as Bollywood dancing.
