Today’s Morning Focus began with an insight into the impending visit of US President Donald Trump to Doonbeg.
Both Joe Russell, General Manager for Trump International Doonbeg and Doonbeg businesswoman Rita McInerney joined Gavin to discuss the development.
Later in the show Green Party leader Eamon Ryan spoke in opposition of the visit.
Listen back below:
Before that though our focus shifted to Ennis and the upcoming meeting there looking at Ireland and Clare’s homelessness crisis. The meeting taking place tonight (Monday September 3rd) will take place at 7:30pm at the Temple Gate Hotel and feature a number of guests including housing spokesperson Jan O’Sullivan, Head of Service Delivery NOVAS.ie Anne Cronin and the University of Limerick’s Dr Ronni Michelle Greenwood. In 2016 there were 23 homeless adults in Clare, in 2017 this number grew to 42 and now it sits at 72. Seamus Ryan from the Labour Party talked details with Gavin.
Then, we heard from Dr Emer Begley the Senior Project Manager for the National Dementia Office. She is championing the Understand Together campaign organised by Alzheimer Society of Ireland which aims to break the stigma surrounding the disease. The stigma is leading patients and families to loneliness and isolation according to a recent survey of attitudes and opinions surrounding Dementia. This comes as numbers of Dementia sufferers is set to jump from 55,000 to 113,000 by 2036.
The second hour opened with our regular Garda Focus segment with Sgt Tríona O’Rourke and was followed by Eamon Ryan on Trump.
After that it was time to talk Brexit. Clare Local Enterprise Office members are being advised to prepare for the worst as trade with Ireland’s largest trading partner is set to become far more costly and difficult. An event in the Radisson Blu in Limerick at 8am tomorrow aims to empower businesses to seek new markets and supports to cushion themselves against the worst of Brexit. One such support is the Brexit Loan Scheme with SBCI (Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland). SBCI Chief Executive Nick Ashmore spoke to Gavin more about the event. The event is free but booking is essential. To book call 065 682 1616 or email [email protected]. For more details on the loan scheme click here.
Then we had a look at the upcoming events organised by Chronic Pain Ireland. The health service is overburdened and for those of us dealing with pain in the everyday their are few services. A recent survey showed 13% of the Irish population are affected by pain at a cost of €5.34 billion. Chronic Pain Ireland is aiming to help pain sufferers as much as possible as waiting lists grow. On the 10th of September at 11:00am in the City Library (The Granary) in Limerick and on the 11th at 5:30pm in the DeValera Public Library in Ennis there will be workshops on pain awareness and management techniques. On the 20th there will be a Coffee Morning at Chez le Fab in Limerick. Deirdre Ryan, Chairperson of Chronic Pain Ireland and chronic pain sufferer herself, told Gavin more.
Opening the third hour was The Monday Sports Panel with Clare FM Sport’s Derrick Lynch and the editor of The Clare Champion Peter O’Connell.
Listen back below:
Then who or what is reading your emails? Gmail has recently added a ‘smart reply’ feature which allows machines to scan your emails and suggest responses for you to send out at the touch of a button. Even though other humans may not be the one’s reading the emails the new feature has caused privacy concerns. Joanne Sweeney-Burke from The Digital Training Institute joined Gavin to discuss this new development and where technology is going in what seems like a new age.
Finally, Mary Gamble, the Director of Fundraising Barnardos talked about the charity’s ongoing work nationwide to help kids. They’re looking for volunteers to collect at supermarkets on Friday September 14th for any 2 hour shift from 8:00am to 9:00pm. Locations in Clare include Tesco in Ennis and Kilrush and Dunnes Stores in Ennis and Skycourt S.C., Shannon.
