Labour Party Chairman Colm Keaveney has said that former Junior Minister Roisin Shortall enjoyed the full support of Labour leader and Tanaiste Eamonn Gilmore
Ms Shortall resigned last night as minister and also from the Labour Party whip because of what she said was a lack of support for the health reforms outlined in the Programme for Government
The Taoiseach, Enda Kenny and the Tanaiste have both said they are disappointed at her decision.
Minister for Health Dr James Reilly admitted last night he had no advance notice of Ms Shortall’s resignation
On Thursday’s Morning Focus John Cooke spoke with Political Editor of the Irish Daily Mail Senan Moloney
He also discussed the news with Clare Labour TD Michael McNamara
Tubber native and Corofin GP Dr Fergus Glynn has been a volunteer with Medicine Sans Frontiers- Docotors Without Borders
He features in ‘Taking Action. Saving Lives’, a photography exhibition that will run to mark the first ever MSF Ireland Week, which runs from 23rd to 30th September
Dr. Glynn volunteered with MSF in Niger in 2010 and joined John in studio to speak about the life changing experience that it was
He says the size and scale of MSF allows them to achieve things other NGOs cannot
All of what they do is so well researched and they’re not bound to any governments, so that makes them very effective; very elastic in how they can respond to emergency situations
He adds that their advocacy for patients is also quite unique
In this week’s Grow It Yourself slot John met Hilary Gleeson, a Qualified Nutritional Therapist and Rural Development Officer with the Clare Local Development Company
Hilary discussed all aspects of healthy living and nutritious food
GIY Regional Champion Carmen Cronin spoke about GIY events coming up throughout the county
See www.GIYireland.com
The 2012 annual conference of the Oral History Network of Ireland will focus on important historical and contemporary political issues, including the decade of commemoration, the pro-choice movement and the documenting of the strife and peace process in Northern Ireland
The conference is taking place this weekend starting tomorrow – Templegate Hotel, Ennis
Dr. Anna Bryson – Co-director of The Peace Process: Layers of Meaning project – is a special guest speaker at the event and is renowned nationally and internationally for her work as an oral historian
She spoke with John about her work and the conference in Ennis
Sinead Corbett of Newmarket on Fergus had a word with John after competing at the Ploughing Championships in New Ross yesterday
Two Clare Competitors have secured third place in their respective categories at this year’s National Ploughing Championships
Sinead competed in the U28 Mixed while Sixmilebridge’s Barry Donnellan took part in the U21 category yesterday
John Underhill of Burren Vets joined John in studio to answer your animal health queries
If you have a story, comment or query for the Morning Focus team email [email protected]
