On Tuesday’s Morning Focus John Cooke met with Sean Malone and Fiona Whyte from Miltown Malbay. Sean and Fiona are the parents of Donal and Ruby – their four month old twins who were born to a surrogate mother paid for her services in an Indian Clinic. The couple invited Clare FM’s John Cooke into their home for their first radio interview and the first time they’ve commented locally since their story was featured in a TV Documentary – “Her Body; Our Babies”. Sean Malone and Fiona Whyte’s story of surrogacy was the subject of a ground breaking television documentary earlier this month, and in their first radio interview, the couple have told Clare FM of their fears for the legal status of their children. Thanking friends and family in the Miltown Malbay area for their support since they brought Donal and Ruby home the couple also revealed they made contact with their Indian surrogate mother after the twins were born to ensure her wellbeing. The couple have called for the introduction of surrogacy clinics in Ireland as well as legislation around the controversial issue following the birth of their twin babies in India. Kevin O’Hagan is the Health Promotion Manager with the Irish Cancer Society and joined John to discuss how and why the incidence of cancer in Ireland is expected to double by 2040. Figures from the National Cancer Registry show that with the exception of leukaemia in men all other cancers are projected to increase. The National Cancer Registry projections take into account changes in demography, such as population size and age distribution, as well as trends in cancer incidence since 1994. Its latest figures predict that skin cancers will be the most rapidly increasing cancers in both men and women He also talked about how Health Minister James Reilly is set to ban the sale of e-cigarettes to under-18s. Manufacturers say they can assist smokers kick the habit of smoking tobacco cigarettes. But the Department of Health says they contain highly-addictive Nicotine. Minister Reilly is currently reviewing the evidence on the potential harm and benefits of e-cigarettes, before deciding the best approach to wider regulation. Pat Gavin is the Postmaster in Carrigaholt and lives in the area of Kilcredaun where 6 families are still cut off following storm Christine. Pat is livid that Minister Hayes didn’t visit people in this area. He rang Minister Hayes’s office yesterday following the Minister’s Clare FM interview to ask why he didn’t visit his area Donnagh Gregson is the Chairperson of The Clare Tourism Forum and from Bunratty Cokkery School. She joined the show as the Clare tourism sector has been rewarded for its ‘Céad Míle Fáilte’ campaign. An innovative yet simple approach to establishing County Clare as a welcoming visitor destination has picked up one of the top honours at the annual LAMA Community and Council Awards 2014, in association with IPB Insurance. The Clare Tourism Forum ‘Clare says Céad Míle Fáilte’ campaign, which was nominated by Clare County Council, beat off competition from 7 other short listed entries from around Ireland to win this year’s ‘Best Tourism Initiative Award’. Frankie Coote, the Clare ISPCA Warden joined us for advice on the proper care of animals and also talked about abandoned horses in East Clare, namely Scariff and Kilmihil, dangerous dogs in Shannon and also cattle deaths on Motorway. Contact Clare ISPCA Shelter on 065 6820393 To contact Morning Focus please email [email protected]
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