We learned today that Taoiseach Enda Kenny has picked the date for the General Election. election date and that he plans to reveal it in a "very public fashion".
Fine Gael strategists believe the most likely date for polling is Friday, February 26 and it's anticipated that Mr Kenny will call the election in or around February 2 – paving the way for a campaign of just over three weeks.
Gavin spoke to political correspondent Niall O'Connor of the Irish Independent.
Ennistymon Fine Gael Senator Martin Conway told Gavin that he's going back to the drawing board to determine his future as a politician after failing to secure a place on the Fine Gael ticket in the upcoming General election.
He revealed that, despite his election snub, and being approached by two other political parties, including Renua, he plans to remain within Fine Gael and to contest the elections to the Seanad.
East Clare Community Development Group is exploring how tourism in the area can be boosted. To find out more, Gavin spoke to Mark O'Connell of W2 Consulting, Killaloe who are holding seminars with members of the public locally.
The focus of the consultation is one land-based, water-based and cultural activities in East Clare with a view to extending visitor's stays in the area. The public consultation phase is due to be completed with a report from W2 in mid-February.
We learned that motorists could be in for some rare good news. Petrol and diesel prices have been coming down in recent weeks, with oil prices at their lowest point in years. Now events on the Chinese stock markets could bring even lower prices.
Gavin spoke to David Blevings of the Irish Petrol Retailers Association spokesperson
We tend to hear a lot of negative commentary about young drivers, and sadly, they can tend to feature too often in our road fatality figures. In a bid to influence young people even before they ever get behind the wheel, the Road Safety Authority (RSA), the Gardai and Bus Eireann have been working with our schools to encourage responsible driving.
This week, St Joseph's Secondary School, Spanish Point, hosted their annual Road Safety Week. Gavin spoke with Catherine Flaherty
Road Safety Promotions Officer, RSA and Deirdre Comber, TY Co-ordinator at St Joseph's Secondary School.
Our Motivate a New You slot wrapped up after 20 weeks with a discussion with John Whyte of Motivation Weight Management; Shane O'Donohue of the West County Hotel Gym; as well as Sean Power Killaloe and Denise Quinn of Clare FM.
Mike Sheedy is one of a number of local volunteers going to Kenya with the Building of Hope Foundation. The Kilmurray man spoke to Gavin about his fundraising efforts.
Following a presentation before members of Clare County Council, Gavin spoke to Jerry Kelly of Clare Friendly Ageing Board.
In an era of box-sets and 'binge watching', traditional TV formats are under pressure. Changes in technolgoy just not watching telly the way that we used to. However, new figures released by the people who measure the size of TV audiences has found that many stalwart shows are holding their own. Gavin spoke about the figures of Conor Heneghan of Joe.ie.
